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INTERVIEW

Built to Change

A French designer eyewear brand founded in 2017 by brothers Abbas and Fares Manai, “Firstly I would say our value and design offe-
bloobloom is an eye care brand created to alter the way people buy glasses. Here, RLI ring of premium glasses at a straightforward,
speaks exclusively to Co-Founder Abbas Manai about the growth of the company and how accessible price point, without traditional re-
they continue to disrupt the traditional eyewear market. tail inflation has allowed us to stand out in a
competitive market. Our exceptional service
3
2 offer is something we are very proud of and in
he mission of bloo- then scale responsibly. Having focused on London to begin with, a sector as complex as optics, this can only be
bloom is simple; to they are now looking at other major UK cities. As for product, they 1 & 4. Notting Hill, achieved through a strong focus on technolo-
make premium-quality stay anchored to what customers come to them for, eyeglasses and London, UK gy. Finally, I feel our Pair for Pair and Climate
T eyewear and professio- sunglasses, with a clear proposition that is supported by services like 2. Covent Garden, Neutral certification initiatives are tangible
London, UK
nal eye care accessible, without the free eye tests, free home trials and virtual try-on. 3. Westfield White commitments that customers appreciate to-
traditional mark-ups or the compli- As we move on to the topic of guest experience both in and out City, London, UK day and they also trust that these are not just
cated, old-school experience. They of stores, Abbas says that they treat this as one joined-up journey marketing ploys by the business.”
achieve this through design and a that includes great service and no pressure through expert guidance, With so much still going on in the present,
strong focus on technology. styling support, fittings and aftercare; clinical trust through in-store the company still keeps one eye on the future
Today the business operates eight eye exams with trained optometrists, delivered efficiently and com- and what lies ahead is scaling through more
stores across London and they are fortably and omni-channel continuity, so that whether the customer doors, a broader reach and continued invest-
located in Canary Wharf, Carnaby, Covent Garden, King’s Road, journey started online or in-store, it is designed to be seamless. ment in technology, while staying true to the
Marylebone Village, White City, Spitalfields and Notting Hill. “We started with a digitally-led mindset and have doubled down experience that made people fall in love with
Speaking about their portfolio, Abbas highlights that the Notting on it. Online, we have built conversion around confidence. Tools bloobloom in the first place.
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 In line with this, the brand’s biggest cha-
space at 172 Portobello Road, which continued their London expan- the right frame without friction. Meanwhile on social platforms, we certified and they have publicly committed llenge is maintaining consistency at speed:
sion with a strong service proposition alongside the full collection. focus on what people actually want: styling inspiration, newness to measuring their footprint, offsetting it and keeping service levels high, clinical quality
“Another recent opening was our Spitalfields site, which launched and education, while keeping the brand tone consistent with the most importantly, reducing future emissions and brand feel exceptional as the footprint
in May last year at 41 Brushfield Street. The 615sq ft space was de- in-store offering.” through greener energy suppliers and ma- grows, especially in a category where trust
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 terial choices. The company also runs the matters as much as style.
bloobloom experience: frames, styling and eye care in one place,” influence in the sector. Abbas feels that AI will push retail towards charitable give-back program Pair for Pair; “Our ambition is not just to sell more
comments Abbas Manai, Co-Founder of bloobloom. “A slightly ol- smarter personalisation, operational efficiency and better service. meaning for every pair sold, a pair is donated glasses. It is to set a new standard for
der but landmark opening for us was the Covent Garden site which More specifically in eyewear, technology that increases fit and pres- to someone in need, supporting access to eye what eyewear retail feels like; warm, de-
opened in April 2023 on James Street. The 1,413sq ft store offers two cription confidence, such as virtual try-on and measurement/record care through partners such as Vision Action. sign-forward spaces with real clinical credi-
eye examination rooms, a format that reflects how seriously we take systems, can remove major pain points from the category. The business has seen a lot of success bility, powered by a modern digital journey
clinical service in-store.” Sustainability is another key factor in customer choice and for in quite a short period of time and the and grounded in responsibility through ini-
Geographically, the strategy for the company is to grow city-by-ci- bloobloom, sustainability is built into the entire brand operation, Co-Founder feels that three things have rea- tiatives like Pair for Pair and climate com-
ty and build density where the brand and service model work best, not something that is bolted on. The business is Climate Neutral 4 lly driven this growth. mitments,” concludes Abbas.

24 Retail & Leisure International June 2026 June 2026 Retail & Leisure International 25