A public auction for the business unit of Florence-based luxury retailer LuisaViaRoma is open until November 8, with a starting price of 18.83 million euros. The sale is part of a simplified liquidation arrangement managed by the Court of Florence. The business unit under offer includes all intellectual property rights, IT systems, networks, platforms, and specifically e-commerce platforms, alongside inventory and customer databases. In July, the retailer was transferred to LVR Srl, an industrial consortium led by Paolo Corinaldesi, through a lease agreement intended as a first step toward definitive acquisition. Italian law prohibits direct private sales during this liquidation phase, necessitating the auction. If no improved offers are received by the deadline, LVR Srl’s binding offer will proceed; otherwise, competitive bidding occurs on November 12.
DIFF Eyewear opened its first stand-alone brick-and-mortar store in Charleston, S.C., on October 10, marking a strategic shift from its digital-first origins toward an omnichannel presence. The company plans to open 30 additional stores over the next three years, with a second location expected in Tampa Bay in spring 2027. Founded in 2014, DIFF has grown its e-commerce business by approximately 20 percent annually and expects its wholesale network to exceed 3,400 doors by 2027. Concurrently, the brand is expanding mass retail partnerships, including limited-edition collections in over 1,200 Target locations starting December 2026, and will launch its own optical wholesale channel servicing approximately 500 independent eyecare locations beginning January 2027.
Synsam Group announced an exclusive partnership with football star Erling Haaland, launching a collection of 64 eyewear frames for women, men, and youth. The collection will be available in Synsam’s core Nordic markets (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark) via stores and online, while simultaneously entering international e-commerce through synsam.com in Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland. CEO Håkan Lundstedt described this as a major investment in trying new sales channels internationally. Additionally, a limited edition of 999 gold-colored sports glasses will release on June 9 ahead of the FIFA World Cup, available in selected stores and online across all core markets.
Editorial relevance: Synsam's partnership with Erling Haaland marks a strategic expansion into international e-commerce, leveraging celebrity endorsement to drive online sales in new European markets.
Synsam Group reported net sales of SEK 1,773 million for Q1 2026, up 3.8 percent, with organic growth at 5.6 percent. EBIT increased to SEK 186 million, and cash flow from operating activities rose to SEK 374 million. Net sales from spectacles subscriptions grew 6.1 percent, reaching approximately 770,000 customers. Following the quarter, Synsam announced an exclusive strategic partnership with football star Erling Haaland. This collaboration involves launching a new collection of eyewear, sunglasses, and sports eyewear. Crucially, this initiative marks Synsam’s launch of online sales via synsam.com in selected European markets, aiming for cost-effective international expansion beyond its core Nordic operations.
Editorial relevance: Synsam Group's Q1 report highlights improved profitability and announces a strategic partnership with Erling Haaland that includes launching online sales in selected European markets, marking a significant step in their cross-border e-commerce expansion.
Mister Spex SE reported €57.8 million in revenue for Q3 2024, a 3% year-on-year decline primarily driven by the closure of international stores in Scandinavia, Austria, and Switzerland under its "SpexFocus" restructuring program. Despite the overall drop, the core German market grew by 2%, with prescription glasses revenue rising 4% globally and 5% in Germany. The company achieved a significant gross margin improvement of 302 basis points to 48.8%, attributed to a higher share of high-margin products like the new "SpexPro" premium lens private label and reduced promotional discounts. Average order value increased by 3% to €99.4. Adjusted EBITDA fell to -€1.4 million from €0.2 million in the prior year. Mister Spex confirmed its full-year guidance of €210–€230 million net revenue.
Editorial relevance: Mister Spex's Q3 results highlight the impact of strategic international store closures on revenue while demonstrating margin improvements through premium private label lenses and reduced discounting in its core German market.
Mister Spex reported preliminary unaudited figures for 2024, confirming net revenue declined by 3% to approximately €216 million, within its guidance range of €210–€230 million. This decline was primarily driven by the closure of all international stores in the fourth quarter as part of the SpexFocus transformation program. Despite this, the core German market achieved 2% like-for-like growth, with brick-and-mortar stability offsetting broader declines. Adjusted EBITDA turned negative but remained within the guided range of +1% to -4%. Average order value for prescription glasses rose 12% year-over-year, aided by the September launch of the SpexPro lens portfolio. Cash balance exceeded €70 million at year-end. Audited results and 2025 outlook will be published on March 27, 2025.
Editorial relevance: Mister Spex's confirmed guidance and like-for-like growth in Germany highlight the resilience of its omnichannel model despite international store closures and reduced discounting.
Mister Spex announced that its German stores achieved a 16% year-on-year increase in revenue during the Black Friday 2025 campaign period. The online platform recorded over 1.2 million visits during this time. In-store sales were driven by a 14% rise in prescription glasses and an increase of more than 20% in sunglasses. Optical services remained in high demand, with approximately 20,000 eye exams and over 500 eye health checks conducted throughout the campaign, including around 5,000 eye exams during the weekend alone. The 'Mister Spex Switch' subscription model, launched in May 2025, saw new subscriptions rise by 63% compared to the pre-campaign period, accounting for 13% of total store sales.
Innovative Eyewear reported preliminary unaudited net sales of approximately $1.04 million for Q3 2026, a 55% year-over-year increase and the highest quarterly figure in its history. Growth was driven by a 25% rise in direct-to-consumer and online marketplace sales, alongside initial shipments under new wholesale programs. The company expanded into three key channels: shipping an initial order to a major U.S. big-box retailer for Lucyd Armor rollout across 150+ stores; commencing retail placement with FYihealth Group in Canada across ~345 locations; and receiving orders for over 3,000 units from Directed Electronics in Australia/New Zealand, expected to ship in October 2026. Nine-month net sales reached ~$2.8 million, exceeding full-year 2025 totals. Management anticipates these new channels will significantly impact Q4 2026 and 2027 results.