The Sharper Image is an American product brand, formerly associated with a defunct retail company, now licensed for use on consumer electronics and gift products.
The earlier consumer products retailer by that name was founded by Richard Thalheimer and was in business from 1977 until its closing in 2008. The company sold merchandise through dozens of retail stores throughout the United States, a monthly catalog and its website, along with business-to-business sales teams which marketed products for corporate incentive programs and wholesale to retailers.
On February 19, 2008, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, blaming low sales aggravated by a decline in consumer spending and negative publicity surrounding its Ionic Breeze air purifiers. At that time the company had 2,500 employees. By the end of 2008 all of the retail stores had closed and the company assets were acquired by Hilco Consumer Capital, Infinity Lifestyle Brands, Gordon Brothers Group and Bluestar Alliance, after which the brand name was licensed for use on products sold through third party retailers such as Best Buy and Bed Bath & Beyond or through the branded website. New products are created through partnerships with other businesses.
Iconix Brand Group bought The Sharper Image in 2011.
Read more about The Sharper Image: History, Advertising and Business, Consumer Reports Lawsuit
Famous quotes containing the words sharper and/or image:
“How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is
To have a thankless child.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Our image has undergone change from David fighting Goliath to being Goliath.”
—Yitzhak Shamir (b. 1915)