“We went through tens, if not hundreds, of names that involved the sun of the valley and valley of the sun combinations,” said Anthony Devito. “But for some reason, we always came back to the simple yet purposeful name, Valley Rays.”
Anthony Devito said, “We tried dozens, if not even hundreds of names involving the sun of valley and valleys of the sun combinations, but for some reason we always came back with the simple, yet purposeful, name Valley Rays.”
There is something very direct and honest about this brand. Built on a love of the great outdoors and a drive to create a premium sunglasses brand without the heavy price tag, Anthony and his co-founder, Shane Eberspacher, are determined to crash through the (sun)glass ceiling of this industry.
We sat down to talk to Anthony about all things Valley Rays.
We discussed the impact of sustainability on small businesses, the difficulty of building a passion project on the side, and why Valley Rays has only just begun to scratch the surface of success.
Introducing: Valley Rays
At Valley Rays, we make premium sunglasses without the big brand price tag. We’re an independent sunglasses company based out of sunny Phoenix, Arizona. Living in one of the sunniest cities in the US inspired us to create a brand that was unique to our area and could stand up against the harsh desert sun.
“We mean it when we say ‘anywhere’. Mountain biking, cruising on the boat, or just out on the town – we wanted our sunglasses to be able to handle it.”
The Phoenix was officially launched in March 2023, and has since garnered rave reviews from our fans. Despite this, we wanted to deliver a high-quality product without the big brand price tag. It’s no secret that almost all of the name brands in the industry are owned by the same company, and they notoriously overcharge for their sunglasses, sometimes even charging a 1000% markup.
Sunny Side Up: The Inspiration
Living in Arizona, there are 315 days of pure sunshine every year. We thought our business was the perfect opportunity to give the world a taste of Arizona and give Arizona what it deserves: a local, premium sunglasses brand.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Product Quality | High-quality sunglasses made with premium materials at an affordable price. |
| Sustainability | Frames made from bio-resin, 50% biodegradable, with reusable packaging. |
| Design | Modern yet versatile designs that can be worn anywhere. |
Navigating the Grind
Creating a brand isn’t an easy task, and there have been many challenges. Shane and I both currently work 9 to 5 in the construction world and although there’s some pretty good flexibility, it can get a little hectic.
We’re both new to the parenting game, so we try to keep ourselves as streamlined as possible. Family is the root of both our priorities. After all, none of this would be possible without the support from home.
Want To Know More About Shopify?
Shopify Review
How Does Shopify Work?
15 Best Shopify Apps to Grow Your Online Store
The Future
Working with Shane has been so rewarding. We both have our strengths, and it’s nice because each person can focus on what they’re good at. It’s kind of like a divide-and-conquer thing.
It’s important to have a good foundation, made up of great customer service and a quality product, so these are our short-term goals, too. Entrepreneurship is a daily grind, and you have to just keep at it. There are no overnight successes.
