Bailey Nelson opens newest location at The Well
The Aussie brand makes buying eyewear “a joyful experience.”
Australian eyewear company Bailey Nelson continues to expand its mission to make buying eyewear a “joyful experience” with its newest location at The Well, Toronto’s must-visit downtown destination.
Recognized as an industry disrupter for offering high-quality, stylish frames and sunglasses at affordable prices, Bailey Nelson has also earned a reputation for providing personalized service.
“We have beautiful product for great value but more than anything, the experience we provide in-store sets us apart,” says area director (Canada) Alex Kramer. “We’re really passionate about our mission to make buying eyewear a joyful experience, no matter your budget.”
Bailey Nelson began as a start-up selling custom frames at the Bondi Markets in Sydney in 2012. The company has expanded internationally, with Canada now its second largest market behind Australia. The company also has locations in New Zealand.
The Well is Bailey Nelson’s 43rd location in Canada and launches at the same time as the brand’s Revival Collection, which features 90s throwback pieces as well as timeless classic shapes. All Bailey Nelson frames are designed by ateliers from Sydney, with the brand releasing about five key collections each year so customers always have fresh choices.
“Our founders, Nick Perry and Peter Winkle, want people to feel like they get to wear glasses instead of they have to wear glasses,” says Alexsandra Bernard, manager of The Well location. “You don’t have to choose between stylish frames and affordability and the quality optometry care and personalized service that goes along with that. We want our customers to have it all.”
You can purchase two pairs of glasses from $249, including standard single-vision lenses with anti-reflective coating. Premium progressive glasses are available from $389, including frames, lenses and anti-reflective coating. “You should be able to see glasses as an expression of your individuality and personality and be able to have multiple pairs without breaking the bank,” Kramer says.
Some customers choose a second pair of glasses as an emergency backup. Some are reporting eye strain due to increased exposure to blue light from screens — which has been shown to affect production of melatonin, the sleep hormone — and are opting to add a blue light filter to a second pair of glasses for work or scrolling, though you can wear glass with a blue light filter all day, Bernard adds. A blue light filter may result in more restorative, undisrupted and restful sleep, Bailey Nelson reports.
Its new store offers eye exams four days a week using the latest retinal imaging and offers direct billing for most health insurance providers. Optometrist Dr. Nuri Kim is accepting new patients and is passionate about educating her patients on the importance of eye exams.
“It’s very easy to overlook the importance of getting an eye test, especially if you feel your vision is good and that you don’t need glasses, but an eye test is not just about giving you a prescription for glasses,” she says.
“Yes, an eye test can help to improve your quality of life by helping you achieve the best corrected vision, but it can also help detect certain eye conditions or diseases even if you don’t notice any symptoms. That includes glaucoma, macular degeneration and retinal tears, which can potentially lead to retinal detachment and vision loss if not treated properly.”
Kim recommends an eye exam every one to two years and more often if you have a health condition or are at risk of a health condition. “Even a single eye exam can uncover a lot about underlying and even life-threatening health conditions like stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, neurological conditions, autoimmune disorders and even some cancers,” she says.
“For most people, regular eye exams are simply key to maintaining good eye health but having an optometrist on site allows us to detect emergency conditions and refer customers to an appropriate specialist or to recommend prompt treatment, if necessary,” says Kim.
Bailey Nelson opened its first Canadian store in Vancouver, B.C. in 2017. The Well, a European-influenced urban space located at 486 Front St. W., is bordered by Spadina Avenue and Front, Draper and Wellington Streets. Seven mixed-use towers are clustered around a vibrant pedestrian and retail space that forms the heart of the must-visit complex.
Bailey Nelson at The Well is now open, located across from Indigo. Visit www.baileynelson.com to learn more, including to book an eye exam.