Eyewear retailer Warby Parker has outperformed forecasts with a strong fiscal first quarter, as its attention turns to AI-integrated glasses.

Year-on-year net revenue increased by 8.3 per cent to $242.4 million with an EBITDA of $29.6 million. At the same time, Warby Parker grew its active customer base by 4.8 per cent to 2.69 million.

“We’re proud of our team’s resilience as we navigated a dynamic environment, including severe weather,” co-founder and co-CEO Neil Blumenthal said.

“We continue to invest in the customer experience and bring innovative new products like Warby Parker Sport to market, and the momentum we’re building gives us confidence as we move through the balance of the year.” 

The retailer also increased its store count by 14 during the quarter, bringing its portfolio to 337 locations.

“As we look ahead, a top priority is preparing for the launch of intelligent eyewear,” fellow co-founder and co-CEO, Dave Gilboa, added.

“We’re excited to introduce what we believe will be the world’s first truly intelligent AI glasses for all-day wear. We’re building capabilities to support this launch and are proud of how our team is bringing this to life.”