Hawkers has launched H20, its first collection eco-friendly environmentally responsible sunglasses. Made from biodegradable materials, the H20 sunglasses also include 100 percent sustainable packaging.
The limited-edition collection contains 6 models, all of which include frames and lenses are made with a combination of planet-friendly materials using ground-breaking biomaterials and biodegradables. The sunglasses are made using long-established techniques to recycle existing plastics.
Environmentally friendly products are a passion for Hawkers president Alejandro Betancourt. Since Betancourt and a group of investors put 50 million Euros (US $56 million) in Hawkers, the company has seen significant expansion.
In recent years, the company has expanded beyond its base in Spain with distribution throughout Europe, Asia and North America. In 2018, Betancourt became the controlling shareholder with an additional investment of 20 million Euros (US $21 million). …
A couple of months ago, we highlighted a few major companies that deserved recognition for their commitment to sustainability. We wanted to feature one that deserves its own column for its incredible steps towards eco-friendly business practices. This company is Hawkers.
Hawkers — an Eyewear Company Predicated on Sustainability
Hawkers is an eyewear company that was built on challenging the status quo. Started by a few friends with plenty of vision, this tiny enterprise had big goals to disrupt a behemoth industry. Between the retail costs and the inefficiency of the manufacturing process, the company wanted to see a serious revamp.
With very little seed money (in fact just €300) the founders got ready to set the world on fire. Recently, the company came out with an eco-friendly sunglass line that fashionistas everywhere will be proud to wear. …
Hawkers, a company that produces sunglasses fitted with polarized lenses that are styled to impress, began in December 2013. In just two years, the company began to top the “best-of” lists. It’s fair to say that the company disrupted the fashion sunglasses industry. From just a few hundred initial sales, Alejandro Betancourt grew the company into a mega-selling store that, by 2016, moved 10,000 units per day and raked in over $70 million. To do so, Hawkers revolutionized the potential for e-commerce and online selling, but they didn’t follow the standardized rules. Of the $70 million in sales made in 2016, almost $65 million came from social media. …
Hawkers Co. began with four friends who wanted to finance their website development. Their story is a testament to just how profitable it can be to turn to the right person for help. After some initial stumbles, Alejandro Betancourt Lopez was able to catapult this company off the ground.
We’ll look at how Hawkers got its start, how it managed to grow and why bringing in Alejandro Betancourt worked to their advantage. Learn more about how he was able to leverage influencer marketing long before it was even popular.
The Very Beginning
The four founders of Hawkers were originally working on something akin to a Spanish version of Craigslist. The development was slow-going though, and not making nearly as much money as they had hoped. In the midst of looking for other income streams, they stumbled upon pairs of sunglasses from California and managed to sell them at a profit. …
Today, this innovation continues with the release of H20, a line of eco-friendly sunglasses created from a combination of sustainable materials and discarded plastic salvaged from the world’s seas. A ‘capsule’ of six H20 models of different colors and styles can be found for a limited time in a special 100% sustainable package.
Company officials call H20 “a first step” in its global commitment to help improve the planet. …
The company ran into losses and product supply issues by 2016. Expenses had increased and the company was floundering, despite making millions each year. The founders decided to do some rounds of funding and select a leader with a strong sense of business. That early round of investors infused the company with 50 million euros. Alejandro Betancourt Lopez joined the team as President, investing his money in 2018 to even become the largest shareholder at 50%.
Alejandro Betancourt Lopez earned two degrees from Massachusetts’s Suffolk University. His education in economics and business administration has been a huge vantage point to help the small startup to become a major vision wear player. Coming from a family with a heart for business, Alejandro Betancourt Lopez had already played angel investor to businesses across a number of industries. …
In 2016, Hawkers needed a change. What had started out as a small idea, had ballooned into something out of control. The founders of Hawkers turned to Alejandro Betancourt Lopez for a different leadership style that was innovative yet calculated. They needed someone who wasn’t afraid to make the bold moves but was experienced enough to also make smart moves.
Alejandro Betancourt Lopez offered that leadership. By 2018, he had become the company’s biggest shareholder with a large investment of his own that resulted in 50% of the Hawkers stake. …
The recent announcement of the brand’s dive into contact lens offerings has further secured the Hawkers as an economical solution for top-quality eyewear.
Hawkers is already well known for its wide range of sunglasses that are similar to big brands, without the hefty price tag. Billed as a subscription service for convenient daily lenses, Hawkers newest move into prescription lenses is stirring things up once again in the eyewear industry.
What started as a micro startup in Spain has ballooned into a multi-million dollar business. Over 4.5 million sunglasses have been sold across 50 countries, largely through online eCommerce alone. The startup that cost Alex Moreno and Caleb Garrett $300 to start in 2013 has spiked to be worth over $100 million USD.
When Hawkers hit a demand issue, the founders brought in Alejandro Betancourt Lopez to help the company flourish. The wildly popular sunglasses company had gained steam online for a grassroots-style emergence as a big player on the field. …
There is a common misconception that contacts need to be expensive to be high-quality. Hawkers has set out to prove these assumptions wrong, partnering with a manufacturer who has over 40 years of experience. By cutting out all of the middle-man players in the contacts game, Hawkers is able to provide major savings to their customers.
Hawkers President Alejandro Betancourt Lopez started working with the company in 2016. …
Alejandro Betancourt, president of Hawkers, the popular Spanish sunglasses purveyor, is a charismatic leader who sets a clear vision for the future of the companies he leads. He recently sat down with Company Leaders to talk about Hawkers, how he came to be involved with the company and what we can expect from Hawkers in the future.
Hawkers was founded in southern Spain in 2013 with just $300 in cash, a good idea and a passion for digital marketing. Explains Betancourt, “Online marketing through social media was extremely cheap and not expensive (at that time). It was something that was not yet utilized by the big corporations. So, you could exploit that in the sense that you could reach customers in a very efficient way and convert that into real sales — if the product was right. The founders realized after trying several different products, that sunglasses were an item that can easily be the right price, and with the right targeting on social media, could convert into sales efficiently.” The formula was extremely successful and the company that would become Hawkers, Co. boomed. Today, Hawkers sells about five million pairs of sunglasses each year, both online and in more than 100 stores located throughout Europe. …
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