Sanibel Sunglass Company
by Linda Christman - Sanibel Island

After selling their successful national 40-store Sunglass Outlet enterprise six years ago, Sanibel residents Neil and Birgit Peck are back at it again and honored to be in retail on Sanibel Island, by opening the Sanibel Sunglass Company at 2075 Periwinkle Way in Periwinkle Place on November 14, 2008.

The Store

Sanibel Sunglass Company offers close to 20 brands of stylish, high-quality designs that all offer the UVA, UVB and UVC protection needed to help prevent sun-related eye damage. Whether you want a casual pair of shades for the beach or some sturdy, polarized sunglasses for your fishing trip, this store offers everything from attractive, value-oriented products to premier top-of-the-line items. Some of the brands include: Bolle, Costa Del Mar, Kaenon, Maui Jim, Oakley and Reptile. The inventory will soon expand to include a variety of fashion ladies’ eyewear as well.


The Pecks were pleased to reunite some of their key support staff from their previous operation, including their financial controller, buyer and top district manager.

Customers Come First

No matter what brand, style, tint or price tag you’re looking for, the Pecks and their staff want what’s best for their customers.

“Every person that comes in is basically looking for something different,” Neil says. “Our job is to go to a fact-finding mission of asking the appropriate questions to find out why the folks are coming into our store so that we can lead them to the appropriate product that makes the most sense for them. We don’t own brand names. Our competitors own about a dozen or so of their own brands and their goal is to sell you their brands. Our goal is to find the best product that fits the needs of our customers---not what we want them to buy, but what they need, and that is one of the main characteristics of our business.”

Birgit cautions that most customers are not aware that cheap sunglasses can often do more harm than good, and that eyes can be tricked into thinking they are being sufficiently shielded, exposing them to the potential dangers of cataracts, snow blindness and cancer.

“Often times people think if they are wearing sunglasses, they’re protecting their eyes. But they aren't,” she warns.

That’s why it’s important to the Pecks that they help each customer select affordable, protective, comfortable, well-fitting sunglasses.

Family Affair

Neil and Birgit included several family members to help them create and design their store’s bright and cheery atmosphere.

Birgit’s sister, noted and sought after industrial designer Kristin VanDeWalle, who lives in Bozeman Montana, defined and designed the store’s artistic concept and the company’s identity and logo. "Kristin helped us develop the vision of an old Florida feeling into a retail space that includes the look, the smell and the sounds of Florida. Our goal was to make it comfortable and 'kicked back' and she achieved it," said Birgit.


Neil, who is a descendant of famous 19th century humorist, writer and Wisconsin governor George W. Peck, enlisted his sister, popular artist Adair Peck, to create the five papier mache birds perched throughout the store.

When they are not working, Neil and Birgit, along with their son Olin, 9, and daughter Lander, 7, love to play tennis whenever they can. Birgit played for Miami (Ohio) University tennis team, and Neil and his doubles partner went undefeated in a USTA national tournament held in Tucson in September 2008. In addition the whole family takes their Redfish and Snook fishing very seriously.

History

Neil and Birgit opened their first sunglass store in a factory outlet mall in San Marcos, Texas in 1993. Their business eventually grew to 40 outlet stores across the country, including a franchise in the Miromar Outlet Mall in Ft. Myers, Florida. They sold their business to a larger competitor six years ago and worked with real estate in the Bozeman, Montana area.

The Pecks, who had fallen in love with Southwest Florida, bought a second home in Sanibel in 2003 and now spend most of their time there.

The Future

Neil and Birgit decided to build another multi-store operation, and they believe sunny Sanibel, Florida was the most appropriate place to start their new business venture. Neil and Birgit wear fishing shirts to work in keeping with the tropical atmosphere of their store, and they hope that island ambiance spreads to their future stores.

“We fell in love with Sanibel Island,” Neil said. “One of our goals is going to be to take the flavor of old Florida, Sanibel particularly, to different parts of the country. If you’re from Sanibel, you might be walking through a beautiful shopping center in Houston and you’ll see Sanibel Sunglass Company, and you’ll walk in and feel like you’re at home, and that’s what we’ve tried to accomplish here. We want to be laid-back but a professional company to service your needs.”