HWMIIA Classics: Entrepreneur capitalises on Africa’s demand for affordable eyeglasses
Swiss-born entrepreneur Jérôme Lapaire identified an opportunity to sell eyeglasses to price-sensitive customers in Africa.
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Interview with Jérôme Lapaire
FOUNDER AND CEO, LAPAIRE GLASSES
Lives in: Nairobi/ Abidjan
Swiss-born entrepreneur Jérôme Lapaire identified an opportunity to sell eyeglasses to price-sensitive customers in Africa. He shared the story of his entrepreneurial journey with Jack Thompson.
In this article, we take a closer look at:
How Lapaire identified two major reasons why many people in Africa don’t wear glasses: awareness and affordability;
His initial B2B approach of reaching potential customers through their workplaces, instead of direct sales;
The strategy of Lapaire Glasses to challenge the traditional eyewear sector’s high-margin, low-volume model, similar to what IKEA has done in the furniture industry;
The unique market potential in French-speaking Africa due to the cultural perception of eyewear; and
The importance of being willing to close down a business unit that isn’t working.
