Glasses are too expensive, so these M’sians started a biz that sells them for RM49+

A couple months ago, I made the mistake of scratching my eyeball, which meant I couldn’t wear my contact lenses while it healed.

This would’ve been fine, if I had not also accidentally broken my only pair of glasses from a treadmill incident (yes, it was very embarrassing).

So as is expected of someone with over -400 and -500 vision, I panicked. It was mid-month and prescription glasses are expensive, especially with the additional frills that I need, like lens features for astigmatism and anti-blue light. I can’t be going to work “blind.”

Then my guardian angel (Claudia) introduced me to 100glasses, a new Malaysian online optical store that sells affordable prescription glasses made in Johor from as low as RM49, and my life was saved.

A meditation retreat turned startup pitch

I know what you’re thinking: Is this a scam? How could it be so cheap?

Well, eyewear prices are generally high because physical optical shops have high monthly fixed costs, such as rental, staff salaries, and commissions. Repeat sales are also slower because customers tend to buy one pair to last many years. So the easiest way to turn a profit is through a healthy margin.

But if you remove the physical aspect, then it’s more possible to sell prescription glasses at lower prices. This is how the founder, Jordan Kee, and his supplier Mike turned their 100glasses dream into reality. 

Earlier this year, the duo met at a Vipassana meditation course where participants have to remain in complete silence for nine days. That means abstaining from phones, books, and of course, talking.

After the nine days were up, Jordan and Mike decided to combine their strengths to start 100glasses—Jordan with the knowledge he’d pick up from working at three startups including an international crypto firm, and Mike with his experience as the director of three physical optical stores in Johor Bahru.

It’s a quirky origin story but the idea behind 100glasses had been brewing in Jordan’s mind for much longer. Back when he was in primary school, Jordan came across US-based online shop Zenni Optical, offering similarly affordable eyewear, and the inspiration stuck with him ever since.  

“We want to fulfil the B40 and M40 market for eyewear users,” they stated, doubling down on the brand’s mission of providing affordable eyewear.

Good value and quality regardless of price tag

10 months into the business, 100glasses has 120 frame designs to choose from, with its most popular frames in Korean styles, cat eyes, and frameless glasses. They come in an array of shapes and colours to suit different face profiles. 

To see what it looks like, the brand uses AR try-on. This means you can shop for glasses at the ease and comfort of your home, or in a fit of panic like I did.

“For most, the accuracy is pretty high!” Jordan shared. It took about three months of R&D to get the AR settings right, but as a customer myself, I happily concur that it’s pretty spot on. 

In terms of price point, 100glasses offers four options: Rahmah RM49, Everyday RM99, Premium RM149, and Signature RM199.

If you’re more particular about your prescription glasses like me, you can opt for lens add-ons:

However, if these aren’t necessary, Jordan assures that the Rahmah RM49 prescription glasses are fully usable. “It still comes with our premium 4-in-1 coating. Every upgrade we sell is truly optional, you add it because it’s cool and you want it.”

This philosophy of providing good value and quality regardless of price tag stems from the founder’s own beliefs, “I have very strong opinions about the baseline product not being gutted and unusable for the sake of advertising a low arbitrary number.”

Different glasses to suit different occasions

There are certain trade-offs, of course, like not being able to assess the feel and comfort of the glasses before purchasing. You’ll also need to visit a physical optical shop to get your latest prescription. 

In support of other local businesses, 100glasses reminds customers to pay for the prescription services so that these shops are fairly compensated. The brand then reimburses on this cost (up to a certain amount) in the form of store credits. 

“We pride ourselves on fantastic customer service and really do try our best to help you any way you need,” Jordan stated. I can attest to this as his team helped expedite my order so that I’d receive it in less than a week. For someone who needed quality and affordable visual aid fast, 100glasses felt like a godsend. 

Beyond that, though, 100glasses is on a mission to change the public mindset on glasses; It’s a fashion statement, not a medical appliance you replace every few years.

“There’s really no reason to have just one pair for everything. You wouldn’t wear the same shoes to the gym, the office, and a wedding, but the thing sitting on your face all day gets one pair for years,” the founder explained. “At RM500 a pair, your frames have to be black and safe. At RM49, you can afford to have opinions.”

It’s why you’ll find its social media content barely talking about the specifications. Instead, it’s GRWM (get-ready-with-me) videos where the outfits decide the glasses. And so far, this approach has been gaining popularity with the younger customers, an idea Jordan credits to Lo Xiao Ying, 100glasses’ Head of Marketing.

Now, I don’t foresee myself buying a dozen prescription glasses to match my outfits, but maybe two more wouldn’t hurt, right? After all, Jordan teased that 100glasses may be at pop-up markets soon to bridge the try-on gap.

So whether you’re a klutz like me who needs an emergency pair, or just someone who wants more daily eyewear options without breaking the bank, 100glasses may just be what you’re seeking.

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