Article: Sharper Image founder never says die

ROSS -- Richard Thalheimer of Ross never says quit.

When the board of the Sharper Image retail chain he created in 1977 ousted him, Thalheimer left with $31 million and started Richard/Solo, an online merchandise sales operation based in Greenbrae.

And he means to keep the business out of the hands of the investors and financiers who forced him out of Sharper Image in September 2006 when sales began to slump.

But by February 2008, the company filed for bankruptcy, saying it had $251 million in assets and $199 million in debt. "It was somewhat satisfying to see their incompetence revealed," Thalheimer said while sipping an iced coffee in a San Anselmo cafe the other day.

He said he ...

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