Kids sunglasses are an easy category to overlook, but for family focused retailers, gift shops, and stores near beaches or outdoor destinations, it is often a steady seller that parents actively look for. Getting the assortment right comes down to safety features parents care about and styles kids will actually want to wear.
What Parents Actually Look For
Parents shopping for kids sunglasses are usually looking for real UV protection first, followed by durability, since kids sunglasses take more physical abuse than an adult pair. A shatter resistant lens matters more in this category than almost any other, given how kids actually use and often drop or sit on their sunglasses.
Comparing Kids Collection Tiers
| Collection | Key Features | Best Fit For |
|---|---|---|
| Standard kids line | UV protection, shatter resistant lens | Everyday retail, gift shops, general family stores |
| Kids polarized collection | UV400 protection plus polarization against glare from flat surfaces like water | Beach towns, outdoor and water focused retailers |
Why Polarized Matters More Near Water
Standard UV protection blocks direct sunlight, but polarized lenses also cut glare reflected off flat surfaces such as water, sand, and pavement. For retailers near beaches, lakes, or pools, a polarized kids option gives parents a meaningful upgrade to point to, and it is worth highlighting on signage since many parents do not know the difference until it is explained.
Style Still Matters for Kids
Parents make the purchase, but kids often decide whether they will actually wear the sunglasses. Fun colors, familiar shapes like aviators sized down for kids, and sturdy frames that hold up to rough handling all affect whether a pair ends up worn or left in a drawer.
Where Kids Sunglasses Fit in Your Store
This category performs well displayed near other family or gift items rather than lumped in with adult sunglasses, since parents shopping for kids are often browsing a different part of the store entirely. A small dedicated section, even just a portion of a display, makes the category easier for parents to find.
Gift Season Is a Real Opportunity Here
Kids sunglasses often see a secondary sales bump around gift giving occasions separate from the main summer season, particularly in family and gift focused stores. Planning a portion of holiday season ordering around this category is worth considering alongside your main summer assortment.
Add Kids Sunglasses to Your Assortment
West Coast Sunglasses offers a standard kids line built for UV protection and durability, along with a kids polarized collection for retailers serving beach and outdoor markets.
Call 727-530-9260 or toll free 866-228-3888, or email info@westcoastsunglasses.com to add kids sunglasses to your wholesale order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for in a wholesale kids sunglasses line?
Real UV protection and a shatter resistant lens matter most, since kids sunglasses are handled more roughly than adult pairs. Look for a supplier that documents UV protection rather than just stating it on the label.
Is polarized worth it for kids sunglasses?
For retailers near water or outdoor recreation areas, yes. Polarized lenses cut glare reflected off flat surfaces like water and pavement, which is a meaningful upgrade parents will notice once it is explained.
Where should kids sunglasses be displayed in a store?
Near other family or gift items tends to work better than mixing them into an adult sunglasses display, since parents shopping for kids are often browsing a different part of the store.
Do kids sunglasses sell outside of summer?
Yes. Many family and gift focused retailers see a secondary bump around the holiday gift season, separate from the main summer buying window.
Does style matter as much as safety features for kids sunglasses?
Both matter. Parents care most about UV protection and durability, but kids are more likely to actually wear a pair they like the look of, so a mix of fun colors and sturdy frames performs best.
About West Coast Sunglasses Inc.
West Coast Sunglasses Inc. has been a trusted wholesale sunglasses supplier since 2001, offering polarized, fashion, sport, kids, and premium licensed collections including Hawaiian Island Creations and Mia Nova. The company works exclusively with wholesale accounts holding a valid tax ID and offers free display programs to help retailers merchandise the sunglasses category effectively.
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