Pflugerville business combines toys, glasses

When Molly and Sean Lofthouse attended the International Vision Expo and Conference West in Las Vegas in September, the products they exhibited were not eyewear. Instead they brought plush teddy bears, unicorns, monkeys, owls, Tyrannosauruses and puppies.

Lenz Frenz, which the Lofthouses began in February, are plush dolls that have a protective case for glasses on their inside. They also manufacture smaller stuffed animals to carry contacts cases.

With the help of an online crowd-funding campaign, the Lofthouses raised more than $20,000, which helped fund the company's manufacturing operations overseas. An office suite on FM 685 in Pflugerville serves as the company's warehouse and headquarters.

At the expo the Lofthouses heard overwhelmingly positive feedback about their product, Molly said.

"The biggest comment was, 'Why hasn't anyone thought of this?'" she said.

If not for a bullying incident her son endured in 2010, the idea would have never come to fruition, Molly said. Liam Lofthouse was attending second grade when another student stabbed him in the eye, which left a quarter-inch piece of lead lodged in his eye.

Doctors initially said Liam would likely lose his eye, Molly said. But the team at Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin was able to save his eye and his vision.

After the incident, Liam was not his usual self, Molly said. She said he would often lie down on his bed and seek comfort in his stuffed animals. When he was dealing with self-confidence issues related to wearing glasses, the idea for Lenz Frenz was born.

The Lofthouses went to Build-a-Bear, picked out a teddy bear and customized it at home. They hollowed out the bear's center so Liam could store the protective case for his glasses. He would place the glasses on the toy's face when he was not using them.

Molly said Liam's friends loved the stuffed toy, the popularity of which inspired her to consider starting a business centered on the concept. For about two years the Lofthouses researched opening a business. In September Lenz Frenz products became available on the company's website. Each model is offered in a choice of six plush animals. A larger model is sold for $37.99 and has a protective, hard-shell case for eyeglasses with padding to keep the animals soft. A smaller model comes with a plastic carabiner that can hook onto a backpack, and inside is a contact lens case. It is available for $15.99.

Local optometrists will be carrying Lenz Frenz products, and Molly said she is aiming to get the plush animals into major retail stores, but that will not happen in time for the holiday season. For now most of the company's sales come from the website, Molly said.

1202 FM 685, Ste. C1, Pflugerville, 888-645-8055, www.mylenzfrenz.com