Like the gleaming metallic eye protection the company sells, the “golden girls” of Eye Pro, Inc. continue to shine brightly in an industry that loves them.

Eye Pro, Inc. really needs no introduction; for the past 14 years, the company has been raising awareness about the importance of eye protection during the tanning process through its educational efforts aimed at salon pros and tanners. And of course, Eye Pro’s many popular products, exotic animal “mascots” and a staff of eleven fun-loving women all add to the company’s popularity factor and make Eye Pro, Inc. one of the most unique companies in the indoor tanning industry.

A Unique Discovery
Had it not been for a bag of potato chips, Eye Pro, Inc. might never have existed! In 1983, Jim Simon, an entrepreneur and venture capitalist, was enjoying an afternoon snack when he noticed something interesting – he could read the newspaper through the bag of potato chips he was holding. “He knew that the material in the bag, which is called metallized polyester, had to be able to block UV light in order to keep the chips fresh, yet he was still able to see through it,” explained Brenda Fishbaugh, Eye Pro President. “This got him thinking about what other kinds of products could be made from this material, and the idea for Wink-Ease was born.” Through his research of metallized polyester, Simon discovered that the patent on this miraculous material had expired, which doubly encouraged his efforts to find a new and unique use for it. With the indoor tanning industry on the rise in the U.S. and given metallized polyester’s inherent UV-blocking qualities, Simon saw a perfect match.

The Woman in Charge
Like most venture capitalists, Jim Simon enjoys starting companies, but not necessarily operating them. Instead, he seeks to find the right person to do that, which frees him up for other, similar pursuits. In 1991, Simon found the perfect person to lead his latest venture – Brenda Fishbaugh. “With my professional experience and through my friendship with Jim’s wife, Denise, I was hired to run the company,” Brenda recalled. “Before that, I had worked for several corporations including National Cash Register, ComputerLand and Olsten Temporaries; but the dry, corporate atmosphere wasn’t really to my liking. Working for Eye Pro sounded fun because the indoor tanning industry was still up-and-coming at that time, and I was excited to become a part of it.”

When Brenda started at Eye Pro, the company was merely a shadow of the successful operation it is today. “Back then, it was a one-woman show – the business consisted of me working out of my home,” Brenda laughed. “Occasionally, I would have a college intern help me conduct research and type letters, but mostly it was just me.” Over a period of eight years, Eye Pro’s focus (no pun intended) shifted from the European tanning market to that of its backyard. As its products began to get picked up by major distribution companies, the need to add staff became very apparent. Soon, the Eye Pro staff grew from Brenda, the sole eye protection soldier, to an impressive eleven-woman team.

Popular Products
Eye Pro is, of course, most widely known in the tanning industry for its original product, Wink-Ease disposable eye protection. “That product hasn’t changed much since it hit the market,” Brenda commented. Based on improvements for Wink-Ease that were suggested by tanners over the years, the company also manufactures VIEWkeepers! disposable eye protection. “Some women tanners mentioned that the cones of the original design were too shallow and kept hitting their eyelashes, so VIEWkeepers! offer a deeper cone,” Brenda explained. More than 40 million pairs of the company’s eyewear were sold in 2004.

In November 2003, Eye Pro hit the market with a refreshing concept: Fresh-Ease – resealable packets of moist after-tanning wipes that help eliminate after-tan odor, moisturize and freshen the skin, and even remove makeup.
That same year, the company also added UV Blockers – safety goggles designed for use when changing tanning lamps – to round out its offerings. All Eye Pro products are manufactured in the U.S. at the company’s FDA-compliant “clean lab.”

The “Golden Girls”
Today, Eye Pro is operated by the industry’s “golden girls” – a team of eleven vivacious women led by Brenda, who has one of the most effervescent personalities in the tanning industry. Being part of an “all-girl show” does have its advantages, says Fishbaugh. “We’re a very close-knit group,” she commented. “We’ve been there for each other through several major events including marriages and babies, and we even have another two weddings to look forward to in September.” It’s not that there haven’t been men who’ve worked at Eye Pro, Inc.; it’s just that they haven’t lasted here that long. In fact, one former male employee made quite a dramatic exit one day. “He got up from his desk, walked out into an area of the office that was once a garden and jumped over the fence!” Brenda exclaimed. “We never saw him again.”

Women and Their Cats – Big Cats
Many women are known for loving their cats, but not usually the kind of cats that are big enough to eat someone! In the case of the Eye Pro gals, however, lions, tigers and other exotic “big cats” are their favorite feline friends. So how did the image of Eye Pro come to include these beautiful but endangered animals? “Ten years ago, I read a newspaper article about a couple who operate an animal sanctuary called Black Pine Animal Park, which is near my home,” Brenda said. “After seeing a picture of the couple holding a tiger cub, I just had to see this place, so I got into my car and drove out there. Unfortunately, the picture was an old one and that cub had grown to be a big tiger, so there was no chance I’d get to hold it, but the park’s owner did allow me to lead some visiting elephants across the street to swim and bathe in a nearby pond. I was hooked!” Brenda became a volunteer at the Black Pine Animal Park, where she met Lori Gagen, who also worked there. Gagen later came on board with Eye Pro, and the company’s affiliation with the reserve is stronger today than ever.

Looking Ahead
As far as the future is concerned, the Eye Pro girls know that they have their work cut out for them. “With as much education as there is out there about the importance of eye protection, surveys have indicated that roughly 50 percent of all tanners still don’t wear eyewear when they tan,” Brenda commented. “The way to combat this is through education, and we’re in the process of producing new educational material to help salon pros sell eyewear to their clients.” And so, the tanning industry’s “golden girls” will continue to lead Eye Pro, Inc., and the crusade for eye protection awareness, to a brilliant future.