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What happened to Sharper Image?

Sharper Image was one of the largest companies in America for years, and by the 1980s, it achieved near-iconic status. Today I found out on the news that the company has filed for bankruptcy.

I remember talking to my friends in college who talked about the quality of a mall based on whether it had a sharper image. The store became the benchmark that separated the good, the bad, and the ugly. One of my favorite movies is “When Harry Met Sally” (yes, I’m a romantic) and one of the funniest (and most memorable) scenes is in Sharper Image. There, the two main characters sing karaoke and run into Harry’s ex-wife in a most awkward and funny scene.

In those days, Sharper Image was decidedly oriented toward the wealthy. The products were not cheap, but they were believed to be of higher quality and ahead of others in creativity. Somewhere along the way, Sharper Image became mainstream in price and image.

*Right now, if you visit the sharper pictures site, you’ll find a digital frame keychain for less than $30.

* You can find a set of hydrogen fueled rockets for less than $20.

* You can find a Sharper Image Turbo Groomer for less than $30.

I think you get the point, Sharper Image products are quickly starting to look like the cheap products we associate with “as seen on TV”. We came to that conclusion, because that seems to be exactly what they have become. I think the lure of being like everyone else on TV was what led to its decline. He (or she) who lives from low prices often dies from low prices. Write that in the Sharper Image obituary.

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