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 increased substantially by 22 index points last week (July 11-17), recouping and surpassing the -19 index points it declined last week as a result of the Fourth of July holiday. That places gross revenue at a level 6 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 29) when compared with last year, 3 points above the same time period in 2020, and 8 points above 2019.

BUSINESS METRICS

With all optical sales increasing last week when compared with the previous week, all categories rebounded from the previous week’s declines that resulted from the Independence Day holiday. Gross revenue’s 22 index point increase was the largest, while contact lenses’ increase by 16 points was the smallest. When comparing last week’s optical sales with the same period last year, all categories were either up or unchanged, ranging from exams/refractions up 3 index points to frame units, which remained unchanged.

SNAPSHOT

Even though all optical sales increased last week, only one category (gross revenue at 113 index points) reached a level above an average week in 2019 (the index baseline assigned a value of 100 for this Optical Business Tracker). The other categories below that benchmark were close, reaching either 99 index points (exams/refractions, lens pairs, and contact lenses) or 98 index points (frame units).

*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.