Bright Eyes Sunglasses
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1985 in Cairns, Queensland, Australia |
| Founder | Robert Johnstone, Antonina (Ann) Johnstone |
| Headquarters | Cairns , Australia |
| Products | Sunglasses |
Bright Eyes Sunglasses originated in 1985 in Cairns, Queensland, Australia, founded by Robert and Antonina (Ann) Johnstone. By 1995, the brand had grown to encompass 115 outlets. In 1997, the franchise was purchased by property developer Ian Thomas, who streamlined operations by shutting down underperforming stores, reducing the total from 112 to 85 locations and boosting the overall gross profit by 50%.
The year 2000 saw Bright Eyes acquired by a group consisting of Geoff Harbert, Graham Bradshaw, and Ralph Edwards. By 2003, the business managed a combination of 10 franchised and 19 company-owned outlets, generating revenues of A$6.7 million. Harbert mentioned in 2004 that certain stores expanded their product offerings to sustain profitability.
Before being taken over by Oakley, Inc., which itself was later bought by Luxottica in 2007, the company had expanded to 155 stores, with approximately one-third under direct company control. This acquisition positioned Luxottica as the leading eyewear retailer in Australia. In 2008, Luxottica downsized Bright Eyes to 47 stores and subsequently sold the enterprise back to Ralph Edwards and Geoff Harbert.