Richard Thalheimer
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Richard Thalheimer (born 1948) is founder, and former CEO and chairman, of The Sharper Image Corporation.
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[edit] Early life
Thalheimer's family settled in Arkansas before the Civil War and started a livery business. Thalheimer was raised in Little Rock. After graduating from Hall High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, he left for New Haven and graduated from Yale University in 1970. He entered San Francisco's University of California, Hastings College of the Law the following year.
[edit] Career
While still a law student, the 24-year-old Thalheimer started a part-time office supply business with $500 worth of copier paper. He named his fledgling enterprise "The Sharper Image," in part to help promote the quality of his copy machines.
After graduating from law school in 1974, Thalheimer passed the California bar exam and practiced law, but only for about a year. His true passion was merchandise. While continuing to market office supplies, he soon found "other products that I wanted to sell that were more consumer oriented." In 1977, Thalheimer found the breakthrough product — a runner's watch — that sold so well, it would mark the beginning of today's Sharper Image. In the 1980s Thalheimer was named "One of the 10 Bosses from Hell" by New West magazine for his abrasive management style.
Thalheimer has from time to time attempted to influence politics in San Francisco, going so far as to send an email in 2003 to all corporate office employees of his company in which he suggested they vote for the business-friendly Gavin Newsom for mayor, over the Green party candidate, Matt Gonzalez.
Thalheimer and his daughter have appeared in a commercial for the Sharper Image's Ionic Breeze, as well as the FresherLonger Miracle Food Storage Set.
On September 26, 2006, Thalheimer was removed as CEO due to the company's recent loss in profits; he was replaced by CEO Jerry W. Levin, under whom American Household, Inc. (formerly Sunbeam Corporation), filed for bankruptcy protection in 2001. However, Thalheimer remained on the company's Board of Directors and kept his spot as the largest shareholder of The Sharper Image (21%). AP Article
Thalheimer was ousted as CEO of The Sharper Image due in large part to the company's failing sales and declining stock price. This was brought about in large part by Thalheimer unsuccessfully trying to sue Consumer Reports for articles written about the company's # 1 selling product -- the Ionic Breeze. The articles were unfavorable towards the device, and claimed it did not work as the company proclaimed. The case was a no-win for either side, but the damage had already been done.
In May 2007, Thalheimer sold his remaining stock position in the company he founded 30 years prior. The entire story of his founding, and leaving, The Sharper Image is detailed in this SF Weekly story: http://www.sfweekly.com/2007-10-24/news/ironic-breeze
He has since started a new website, www.RichardSolo.com. It is a private company, featuring unusual products and very attentive customer service.
[edit] Company bankruptcy
Update: Sharper Image, whose shares lost more than 70% of their value on February 20, 2008, filed for protection on February 19, 2008 with the U.S. bankruptcy court in Wilmington, Delaware after three years of losses and litigation involving its Ionic Breeze air purifiers. The company plans to shut 90 of its 184 stores after clearing out inventories.
