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Sharper Image Brings Back Father's Day Catalog

Written by George Anderson
By George Anderson

Dads are going to feel the love this Father's Day and now there is one more place where gift givers can turn for the latest gadgets and assorted other stuff -- the Sharper Image catalog.

Yes, Sharper Image stores may be a thing of the past, but the brand has returned to its roots with its first print catalog, arriving in the mailboxes of American households this week.

The 68-page catalog has a wide variety of gift items intended for Dad.

Steve August, senior vice president/chief marketing officer for Sharper Image, told Multichannel Merchant, "While we have attempted to capture the essence of the catalog from years past, this updated version is a bit denser from a merchandise perspective and contains more lifestyle images. It really is designed to support a direct marketing response model as opposed to being used to drive traffic to Sharper Image stores."

According to new research conducted by BIGresearch for the National Retail Federation, the average person will spend $94.32 on gifts for Father's Day this year up from $90.89 in 2009.

"A slight uptick in Father's Day spending is another sign people are starting to open up their wallets again," said Matt Shay, president and CEO, NRF, in a press release. "Whether it's a large family get together or surprising dad with the new gadget he's had his eye on, there are many ways people will choose to celebrate this year."

The Sharper Image has put together a Top 10 list of gifts for Father's Day including:

  1. Outdoor Wireless Speaker 
  2. Deluxe Nose and Ear Trimmer with Vacuum 
  3. Travel Sound Machine 
  4. Powermat Home and Office Mat 
  5. 7 Day Wireless Weather Forecaster 
  6. Ultimate Wet Dry Electric Shaver 
  7. Golf Swing Video Recorder 
  8. Heated Fog Free Shower Mirror 
  9. Coolware Personal Cooling System 
  10. Motorized Tie Rack 

Discussion Questions: Will The Sharper Image catalog resonate with consumers? What do you see as the future of printed catalogs relative to online shopping?

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