In fall of 2025, Roniko, a leader in the optics industry, is preparing to celebrate its 30th anniversary, with a series of exciting promotions and significant developments to commemorate this milestone.
Roland Javakhia, General Director of Roniko, told Golden Brand that a highlight of the celebration will be the unveiling of the company’s new office, which will feature a spacious and multifunctional regional showroom.
The new office boasts ample space for a variety of events, including presentations, optical exhibitions, and other gatherings that will allow Roniko to connect with a growing audience across the South Caucasus, Europe, and Asia.
“We aim to become the leading company in the optics industry, not only in the South Caucasus but also in a broader geographical area,” Javakhia said.
Q. What products and services will Roniko introduce in 2025?
A. We have numerous projects in the pipeline. One of Roniko’s strengths is our collection of sunglasses, which we plan to emphasize in the future. But since optics is a medical field, we will also continue to develop this area. Our primary focus will be on children and adolescents. Our partner company, HOYA, offers an ultra-modern spectacle lens called MiYOSMART, which is designed to control myopia in children. As you may know, myopia is becoming increasingly prevalent due to young people’s excessive use of gadgets. This eyeglass lens not only addresses this issue but also slows down the progression of myopia.
Q. How would you assess 2024 and the current period?
A. The year 2024 was an election year. Leading up to the elections, we achieved very good results. Our strategy focused on modernizing our existing Roniko branches rather than increasing their number. We made significant improvements, enhancing the appearance of our optical salons, creating more premium spaces, training our employees, and prioritizing professional education to enhance our services.
After the elections, our country faced an unstable situation that posed real challenges to business progress. Despite this, I believe we maintained stability. Due to global instability, our partners are producing products more cautiously and modestly, emphasizing quality, which is commendable. Unfortunately, we continually receive updates about rising product prices, which is disappointing.
Q. What are customers’ favorite brands, and what can you tell us about optical fashion news and trends? Do you have a children’s line?
A. Among Roniko’s brands the consistent favorite is Ray-Ban, particularly its iconic Wayfarer model. In spring 2025, a specific, narrow model of Ray-Ban RB4441 is expected to be very trendy and in high demand. This season, the Miu Miu brand is also popular, offering interesting shapes. Fashion bloggers and influencers worldwide significantly impact consumer preferences, and we closely monitor these trends to supply the market with sought-after models.
We see strong sales with several other world-class brands, including Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Chopard, Cartier, Mont Blanc, Porsche Design, Persol, Zegna, Giorgio Armani, Versace, and others. Our house brand, George Piralli, is particularly popular among Georgian consumers who eagerly await new models. We regularly update this brand’s collections two to three times a year, marking a significant achievement for our company and the market!
Regarding our children’s line, we offer a robust assortment of models from brands such as Vogue, Ray-Ban, and Emporio Armani. We carry collections featuring Harry Potter, DC Comics, and Lopito. We recognize the substantial potential in children’s optics and plan to focus more on this area.
Q. In addition to glasses, Roniko also offers a wide selection of contact lenses and spectacle lenses. Can you discuss this further?
A. There is a growing demand for contact lenses and personalized orders in the market. Our ophthalmologists provide expert advice to our customers on astigmatic contact lenses. So we receive a significant number of individual orders for contact lenses. In particular, 2024 saw a substantial increase in this area, which is continuing into 2025. This growth is primarily related to the Biofinity lenses from the CooperVision brand, which are currently regarded as the best lenses in the world.
We have greatly expanded our range of spectacle lenses, with backing from two industry leaders: the Japanese company HOYA and the French company Essilor. We have also made significant progress in fulfilling individual orders for progressive spectacle lenses. To implement these custom orders effectively, we operate as a cohesive team involving our ophthalmologists, opticians at Roniko branches, brand managers, and support from our partners. This collaborative approach has led to impressive and innovative results.
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