The Maker Speaks
■ I suppose most readers would like to know what kinds of eyeglasses are at the shop. Masunaga is, for example, so famous as those produced in Fukui…
O: I agree. Masunaga Gozaemon began to make eyeglasses in Fukui, and his offspring have kept. Theirs are also loved by the notable inside and outside, which has made them popular. Lots of inquiries about Masunaga have come to us, in fact.
Megane Museum's Optical Shop
(Basically No Taking Pictures)
■ And Boston Club…
O: We deal with. Several brands of eyeglasses made chances to be picked up at TV dramas and magazines, and one of them is “Japonism” by Boston Club. Theirs are also popular. We deal with eyeglasses produced by 35 companies like them. 1,500 to 2,000 frames are exhibited.
■ Great in number! Here is Megane (Specs) Museum. Do the customers almost have a detailed knowledge of glasses?
O: Many kinds come. We have got the well-informed customers. One asked “Do you have these?” and I have given an answer “We don’t have because they manufacture in China though their company is in Japan.” On the other hand, we also have got a lot of customers who visit this museum on the way of their travels like going to eat crabs or visiting the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum. They readily bought eyeglasses at 100,000 JPN or so.
■ Sounds so comfortable. It means that you have a wide range of customers, does not it?
O: We do. They, those travelers, talk about their worries like “Which one will suit me?” or “My glasses are kind of heavy, which bothers.” So I often make proposals.
Megane Museum's Optical Shop
(Basically No Taking Pictures)
■ It is because they trust you, the whole Fukui. I heard that most of the manufactures live by OEM business.
O: Almost. Like some produce those of foreign brands but we don’t exhibit since they don’t own the dealership. There is a problem that they can live just by OEM or not. I guess the companies switching over to their own brands have been on the increase because they are going to meet danger when the orders move to other countries for the cheaper cost, like China or Indonesia.
■ OEM makes them feel hard?
O: They need to make at the asking price. I heard it gave them a hard time by pressure even when I belonged to the manufactures. We have a lot of hard examples asking for the price lower than China. Some presidents, on the other hand, are said to have been rich for OEM. Then, it depends on the terms.
■ Labor costs have risen in China, it is said.
O: Yes. Some buyers said “Sooner or later, Chinese and Sabae’s will be the same at price” a year or two ago, at the international exhibition. We have to seize this opportunity. Increasing are the companies who say “The orders are coming back from China.” Ray of hope is supposed to be breaking dark clouds, then.
O: I agree. Masunaga Gozaemon began to make eyeglasses in Fukui, and his offspring have kept. Theirs are also loved by the notable inside and outside, which has made them popular. Lots of inquiries about Masunaga have come to us, in fact.
Megane Museum's Optical Shop
(Basically No Taking Pictures)
■ And Boston Club…
O: We deal with. Several brands of eyeglasses made chances to be picked up at TV dramas and magazines, and one of them is “Japonism” by Boston Club. Theirs are also popular. We deal with eyeglasses produced by 35 companies like them. 1,500 to 2,000 frames are exhibited.
■ Great in number! Here is Megane (Specs) Museum. Do the customers almost have a detailed knowledge of glasses?
O: Many kinds come. We have got the well-informed customers. One asked “Do you have these?” and I have given an answer “We don’t have because they manufacture in China though their company is in Japan.” On the other hand, we also have got a lot of customers who visit this museum on the way of their travels like going to eat crabs or visiting the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum. They readily bought eyeglasses at 100,000 JPN or so.
■ Sounds so comfortable. It means that you have a wide range of customers, does not it?
O: We do. They, those travelers, talk about their worries like “Which one will suit me?” or “My glasses are kind of heavy, which bothers.” So I often make proposals.
Megane Museum's Optical Shop
(Basically No Taking Pictures)
■ It is because they trust you, the whole Fukui. I heard that most of the manufactures live by OEM business.
O: Almost. Like some produce those of foreign brands but we don’t exhibit since they don’t own the dealership. There is a problem that they can live just by OEM or not. I guess the companies switching over to their own brands have been on the increase because they are going to meet danger when the orders move to other countries for the cheaper cost, like China or Indonesia.
■ OEM makes them feel hard?
O: They need to make at the asking price. I heard it gave them a hard time by pressure even when I belonged to the manufactures. We have a lot of hard examples asking for the price lower than China. Some presidents, on the other hand, are said to have been rich for OEM. Then, it depends on the terms.
■ Labor costs have risen in China, it is said.
O: Yes. Some buyers said “Sooner or later, Chinese and Sabae’s will be the same at price” a year or two ago, at the international exhibition. We have to seize this opportunity. Increasing are the companies who say “The orders are coming back from China.” Ray of hope is supposed to be breaking dark clouds, then.
