MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is simply to make your glasses last longer while offering maximized comfort and durability. We are committed to minimizing printed marketing material and packaging which always results in more
litter and trash.
HISTORY
Spokiz was invented on a rooftop in Jefferson Colorado in 2003. Tony Caniglia and I were building his straw bale house when my glasses fell off my head and I accidentally stepped on them. With a cordless drill in hand I fixed my glasses and kept working. Soon thereafter people began bringing me their broken glasses to fix.
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
We manufacture the most durable lightweight materials to create hingeless eyeglasses. Continually refining the original concept and persistant product sourcing led to a new breed of eyewear called spokiz. We also made the band assembly adjustable which created a way for the retailers to sell the glasses for any headsize. This was a long process but we finally built what we consider to be the strongest, long lasting, glasses available.
We made the band interchangeable and customizable for point of sale custonization. We started training sales staff to offer any color band for any frame style. With the product fully developed, we decided to start testing it. Specail thanks to all the employees at Backwoods in Omaha and Kansas City-especially Tom, Rachel, Tony, and Dana. Thanks to Alex Manzo and Jonathan Khan of confluence kayaks. You all helped create our product by standing by us in our product development phase and shelving the sunglasses before the concept was fully developed.
PRODUCT TESTING
We introduced the childrens frames to the Nebraska Medical Center Optical department. The parents now had a choice too try something different and it worked. “University Optical uses spokiz mostly for small kids that have a hard time keeping their glasses on. The kids love the bright colors and parents like to design them to fit their child.”
We also introduced the product to a select few kayakers and SUP boarders. They immediately used the glasses in their daily repertoire with success. They showed how the glasses work under helmuts and stay on your head no matter what. Confluence Kayaks in Denver picked up our unknown brand and now we have many satisfied customers using the glasses for white water kayaking and stand up paddle boarding . Aaron Koch and Alex Manzo, became the official product testing crew-along with the rest of their team at Kayak Huesteca in mexico. More thanks to Mariela, Patrick, Enrique, Amilkar, and Marje. Outward bound instructors Nathan Stayrook Hobbs, Laura Friesell, “Zippy” and Alvin Goeser have also been instrumental in product development and testing.
After introducing the sunglasses to Backwoods in Omaha, Nebraska. I met Brian Regan at a Backwoods Holiday party. He approached me to set up a distribution hub in Austin TX. Brian took the glasses across the country selling at crewing events. He no longer distributes spokiz eyewear or sunglasses. He has started his own marketing/branding firm called all encompassing business solutions.
Also testing the glasses are Dentist, Doctors, Glassblowers, Blacksmith, Potters, Workin Men, Farmers, Pilots, to name a few.
Spokiz does not offer sponserships; however, we have spokes people and product testing gurus. Our product last longer and stands on it’s own without giving sponserships. Instead we give back to the community through community service by countless hours of volunteering and helping with special needs individuals. We do support events which promote cooperative healthy outdoor activities and ecological awareness.
James Hermsen
real life scientist/accidental inventor
Philosophy-live simple
Our responsibility to future generations is conserving clean air, clean water and an abundance of fertile soil. Maintaining plant and species is crucial for the survival of mankind into the future , we can do our part to minimize our impact. Spokiz last longer!