Christopher D. Shyer

Founded in 1923 by Joseph Shyer, Zyloware first made its home in Long Island City, New York, when the area was surrounded by potato fields. For 87 years, through several expansions and its evolution into the global supplier it is today, Zyloware remained on the same block, just across the East River from the Manhattan skyline. In August 2010, Zyloware moved to its new corporate headquarters in Port Chester, New York. "Due to our strong portfolio and customer base growth, we have increased our square footage by 50% in a new state-of-the-art facility. Operational improvements throughout each department will allow us to continue providing the eyewear industry with the finest in product and customer service, and provide for continued growth," said Christopher Shyer, President of Zyloware Eyewear. Citing Zyloware's move to Port Chester - "This is an enormous change, signaling the company's rapid growth in its third generation of family management. We're very excited about this expansion and how it will improve our operations and its positive effect on our customers," said James Shyer, Zyloware Chief Operating Officer. Known as an optical innovator, Zyloware leads the industry in original product development and branding initiatives. Perhaps Zyloware's most widely recognized innovation was the development of the Invincible in 1964. The first frame made out of Nylon and the industry's most successful ever Nylon frame sold in the United States, the Invincible has sold over 20 million frames. Zyloware is also credited with several industry "firsts". They launched the first American designer eyewear brand — Gloria Vanderbilt Eyewear — in 1976. Zyloware launched the first eyewear collection named for a celebrity — Sophia Loren Eyewear — in 1980. In 1982, Zyloware launched its award-winning Stetson Eyewear collection and the line became widely recognized as the first American eyewear brand for men. Since then, Zyloware has successfully expanded its brand portfolio to include the stylish Randy Jackson Collection, the prestigious Via Spiga Collection, the elegant Natori Collection, the fashionable Daisy Fuentes Collection and its own Zyloware and Invincilites house brands, thereby offering eyewear for nearly every consumer. Today Zyloware is over 20 years into its third generation of family stewardship, and remains an independent, privately held company. It is the oldest family-owned optical frame supplier in the United States. By carefully adding well-known brands and exciting products, Zyloware continues to grow. The company has increased the scope and size of its sales force in conjunction with its in-house marketing and product development teams. Zyloware continually receives awards for frame quality and design, marketing and our customer service. Zyloware is aggressively adapting to the ever-changing needs of the eyewear industry; however, the core values of the company will always remain the same. Zyloware will always develop the highest quality products, provide superior customer service and remain dedicated to the needs of eyecare professionals and consumers. For over 88 years, Zyloware has developed warm, lasting relationships with its customers. The Zyloware family looks forward to continuing those special relationships as it continues to innovate and introduce desirable eyewear products.

Lever Brothers was a British manufacturer founded in 1885 by William Hesketh Lever (1851–1925) and his brother, James Darcy Lever (1854–1910). The brothers had invested in and promoted a new soap making process invented by chemist William Hough Watson. It was a huge success. In 1930, Lever Brothers merged with Margarine Unie to form Unilever. Starting with a small grocery business begun by his father, William Lever and his brother James entered the soap business in 1885 by buying a small soap works in Warrington. The brothers teamed up with a Bolton chemist, William Hough Watson, who became an early business partner. Watson invented the process which resulted in a new soap, using glycerin and vegetable oils such as palm oil, rather than tallow. The resulting soap was a good, free-lathering soap, at first named Honey Soap then later named "Sunlight Soap". Production reached 450 tons per week by 1888. Larger premises were built on marshes at Bromborough Pool on the Wirral Peninsula at what became Port Sunlight. Though the company was named Lever Brothers, William Lever's brother and co-director James never took a major part in running the business. He fell ill in 1895, probably as a result of diabetes, and resigned his directorship two years later. Lever Brothers was one of several British companies that took an interest in the welfare of its employees. The model village of Port Sunlight was developed between 1888 and 1914 adjoining the soap factory to accommodate the company's staff in good quality housing, with high architectural standards and many community facilities.