Barz Optics, known to many as an active industry participant and regular at many boat shows both locally and internationally, has been put on the market by its owner and industry stalwart Kevin Barr.
After establishing Barz Optics 28 years ago Kevin Barr has decided to sell the company. Kevin says; “Health issues over the last two years have taken their toll so it’s time to smell the flowers”.
Kevin has been in the action sport industry for over 50 years. Initially owing surf, sailboard and snow stores and later as the Queensland representative for companies like O’Neill, Hot Buttered, Oakley, Arnette, Creatures of Leisure, Rheopaipo bodyboards and Freestyle watches.
In 1996 Barz Optics was established when Barr developed a sunglass / goggle for surfers and sailors to wear to inhibit the growth of Pterygium (a cataract type growth) where the eye is trying to protect its self from the elements such ass UV, glare, spray and wind.
The product was released at the Action Sport Show in Long Beach California later that year. Initially the Barz Optics team had several approaches from by Arnette, Bolle, Tommy Hilfiger, H2Optics, Smith and Yamamoto Kogaku to licence the product for them to distribute under their brand.
In the late 90’s Barz diversified by adding price point polarised sunglasses into their range.
Barz prospered with niche areas in the sunglass market firstly with floating frames and then later with a range of exotic lenses including – polarised photochromic, polarised infused with melanin, polarised with small readers in their base and our award winning Polarised photochromic with readers fitted into a floating frame. The company has been a past recipient of the Australian Marine Industries “Most Innovative Marine Export.” and also nominated for a prestigious DAME Award at METS, the Marine Industry trade Show.
The last ten years have been fruitful with exports going to 32 countries, and OEM product has been produced for major international companies.
Looking at the diversity of the business, Kevin says that a third of sales are export, a third are wholesale to retailers and a third of the business comes through our showroom sales, online web purchases, or at events like Sanctuary Cove Boat Show.
Barz sell products into the Marine, sail, surf, jet ski, sailboard, kite, fishing, optical and general sunglass markets.
For those interested in a confidential chat about the opportunities the Barz business presents, a call to the business owner Kevin Barr on 0400 769 559 would be a call worth making.
