Still Father’s Day shopping? Sharper Image has bargains

Upscale gadgetry store falls victim to slow sales, lawsuit

By MELISSA TANJI, Staff Writer
KAHULUI — Just in time for Father’s Day, Sharper Image, the upscale gadgetry store, is having a close-out sale with 20 percent to 40 percent discounts.

The sale and pending closure at the Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center is one of many as the company liquidates its inventory nationwide.

Sharper Image filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February after falling victim to slow sales and losing a libel suit over its Ionic Breeze air purifiers.

“We’re very sad to see them leave,” said Lisa Paulson, marketing manager for the Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center.

Paulson said the Sharper Image store several years ago moved from a smaller location on the mall’s second floor to a larger 4,500-square-foot space on the ground level to accommodate more inventory, an indication of its high sales.

“Our store was one of the top in the nation,” she said.

Unfortunately the store fell victim to the company’s bankruptcy, she said.

For contractual reasons, Paulson could not say when the store would close.

But a Sharper Image worker said inventory is being shipped from the company’s warehouse until the end of June, with store closures expected in August. Stores could close earlier if the inventory runs out.

While the closure may be hard on the store workers, the discounts are timely for shoppers looking for Father’s Day gifts.

On Friday afternoon, Ashly Zamora and her family bought their father a FresherLonger set of food storage containers, designed to preserve foods.

“I can’t believe they are closing,” Zamora said.

Along with the gift, Zamora’s fiance, Royce Guthrie, found a new cellular phone holder for himself.

The two said there still was ample, attractive merchandise available — although discounted prices still weren’t low enough.

“I just wish I had more money,” Guthrie joked.

Products on display Friday included Star Wars R2-D2 toy robots for $104; 17-piece barbecue sets for $96; a calf and a foot massage chair for $208. Bedding and speakers were 20 percent off.

For a dad with collections of vinyl records and cassette tapes, converters to disk were available at $160 for records and $120 for cassettes.

“We’ll probably come back next week,” said shopper Blair Zamora.

Her boyfriend, James Paz, bought a universal remote control for $18 Friday afternoon.

According to ConsumerAffairs.com, Sharper Image will live on as an online catalog and direct-to-retail brand.

A check of its Web site on Friday showed no products, but said: “Sorry to keep you in the dark. But, there’s something big coming. Soon. Stay tuned.”

ConsumerAffairs.com said Hilco Consumer Capital, Gordon Brothers Brands and other joint venture partners purchased the Sharper Image brand at a bankruptcy auction May 29 and are developing a global licensing strategy for wholesale, retail, direct-to-retail, and e-commerce and catalog businesses.

On Maui, some shoppers walked away with large black-and-white Sharper Image bags Friday afternoon. Others, like Ross Mukai, were less enticed by the discounts.

“It was OK,” Mukai said. “It didn’t seem like it was wow!”

Mukai said he saw only one or two items discounted at 40 percent, while the rest were 20 percent off. But he did pick up a flashlight for $33.

• Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.