Understanding MOQ and Ready Stock in the Eyewear Industry: Balancing Flexibility and Quality
In the eyewear manufacturing industry, MOQ, or Minimum Order Quantity, is one of the most influential factors in pricing, production efficiency, and client decision-making.
As a professional eyewear manufacturer, Shim Sight understand the need to strike a balance between flexibility for our clients and maintaining the high standards of frame quality and efficiency expected in production.
In this page, let's explore the origins of MOQ, the differences between order-based production and ready stock, and how we are innovating to reduce MOQ while preserving eyeglasses product quality.
What Is MOQ and Why Does It Exist?
Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) refers to the smallest number of units a manufacturer is willing to produce or sell for a single order. While sometimes viewed as a barrier for small businesses, MOQ exists for several practical reasons:
1. Economic Efficiency
Manufacturing is most cost-effective when run at scale. Larger orders spread setup costs (such as mold preparation, machine setup, and workforce coordination) over more units, reducing the unit cost of each eyeglasses frame. Producing just a few pieces would drastically increase the frame cost per unit, making small orders inefficient for both the eyeglasses manufacturer and the client.
2. Component Sourcing Requirements
Eyewear production involves numerous components—acetate sheets, hinges, nose pads, lenses, metal parts, screws, and packaging materials—all of which often come with their own supplier MOQs. For example, if the minimum order for a specific hinge color is 500 pieces, we cannot efficiently produce a frame that uses that hinge in quantities below this quantity.
3. Production Workflow
Eyewear manufacturing involves complex processes—cutting, CNC milling, lamination, tumbling, polishing, assembly, quality control—that are optimized for batch processing. Small orders interrupt production flow and require disproportionate attention, raising overhead and lead times.
Ready Stock vs. Order-Based Production
To accommodate diverse client needs, eyeglasses manufacturers often offer two production paths: Ready Stock and Order-Based Production. Each has its own advantages and limitations.
Ready Stock: Low MOQ, Fast Shipping, but Limited Customization
Ready stock refers to pre-manufactured eyewear frames that are stored in inventory and available for immediate purchase.
Pros:
- Very low or zero MOQ (sometimes even single-piece orders)
- Short lead times – perfect for urgent orders or market testing
- No production wait time
Cons:
- Limited customization – colors, branding, and sizes are fixed
- Inconsistent availability – inventory can run out quickly
- Quality may vary if ready stock is sourced from multiple batches or suppliers
- Lower flexibility for brand identity and differentiation
Ready stock is ideal for startups, small retailers, or customers needing quick restocks. However, it is not suited for eyewear businesses that value consistent branding, product uniqueness, and long-term scalability.
Order-Based Production: High Customization and Quality Assurance
Order-based production involves producing eyewear frames according to each client’s specifications.
Pros:
Full customization – choose your own colors, materials, branding, packaging
Higher quality control – frames go through the full QC process with consistent components
Consistent design identity – essential for private label and brand growth
Better scalability – production can expand in volume or be repeated consistently
Cons:
Traditionally comes with higher MOQs
Longer lead times due to production scheduling
Despite the need for planning ahead, order-based production is the gold standard for brand-conscious eyewear businesses that prioritize identity, durability, and long-term value.
Our Efforts to Lower MOQ While Maintaining Quality
At Shim Sight, we recognize the challenges that MOQ presents, especially for new businesses or small-batch brands. That’s why we’ve taken steps to make order-based production more accessible:
Join Our Production Schedule
Clients can now join our regular production runs, pooling their eyewear orders with others to share component sourcing and manufacturing costs. This allows for lower MOQs without compromising on quality or customization options. Learn more about this here.
Modular Customization Options
We offer modular customization such as selecting from pre-approved acetate colors or standard temple designs, which minimizes custom component sourcing while offering personalization.
Flexible Materials Sourcing
By working closely with our suppliers and forecasting popular trends, we maintain in-house inventory of frequently used materials, reducing lead times and MOQ requirements for many designs.
Hybrid Strategy: Ready Stock + Branding
For clients who need quick turnaround but still want some brand identity, we offer ready stock frames with optional logo printing on temples or packaging—providing a mid-point solution between speed and customization.
Choose Smart, Grow with Confidence
While MOQ has real and necessary reasons in eyewear production, it's not an insurmountable obstacle. Whether you’re an eyewear retailer looking for fast-moving ready stock frames, or a brand builder seeking high-end custom frames, understanding MOQ dynamics will help you make smarter sourcing decisions.
At Shim Sight, we’re committed to giving you the best of both worlds: factory-direct quality, flexible order options, and a dedicated team that supports your growth.
Talk to us today to see how we can lower your MOQ and help your eyewear business scale efficiently.