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 last week (Sept. 19-25) at a rate of 2 index points. That places gross revenue at a level 11 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 39) when compared with last year, 2 points above the same period in 2020, and 13 points above 2019.

BUSINESS METRICS

All optical sales categories (except one) were up last week when compared with the previous week. The contact lenses category experienced the only decrease last week, by only 1 index point. The other categories’ increases ranged from gross revenue’s 2 index points to 4 index points for both exams/refractions and lens pairs. When comparing last week’s optical sales with the same period last year, all categories were up, ranging from the largest increase of 11 index points for gross revenue to the smallest increase of 5 index points for contact lenses.

SNAPSHOT

With most optical sales increasing last week, one category reached a level above an average week in 2019 and one matched that index baseline of 100 index points. Gross revenue reached a level of 112 index points, exams/refractions matched the 100-point benchmark, and the other three categories fell below that level – lens pairs at 98 index points, frame units at 97 points, and contact lenses at 89 points.

*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.