Swissvale Company Supports Animals Through Eyewear

Local business owner Sam Shapiro is launching a new product brand that will combine his established business and his lifelong love of animals. His company is Eye Deals Eyewear on Waverly Avenue in Swissvale and the brand is called Paws ‘N Claws. 

The concept started two years ago with the simple idea of giving back. With 170 million dog and cat owners in the United States, it was a natural fit to design frames for this audience and contribute to a national charity at the same time. 

Shapiro chose the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) who serves as the nation’s leading voice for animal welfare. Eye Deals Eyewear will donate 5 percent of its net sales to the ASPCA®. 

“We wanted to support a cause that’s close to our hearts and make it easy for pet lovers everywhere to easily join in the fight to prevent cruelty to animals,” Shapiro said.

He and his wife Phyllis also support local animal charities such as Steel City Greyhounds, Animal Rescue League and Pet Match adoption service.  

The Paws ‘N Claws frames are subtly embellished with symbols of paw prints and bones so animal lovers can show their support in a fashionable way. In the Pittsburgh area, Paws ‘N Claws will be carried by all seven Eyetique locations and there are nearly 500 optical retailers nationally that will stock the frames. 

One of the more trendy optical retailers in the area, Eyetique is a perfect fit for the brand. Owners Norman and Brad Childs are avid animal supporters as well and have been known to put out water and offer biscuits to dogs walking by their urban locations. 

Paws ‘N Claws was recently compared to TOMS as “Another example of a brand giving back in an innovative way” in the national marketing publication Brand Channel . “May this model spread like wildfire across the retail landscape,” noted Sheila Shayon on BrandChannel.com. 

The company behind the product, Eye Deals Eyewear Inc. was founded in 1983 by Samuel Shapiro. They provide new product development, design, consulting, and marketing and distribution services for the optical market. 

Eye Deals has successfully launched many national brands of eyewear, and hopes this to be the biggest.