As a distributor, online retailer, or gift supplier for telescope and binoculars, Eyepieces can be a fantastic addition to your product lines. Turn your good telescopes into great ones. When buying in bulk and rebranding them, they create a huge difference in a crowded market.
China is home to the backbone of the global supply for optics, in form of factories that can grind the raw glass for you and even assemble the finished product. While getting the private label eyepieces at the lowest possible price is simple by just picking the lowest quote for your needs in large quantities, there is more to it than just that.
For many distributors, Eyepieces are in the ‘sweet spot’ of distribution products. Eyepieces are small, of a reasonable weight for shipping and are of interest to serious amateurs, Astronomy Clubs and groups, as well as to retailers that sell products for outdoor pursuits. There is steady demand for Eyepieces throughout the year with occasional spikes around public holidays and during times of major astronomical events, such as eclipses.
Reselling simple products brought customers one step closer to buying private label products and earning higher margins and customer loyalty. For example, our 8-20mm zoom eyepieces are sold as private label products. When we send these products to a buyer in their packaging with their logo engraved, they feel like a very high-end product.
Most distributors first import standard eyepieces and resell them in the market as is. While this can be successfully done for some time, with increasing competition in the market, most retailers and end users today expect more than just an item. They expect good packaging, unique features, and most importantly, a sense of ownership of the item being distributed.
Private labeling enables you to create your own “story” about your product. For example, the distributor of high quality binoculars mentioned above switched to custom made eyepieces with his logo embossed on them as well as a custom made hard case. The repeat order rate for this product subsequently shot up. People now associate high quality with his brand name as opposed to the factory that originally made the product.
Volume orders unlock the many advantages:
No two eyepieces are made the same. Discuss specific needs of your customers with suppliers.
Common options include:
The quality of the lenses, including multi-layer coatings that maximize brightness and contrast, as well as flat-field design to keep the images sharp to the edges for your astronomical images of star clusters, etc.
There are several areas where you can request changes for good manufacturers treating customization as routine.
One practical example: A European distributor wanted eyepieces tailored for beginners. They asked for softer rubber eyecups and simpler focus mechanisms. The factory delivered prototypes in three weeks, and the final order shipped with full private labeling.
Most factories set minimum order quantities somewhere between 200-500 pieces for custom work. Lead times usually run 4-6 weeks for production after samples get approved.
The main points you would cover in a conversation with a supplier.
Be prepared to be charged on a tiered basis for test samples of different sizes. For small test orders you will likely be charged at a higher per part cost than for larger production orders. As the quantity of parts for production increases the cost per part will decrease significantly.
Sample Bulk Pricing Structure (approximate, varies by spec):
Order Quantity | Standard Model (USD/unit) | Custom Private Label (USD/unit) |
|---|---|---|
100-499 | $18-28 | $22-35 |
500-1999 | $14-22 | $17-26 |
2000+ | $11-18 | $13-21 |
The prices above are rough estimates based on the number of lens surfaces and the number of coatings. It is always best to get a price quote from an optical supplier for a specific set of drawings to get the most accurate price.
Do not skip this! Serious buyers include inspection in their offer.
Our research found that factories with strong in-house labs and ISO systems tend to perform better over time and deliver more consistent results.
Hemusun Optical Instrument Co., Ltd. is a professional and high-quality optical products manufacturer, researcher, developer, supplier, factory and dealer with advanced production lines that can complete the processes of lens grinding and polishing to optical components’ assembly. As an Optical Components, Eyepieces, Other Optical Instruments manufacturer, Hemusun specializes in custom-made optical components and provides full OEM/ODM services. Our products also can be supplied in large quantities with private label for B2B clients all over the world. One of our best products is the 8-20mm planar APO zoom eyepiece which is perfect for astronomical observation and provides good color correction and a wide field of view. We are an ISO compliant manufacturer with experiences of supplying to customers all over the world, providing high quality products with flexible solutions for B2B customers.
In order to increase the sales in bulk with private label eyepieces a lot of potential is added. In contrast to glasses that are only sold on the basis of price the distributor can build up something that belongs to him. Of course it is important to test, to find the right manufacturer and to explain the brand to him thoroughly. The distributors that make this step are also winning in the optics-Accessories market.
Look for factories that understand both the technical side of lenses and the branding needs of distributors. They should show examples of past custom work and have clear processes for logo application and packaging.
After we approve your sample, it will take 4-6 weeks to produce a few hundred to a couple thousand eyepieces. There are also options for rush production but they are more expensive.
Yes. Most suppliers can provide eyepieces with specific lens features. It is then up to you to clearly outline your requirements.
Minimum order quantities for manufacturing private label eyepieces can vary depending on the factory, the type of eyepiece and level of customizing. However most factories will start taking custom private label work from 300-500 units of eyepieces. Also it is possible to place test orders of smaller quantities but this will generally cost more per unit.
They create recognition. Customers remember your name on the product and packaging. Over time, this builds trust and makes it easier to introduce other items under the same brand.