in the beginning this was not the focus of warby parker.did it on the fly inviting people to neal's apartment and laying frames out on the dining room table. today things are much different with a solid success story, thaech opened two brick and mortar stores with more on the way. the crown jewel, their 2,000 square foot flagship store on one of the most coveted blocks in new york city. >> we thought having a flagship store here in soho would strengthen the brand and add gravitas to it. it would help us perhaps reach customers that were reluctant to buy online. >> calling it a store does not do it justice. the two founders who are still running the company, neal and dave, decided if they were going to move into brick and mortar, they would do it in their own style. that's meant throwing some of the traditional thoughts of retail out the window. warby parker's short but vibrant history is front and center and coveted shelf space is given to showcase books from independent publisheser. >> traditional retailers walk in here and they're like, n

still, eye glass designer warby parker is hiring. software engineers and retail employees. >> we're currently planning for 2014. looks like we'll hire about 150 people next year. >> reporter: tonight reason for optimism with the unemployment rate the lowest in five years. tom costello, nbc news, washington. >>> and on this friday night, there's much more still ahead for us including the americans touched by mandela during his time in america. >>> nelson mandela was sentenced >>> nelson mandela was sentenced to life after famously saying he was willing to die for his principles. he served 27 years, 18 of them at the notorious robben island prison. and a lot of that time was hard labor like breaking rocks in the hot sun. tom brokaw recently traveled to robben island and met with some of those who came to know mandela then. including a man who became a most unlikely friend. >> reporter: robben island, once the most notorious prison in south africa now is a national shrine. the hard, hard place where nelson mandela spent 18 of his 27 yea

thank you so much. >> thank you. >> from warby parker.ll ahead, are diamonds retailer's best friend? blue nile ceo joins us live on the show with the state of retailer, the consumer and making the best of cyber monday. we'll be right back. i love having a free checked bag with my united mileageplus explorer card. i've saved $75 in checked bag fees. [ delavane ] priority boarding is really important to us. you can just get on the plane and relax. [ julian ] having a card that doesn't charge you foreign transaction fees saves me a ton of money. [ delavane ] we can go to any country and spend money the way we would in the u.s. when i spend money on this card, i can see brazil in my future. [ anthony ] i use the explorer card to earn miles in order to go visit my family, which means a lot to me. ♪ hi honey, did you get the toaster cozy? yep. got all the cozies. [ grandma ] with new fedex one rate, i could fill a box and ship it for one flat rate. so i knit until it was full. you'd be crazy not to. is that nana? [ male announcer ] fedex one ra

next time, e-commerce site warby parker is take their success offline. >> if we can have retail be a form of enter taint, if we can build community through this store, then we think we are going to sell more and more glasses. >> how opening brick and mortar locations is helping them expand their optical brand and get new customers. till then, i'm jj ram berg. and remember, we make your business our business. if i can impart one lesson to a new business owner, it would be one thing i've learned is my philosophy is real simple american express open forum is an on-line community, that helps our members connect and share ideas to make smart business decisions. if you mess up, fess up. be your partners best partner. we built it for our members, but it's open for everyone. there's not one way to do something. no details too small. american express open forum. this is what membership is. this is what membership does. >>> the balance of power between heckler and president. at the start of this first sunday in december, vet first day in december, in fact, we are mulling over the question of w

when he came from warby parker and said what is my next big thing, why did you choose this? three times a day didn't mean you are more manly it means you're more hairy. >> my friend went to the some razors and spent $25 for four razors and some shaving cream. >> is a miserable experience. said we haveme and to be able to do this better. so let's do it. we beat harry's and lasted in march. .eople come to our site >> the hipsters in newport beach california with pimco, nobody is shaving. lloyd blankfein of goldman sachs with a beard. his is good? >> we respect people's right to wear whatever facial hair they like. for some people wearing a beard looks great good that people in our office at harry's who wear beards. our philosophy is you don't always have to shave but when you did you would hopefully consider us hurried >> what is your goal for 2014? how much do you want to make? >> we want to deliver people amazing experiences. we deliver customer satisfaction and it has been incredible for us to see our scores double what they are for leading brands. everyday i talk to custom

we were just talking about wearable with the warby parker guys. what is next for wearables next?ation that could help women lose weight and even detect stress. details when we take you "off the desk." ♪ just by talking to a helmet. it grabbed the patient's record before we even picked himp. it found out the doctor we needed was at st. anne's. wiggle your toes. [ driver ] and it got his okay on treatment from miles away. it even pulled strings with the stoplights. my ambulance talks with smoke alarms and pilots and adiums. but, of course, 's a good listenerer too. [ female announcer ] today cisco is connecting the internet of everything. so everything works like never befe. [ female announcer ] today cisco is connecting the internet of everything. every day we're working to and to keep our commitments. and we've made a big commitment to america. bp supports nearly 250,000 jobs here. through all of our energy operations, we invest more in the u.s. than any other place in the world. in fact, we've invested over $55 billion here in the last five years - making bp america's largest en

put your stuff at the end of the day, that is where these cool rugged valet trays, glasses from warby parkerrrior items. tools are cool thanks to best made coach, a new york company, they make design-forward retro focus, this toolbox 94 bucks. reminds you of something your dad or grandfather might have had. another is this screwdriver which i really love. it sort of has gyro scopic t-pblg. the more you turn, the faster it turns the screw. it is 80 bucks. >> for those people who say i throw up my hands, i'm getting just a gift card for that guy in my life who has everything, this is now the answer. we go to gilt.com. >> gilt.com/fox and friends. >> thanks. we love that. >> next on our rundown, remember pippi longstocking, she is grown up now and in a whole lot of trouble. we'll explain. >> did you hear what nancy pelosi said? >> one word: disrespect. >> do republicans really have no respect for women? we report. you decide. ♪ ♪ >>> some folks are bound to be frustrated, but many are -- many more are excited, you know. and while i can't say that i've been entirely thrilled with the results...