Sharper Image Reports Strong Finish for Christmas Sales
SAN FRANCISCO---Dec. 27, 2001--Sharper Image Corp. today reported a strong finish for Christmas sales. "Our total company business for the five day period ended December 24th increased in excess of 10 percent over the same five days last year. Excluding last year`s phenomenal Razor Scooter sales the increase in total business was even larger for this five-day period," said Richard Thalheimer, founder, chairman and chief executive officer.
"We`re especially pleased that the increase in business is being accomplished with margins that are improved over last year. This is again indicative of the popularity of our products that we do not need to resort to promotional pricing. We have managed our inventories exceptionally well during what has generally been regarded as a difficult retail year. We believe this strong finish is a good indicator of the popularity of our products, and it is encouraging as we look forward to 2002," Thalheimer continued.
"The Ionic Breeze Silent Air Purifier continued to be extraordinarily popular both as a gift and as an item for the home. We also continued to strongly build our stereo business, which includes a number of stylish and unique systems. Other popular items included personal care and grooming products, products for our women shoppers, and items for the home," Thalheimer concluded.
The Sharper Image is a specialty retailer that is nationally and internationally renowned as a leading source of new, innovative, high-quality products that make life easier and more enjoyable. A significant and growing proportion of sales are of proprietary products created by the Company`s product development group, Sharper Image Design. The Company operates over 100 stores throughout the United States and mails millions of its award-winning catalogs each month. The Company`s products may also be purchased on the Internet via its online store at sharperimage.com. The Company also has an online auction site where consumers can place bids to win Sharper Image products at lower prices; the auction site is accessed from the home page of the Company`s Web site. The Company also markets its products through business-to-business sales for corporate marketing programs and wholesale customers.
This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current plans, expectations, estimates, and projections about the specialty retail industry and management`s beliefs about our future performance. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates" or variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forwarding-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and which may cause our actual results and performance to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in any such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K under "Factors Affecting Future Operating Results" and include our ability to continue to find or develop and to offer attractive merchandise to our customers, changes in business and economic conditions, risks associated with the expansion of our retail store, catalog and Internet operations, and changes in the competitive environment in which we operate. Unless required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements. However, readers should carefully review the statements set forth in the reports which we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and any Current Reports on Form 8-K.
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CONTACT: The Sharper Image
Jeff Forgan, 415/445-1583
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