Electric visual evolution is second-generation sunglasses maker

A year ago, after the new owners of Arnette Optical Illusions laid off roughly 36 workers, Kip Arnette walked away from the company his father Greg Arnette founded.

Italy-based Luxottica Group, which bought the San Clemente-based sunglasses company from Bausch & Lomb Inc. in early 1999, shifted distribution of Arnette's sunglasses to New York, displacing the bulk of the company's local operations.

A few months later, during the Christmas season, Arnette Optical COO Bruce Beach went on a snowboarding trip to Mammoth Lakes with Kip Arnette and two business acquaintances. Beach said he had become frustrated with the company because it was no longer able to control its distribution directly, and some specialty stores that bought the products were complaining about delays.

Beach and Arnette spent the first day snowboarding, then spent three days laying the groundwork for their own sunglasses company.

Laid-Back Digs

Now Arnette, 30, and Beach, 35, are copresidents of Electric Visual Evolution in San Clemente. They and Mike Carter, former marketing manager at Arnette and now Electric's marketing director, pooled their savings for an initial investment of roughly $200,000 to start the company in January. The three are also minority owners of Electric Europe, the company's European distributor.