LEF In-Sights: Louis J L Fullagar

Louis J L Fullagar:  The Man, The Myths, The Sly Ovine Innuendoes 

by Nikki DiBacco

My first In-Sights interview subject was a no-brainer. The man who started it all, who is a legend in our industry, respected by everyone, and still has time for visiting his flock-a-sheep in between all his projects, Lou Fullagar (pronounced fulla-gar, not to be confused, he says, with ‘fullacrap’). Yes, he really does have two middle names, it is a tradition in his father’s family for males to have the name “Lee” as their third name.

Lou was born in London, and moved to Australia at the age of 4, so he really had no choice; he was going to have an accent one way or another. He came to the US in 2000, starting out in Tampa, then Atlanta, was chased out of Louisiana when Katrina came along (the hurricane, not an ex), and eventually settled in North Carolina (I’m sure the Bubbas up there love his accent).

At 17, in Melbourne, Lou started his optical career at a chain which was eventually bought out by Luxottica (gasp!).  Experienced in both the front and back of optical business (retail and lab, that is, gutter minds!), Lou ended up in business with a friend, and the two of them won a government contract for the whole state (Australia has states? Who knew??) to provide glasses to people on welfare. Once he settled in Atlanta, Lou worked for someone many of us are familiar with, Ivan Samuels, former majority owner of Eye Gallery. In 2002, through Tim Webb, Lou became a rep for Optical Shop of Aspen.  And the start of the legendary frame rep career was begun.

Lou DOES actually work (besides being online all day and night). Currently he holds the following titles:  East Coast rep for Bevel and Orgreen, founder of LEF on Facebook as well as the fresh new luxuryeyewearforum.com, website blogger at Spexaddict and The Eyewear Cartel, and Distributor of LYF Magazine. In addition to that he has a wife he proclaims to be a saint for putting up with him, a handsome son, Keegan, and a squishably adorable daughter, Evie.

Nikkers:  So tell me, Lou, have you ever said ‘on the barbie’, ‘g’day’, or wrestled an alligator (any dating prior to your marriage doesn’t count for that last one)?

Lou:  All Aussies say G’day every day. I say ‘on the barbie’ without doubt but never wrestled an alligator. A kangaroo tried eating my hair when I was a kid though.

Nikkers:  What is your fascination with sheep? Is this an Aussie thing, a personal choice, or something more politically or socially statement-ish?

Lou:  The sheep thing is a contentious issue. The Aussies say the Kiwis* are touching up the sheep.  The Kiwis say it’s the South Africans and they say it’s the Aussies (*Kiwi refers to New Zealanders, not a fruit, Lou is not a cross-fetishist, no worries).

Nikkers:  Your biggest pet peeve?

Lou:  People who stretch while talking to you…it’s a message that they clearly think your conversation is of so little importance that they can fit in some fitness activities while having it.

Nikkers: What do you consider the most amazing frame or frame line, regardless of brand, you’ve ever seen?

Lou:  For me it’s all about different lines and times in my career…the early days of Mikli, LA Eyeworks and Oliver Peoples really made an impact on me.

Nikkers:  Who most influenced you to become a rep, and stay one?

Lou:  Tim Webb and Marc Kaufman were instrumental in my quickly adapting to life on the road. I learn from every rep I meet…I think reps are fascinating. The personality traits they must possess are probably shared by the great explorers of history…or maybe pirates…

Nikkers:  Do YOU understand Rusty (still pretty sure he’s Albert Einstein reincarnated)?

Lou:  Rusty is an enigma…there is no total understanding of him..you just share the moment.... and that’s good enough.

So there you have it, LEF’ers…the scoop on the Grand Poobah of Luxury Eyewear Forum. Hope you enjoyed it, and look for another article on my next victim LEF’er coming soon!!

Nikki DiBacco is an optician, writer and educator from Panama City, Florida. She is co-founder of The Visionaries Group. You can find out more about her at visionariesgroup.com