This tracker measures sales trends comparing pre-pandemic, during the pandemic, and post-pandemic.

We selected 1,500 optical locations that have been operating and reporting their sales to our partners, GPN and ABB Analyze, since 2019. We re-based the index to an average week in 2019. This new index base will be used as an arbitrary benchmark and assigned a value of 100.

GROSS REVENUE 3-YEAR TREND

The national average for gross revenue at ECP locations decreased last week (June 13-19) at a rate of -2 index points. That places gross revenue at a level 4 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 25) when compared with last year, 3 points above Week 25 of 2020, and 10 points above 2019.

BUSINESS METRICS

All optical sales categories were either flat or down last week when compared with the previous week, ranging from -3 index points for lens pairs to unchanged for frame units. Other than gross revenue’s decline of -2 index points, the other two categories (exams/refractions and contact lenses) were down -1 index point. Optical sales categories were mixed when comparing last week’s optical sales with the same period last year. Up were gross revenue (4 index points) and contact lenses (2 index points), and down were frame units and lens pairs (both by -2 index points). Exams/refractions remained flat when comparing Week 25 of this year with the same time period last year.

SNAPSHOT

With all optical sales categories either flat or down when comparing last week with the previous week, only one category is at a level above an average week in 2019 (the index baseline assigned a value of 100 for this Optical Business Tracker). Gross revenue reached a level of 109 index points last week, while all other categories below the 100-point benchmark ranged from 96 index points (contact lenses) to 94 index points (exams/refractions, frame units, and lens pairs).

*The index baseline was developed by Jobson Research from total sales from an average week in 2019. This index baseline is equivalent to a score of 100. All other time periods going forward are calculated as a percent increase or decrease from the 100 baseline index of that period. This index is intended to show directional and magnitudinal change that the market is experiencing. Actual index scores are arbitrary meaning the baseline of 100 is simply used as a benchmark. Jobson Research shall not be held liable for any use or misuse of the data described and/or contained herein.

Please note that practices that use practice analytic systems tend to skew a bit larger and have higher revenue than practices that do not.

Source: GPN/EDGEPro and ABB Analyze contributed anonymous sales data used to determine gross revenue, exams/refractions, frame units, lens pairs, and contact lens boxes. Data was collected from approximately 1,500 independent eye care practices.

For more information from Jobson Research contact jwaller@jobson.com,

you may also reach out to GPN/EDGEPro and ABB Analyze directly.