Instead of chasing the next sleep score or recovery metric, Sharper Image is widening its definition of what wellness should actually support, creating space for tools that help people live well as they age
Red light masks, recovery boots and the latest sleep-tracking wearables are piling up in holiday carts as the longevity era takes hold. But for all the optimization hype, there’s a fundamental truth that consumers tend to ignore.
Aging isn’t optional, and no amount of wearable data is going to outrun the hands of time.
It’s a strange thing to think about when you’re training for a Hyrox competition or basking under infrared lights, but the pursuit of longevity is pushing consumers to rethink what living well actually means as they age.
And that’s where lifestyle products retailer Sharper Image sees the white space.
Instead of chasing the next sleep score or recovery metric, the brand is looking ahead. As longevity becomes the new north star for consumers, Sharper Image is widening its definition of what wellness should actually support, creating space for tools that help people live well as they age.
“Wellness tech for us is about making health and self-care effortless and intuitive in everyday life,” Sharper Image co-founder and chief customer officer Johann Clapp tells ATN. “We merge thoughtful design with clever functionality across everything from massage and recovery devices to floorcare solutions and beauty technology. It’s about creating products that people actually want to use consistently, not just products they think they should use.”
That philosophy has recently pushed Sharper Image into a category far outside the hype cycle: durable medical equipment (DME) with a new “Move with Confidence” collection — tools that consumers have been requesting.
Clapp says the team started by studying how seniors and other DME shoppers navigate existing options. The answer was not encouraging.
The Art & Science of Designing Wellness Products
“Stigma drives avoidance more than price,” he says. “When products make users feel embarrassed or old, they don’t use them, even when needed. Design must address emotional well-being alongside function.”
Consumers want more than utility, he adds.
“68% of DME users want accessories and customization,” Clapp says. “Products need to reflect who people are and integrate seamlessly into daily life.”
Then there’s the aesthetics problem.
“Heavy, difficult-to-assemble products that look clinical get abandoned,” he says. “When products aren’t intuitive to use and aesthetically pleasing, people do not feel empowered to use them.”
Longevity Is Fueling New Wellness Categories
And while everyone is chasing the fountain of youth with anti-aging protocols and products, getting older is still inevitable, but it’s also a lucrative opportunity.
Earlier this fall, UBS forecast that the longevity economy will reach $8 trillion by 2030, calling it one of the most powerful investment themes of the next decade. It makes sense. As consumers plan to live longer, the demand for tools that support those extra years will only grow, helping them stay active and, ideally, independent.
Sharper Image’s new collection, available exclusively at Walmart, consists of a foldable walker that collapses compactly, a premium cane with leather-like materials and an ergonomic handle for stability and a one-hand operation grabber with a magnetic tip.
The DME line fits within Sharper Image’s wider world of wellness essentials, joining categories like beauty and skin care tech, pain relief tools, health monitoring, massagers, air purifiers and more.
It all points to a trend that Sharper Image sees playing out across retail, where demand is expanding from performance-driven tech to products that support comfort and day-to-day well-being and a growing demand for wellness solutions that blend easily into the home in both form and function.
“Wellness and brand retailers are seeing a major shift in how people view wellness tech — it’s no longer a niche category or a luxury purchase, but an everyday essential,” Clapp says. “Shoppers are turning to products that help them manage stress, sleep better and recover faster as part of their daily routines.”
He also observes that the audience is widening in both generational directions, too.
“What’s also surprising is how much broader the audience has become,” he says. “Younger shoppers are proactively investing in recovery and preventative care, while older consumers are embracing wellness tech and gear to stay active and independent. Wellness is no longer defined by age or fitness level, it’s a lifestyle mindset, and that inclusivity is reshaping how we design and position our products.”
Wellness Is Becoming More Democratized
The ripple effect is also changing product expectations, with once-exclusive wellness tools becoming more widely established.
“Premium wellness features are moving downstream, and people are increasingly expecting professional-grade performance at accessible price points,” Clapp says.
As he points out, red light therapy devices that used to cost more than $2,000 now run under $200. Percussion massage guns have moved from physical therapist offices to mass retail, and air compression boots are becoming tools for everyday consumers rather than just elite athletes.
“Even large wellness and recovery tools, like steam saunas and ice baths – or both, for those practicing contrast therapy – are taking prominent places in people’s homes and daily routines,” Clapp notes. “Overall, the line between professional and home-based wellness tech is blurring, and that’s reshaping both consumer expectations and the retail landscape. Most importantly, it’s allowing more people than ever to have access to these amazing wellness tools to help them perform at and feel their best. And that’s what Sharper Image is all about.”
Clapp says the mission for Sharper Image goes beyond performance and optimization and into a space that supports people through the realities of aging and perhaps the limitations people may eventually face.
“We believe wellness shouldn’t stop at fitness trackers and massage guns,” he says. “It’s about supporting people’s quality of life at every stage.”
