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 (Sept. 26-Oct. 2) at a rate of -2 index points. That places gross revenue at a level 7 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 40) when compared with last year, equal to the same period in 2020, and 11 points above 2019.

BUSINESS METRICS

All optical sales categories (except one) were down last week when compared with the previous week. The contact lenses category experienced the only increase last week, by 4 index points. The other categories’ decreases were gross revenue’s -2 index points, frame units and lens pairs, both down -3 index points, and -4 index points for exams/refractions. When comparing last week’s optical sales with the same period last year, all categories were up or unchanged, ranging from flat for the lens pairs category to an increase of 7 index points for gross revenue.

SNAPSHOT

With all but one optical sales category decreasing last week, only one category reached 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 110 index points, three categories (exams/refractions, frame units, and lens pairs) hit 95 index points, and the contact lenses category was at 93 index 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.