Innovation

The idea arose from the owner's need to be a contact lens user. He suffered through delays in order delivery and terrible service that did not justify the high cost. For this reason, he decided to study and develop a better way to evolve or innovate in the industry, and in turn support children with limited resources.

The venture was created by Jaime Oriol and Diego Mariño while they were doing an MBA at the University of Pennsylvania. Once finished, they moved to Colombia and started Lentesplus in June 2014.

In seeking to provide a better service, Lentesplus was based on five values, one of which is synthesized in its social mission and spread on its Web page: "We are passionate about improving the vision and health of people, offering eye products at affordable prices. As part of our mission, we are partnering with a charity to help improve the vision of those most in need." This mission is reflected in its strong commercial reception and social contribution.

Inspiration

Lentesplus is a Colombian company dedicated to the commercialization of contact lenses, born of the need of one of the partners: "I always suffered when I got some lenses for myself. When I went to an optic to buy some, they told me that they had not been available and it took weeks to get them. That's why I decided to create a company that would provide this service in an agile, timely manner and with good quality materials. The solution was in front of my eyes."

Overall impact

The impact on Lentesplus is reflected in the fact that not only is it operating at a national level, but this prosperous business already works in Mexico and Chile and has its eyes on Argentina and Peru. Solving problems of delivery and time, the company also focuses on quality, seeking to be a reference of visual health for Latin America with a Colombian stamp.

Currently in Colombia Lentesplus has had recognition and sustainability since it offers ocular products at affordable prices. It also has acceptance by society not only locally but also in other countries seeking to help improve the vision of the most needy.

The orders for the lenses are made via the Internet, which significantly decreases the use of stationery and logistics (space and frequency of transport). This contributes positively to the environment and optimizes the time and the waiting in the acquisition of contact lenses.

In the long term, the expectation is to continue expanding its coverage at the Latin American level and mainly in Colombia, where the company plans to open offices in the coast and Medellín to obtain very large local coverage and thus maximize its operations in terms of costs and delivery times.

Due to its great acceptance in the national market of optometry, many children from poor neighborhoods in the city of Bogotá have participated in more than 1,000 vision exams. In addition, Lentesplus delivered 4,000 pairs of spectacles as a strategic ally to the World Vision Foundation, contributing more and more to children's ability to see and read better and thus improving their academic performance.

In 2015 Lentesplus won Start-Up Chile, which allowed expansion to this country in a more efficient way.

Business benefit

Lentesplus seeks benefits for all its stakeholders. It grants several privileges to its employees, one of them being higher salaries than other companies in its sector offer. Faced with suppliers, the company seeks to build a long-term relationship in order to fulfill its customers' needs and be more competitive. Managing more available inventory, faster delivery, and reduced prices generates easy access to the market, offering products 30% lower than the market.

Social and environmental benefit

Lentesplus' numbers at the level of social benefits are very encouraging. The company, which was founded in 2014, already has to date provided more than 1,000 vision exams and delivered 4,000 pairs of glasses.

Interview

Diego Mariño, Co-Founder, Lentesplus

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