Page 24 - RLIJune2026

INTERVIEW

Built to Change

A French designer eyewear brand founded in 2017 by brothers Abbas and Fares Manai,
bloobloom is an eye care brand created to alter the way people buy glasses. Here, RLI
speaks exclusively to Co-Founder Abbas Manai about the growth of the company and how
they continue to disrupt the traditional eyewear market.

he mission of bloo- then scale responsibly. Having focused on London to begin with,
bloom is simple; to they are now looking at other major UK cities. As for product, they
make premium-quality stay anchored to what customers come to them for, eyeglasses and
T eyewear and professio- sunglasses, with a clear proposition that is supported by services like
nal eye care accessible, without the free eye tests, free home trials and virtual try-on.
traditional mark-ups or the compli- As we move on to the topic of guest experience both in and out
cated, old-school experience. They of stores, Abbas says that they treat this as one joined-up journey
achieve this through design and a that includes great service and no pressure through expert guidance,
strong focus on technology. styling support, fittings and aftercare; clinical trust through in-store
Today the business operates eight eye exams with trained optometrists, delivered efficiently and com-
stores across London and they are fortably and omni-channel continuity, so that whether the customer
located in Canary Wharf, Carnaby, Covent Garden, King’s Road, journey started online or in-store, it is designed to be seamless.
Marylebone Village, White City, Spitalfields and Notting Hill. “We started with a digitally-led mindset and have doubled down
Speaking about their portfolio, Abbas highlights that the Notting on it. Online, we have built conversion around confidence. Tools
Hill store opened its doors in February this year, unveiling a 900sq ft like virtual try-on and our free home trial help customers choose
space at 172 Portobello Road, which continued their London expan- the right frame without friction. Meanwhile on social platforms, we
sion with a strong service proposition alongside the full collection. focus on what people actually want: styling inspiration, newness
“Another recent opening was our Spitalfields site, which launched and education, while keeping the brand tone consistent with the
in May last year at 41 Brushfield Street. The 615sq ft space was de- in-store offering.”
signed to feel like a calm Mediterranean escape and delivers the full A leading topic in the retail world today is the use of AI and its
bloobloom experience: frames, styling and eye care in one place,” influence in the sector. Abbas feels that AI will push retail towards
comments Abbas Manai, Co-Founder of bloobloom. “A slightly ol- smarter personalisation, operational efficiency and better service.
der but landmark opening for us was the Covent Garden site which More specifically in eyewear, technology that increases fit and pres-
opened in April 2023 on James Street. The 1,413sq ft store offers two cription confidence, such as virtual try-on and measurement/record
eye examination rooms, a format that reflects how seriously we take systems, can remove major pain points from the category.
clinical service in-store.” Sustainability is another key factor in customer choice and for
Geographically, the strategy for the company is to grow city-by-ci- bloobloom, sustainability is built into the entire brand operation,
ty and build density where the brand and service model work best, not something that is bolted on. The business is Climate Neutral

24 Retail & Leisure International June 2026