�Edwards says the expanded product offering has so far been very successful. BrightEyes will this month launch a new website and social media strategy to compliment the new product offering, with each store to have its own Facebook page. Edwards was part of a local conglomerate that purchased BrightEyes in 2000, growing the business from 80 to 150 franchises over the following seven years to become Australia’s largest privately owned retail sunglasses network. In 2007, BrightEyes was sold to Oakley, which subsequently came under the ownership of Luxottica, which operates Sunglass Hut, OPSM, Budget Eyewear, Laubman & Pank, and Just Specs. There are now 50 BrightEyes stores. Edwards told Inside Retail PREMIUM he didn’t sell with the intent to leave the company. “I sold to stay, and I saw an opportunity that I could probably do things somewhat differently to them,” he said. BrightEyes is experiencing a period of growth, with all new stores to have an expanded footprint. The average store size will grow from 40sqm to 80sqm. “We have recently completed lease negotiations with five shopping centre landlords to accommodate the bigger and better BrightEyes stores, and this sets a solid  platform for future success,” said Edwards. The new stores, which will be corporately owned and operated, will be open before the end of 2014. They will be located at Cairns, Darwin, Hervey Bay, Indooroopilly, and Mt Gravatt, all in Queensland. “I am trying different areas; regional, high end, mid-market, lower; just to see where, and what works in different areas, and how we can tailor products to suit when we want to rollout more broadly.” Edwards says another eight corporately owned stores will be opened in 2015. The concept won’t be rolled out to franchised stores until the model is proven successful. “I am putting my money where my mouth is, and making sure the model works and is successful before I offer it to our franchisees.”