Richard Thalheimer

Richard Thalheimer (born 1948) is founder, and former CEO and chairman of the Sharper Image Corporation. Thalheimer is a graduate of Hall High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Yale University (Class of 1970) and received a law degree from University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1974.

Thalheimer's family settled in Arkansas before the Civil War and started a livery business. Thalheimer was raised in Little Rock. After high school, he left for New Haven and graduated from Yale University in 1970. He entered San Francisco's Hastings Law School the following year.

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, 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.

Mr. 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 Newsom for mayor over the Green party candidate, Matt Gonzalez.

Thalheimer and his daughter have appeared in a commercials 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On September 26, 2006 Thalheimer was removed as CEO due to the company's recent loss in profits; he has been replaced by an interim CEO, Jerry W. Levin. 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 to the 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 they 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 thirty years prior.

He has since started a new website, www.RichardSolo.com. It is a private company, featuring unusual products and very attentive customer service.

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