As their 2nd Quarter earnings were released, their stock prices fell accordingly. Sharper Image’s headquarters claims there is nothing to worry about and to expect a turnaround soon. Good news for current and potential Affiliates marketing Sharper Image.

In an effort to cut costs and increase ROI, Sharper Image has cut a distribution center out of their supply chain. They claim that once some stability is reached within the company, consumers will see more aggressive campaigns coming from Sharper Image in hopes of restoring their glory days.

I am very skeptical of this turnaround. I haven’t seen anything from Sharper Image to make me feel differently. Weak products, advertising, and innovation plague the once powerful electronics retailer. Stay tuned for the saga that is Sharper Image.

Internet Sales are down 40% from last years total, catalog and direct sales are down 61%, store sales are down 16% and Total Sales for Sharper Image are down 32%.  Sharper Image is crumbling! 

The freefall which began two years ago isn’t slowing and I would expect to see the Retailer to call it quits in the very near future.  Despite falling sales and a number of warning signs, the retailer doesn’t seem interested in changing their formula in an effort to save Sharper Image.  Innovative products are still absent from store shelves as the once powerful electronic and innovative retailer nears its demise. 

Sharper Image’s sales figures were reported from Internet Retailer.

Sharper Image has disappointed me with their lack of innovation over the last 5 years. While these 2 new products, Sharper Image’s JawBone BlueTooth Headset and the Panasonic Real Pro Ultra Massage Chair, aren’t anything original, at least they are cool products.

The Sharper Image JawBone BlueTooth Headset is sleek and functional. The JawBone BlueTooth Headset uses technology that recognizes the callers voice and eliminates all other background noises. It is the only BlueTooth Headset that uses this technology, as well as the revolutionary Noise Shield technology, which also helps eliminate background noise. The battery holds a 6 hour charge and its wireless capabilities broadcast up to 33 feet. Check out Sharper Image’s JawBone BlueTooth Headset.

Sharper Image has released a new massage chair into their ever changing arsenal of massage chairs. The Panasonic Real Pro Ultra Massage Chair is powerful. It is the best tension-relieving massage — Junetsu ultra-kneading – and it will blow your mind. With 600 movements per second to mimic therapeutic Junetsu, this chair will work knots out of your back better than a massage therapist. Junetsu focuses on the muscle directly to relax tense muscles more effectively than any other massage-chair technique. Up to 4 individuals can create personal programs on this chair. Easy-care upholstery looks and feels like soft leather offers great comfort. Check out the Panasonic Real Pro Ultra Massage Chair, buy online and they offer free shipping.

Sharper Image may not be doing well financially but they are back online.  Sharper Image is using their Affiliates to drive online traffic to their stores. They are currently offering a number of specials right now to entice Affiliate to market Sharper Image and to attract customers with their bottom floor pricing.

Sharper Image’s Program is run through Pepperjam’s Affiliate Network and has no discernible Affiliate Manager, but rather an Affiliate Team.  I feel this is hurting their program.  While it is smart of them to send out monthly newsletters and to offer tools to Affiliates, I feel they are not managing their program effectively.  They never offer Affiliate any bonuses or incentives since I have joined their programs, and I feel as though most of the coupons that are offered aren’t “Exclusive to Affiliates”.  It seems like every month that they send out their Affiliate Newsletter they are just copying their mass email newsletter and sending it to Affiliates as well.

Clearly they do organize and piece together the newsletter and offer the creative sections, which I do like.  However, the newsletter is weak and doesn’t ever really address their Affiliates.  Other than tools offered by Sharper Image’s Affiliate Team, they seem to be lacking in effort and originality.  I do recommend signing up for their program as they do have some products that are fun to market.

Sharper Image hit it big in the late 70′s and into the early 80′s. They were an icon of “Cool”. High Tech gadgets, cool massage chairs and an assortment of other state of the art gizmos and products lining their shelves.

Fast forward to 2007.

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Summer is in full swing, and when it is hot out, people enjoy being outside.  One of the best things to do on a hot summer day is to grill up some meat.

Affiliates have a few Meat slingers they can associate themselves with that are sure to secure you customers. 

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Sharper Image has not had an easy ride lately.  Reports show that they have achieved 40% less sales through 2007 compared to 2006.  Internet sales in June alone have fallen 31% since last June.  The Four Horsemen are approaching Sharper Image, will they submit and cease to exist, or is there a way for salvation.