Brookstone history

It became quite clear that the demand for a retail store existed. Therefore, in 1973 Brookstone answered this demand by opening its first store in New Hampshire, near the company's mail-order distribution center.

Initially a mail order catalogue, it grew to become a successful chain of retail stores before they retired in 1980 and sold the company to the Quaker Oats Company.

In 1986, Brookstone was purchased by company insiders with the hope that taking on full financial responsibility would facilitate greater involvement in making the company more lucrative.

In 1986, Brookstone was purchased by company insiders with the hope that taking on full financial responsibility would facilitate greater involvement in making the company more lucrative. For example, in 1987 the company posted record sales of $93 million, while its actual income was −$9.7 million.

The negative earnings trend continued until 1990, when CEO Merwin Kaminstein began to renegotiate a deal with Brookstone's creditors that would help put the company back on a profitable path.

These efforts helped Brookstone survive the worst United States retail sales year in three decades, and for the first time in years the company achieved a positive income of $4.9 million from $104.6 million in 1991 sales.

In 1992, they started using kiosks which provided some selected Brookstone items.

By 1993, the company's sales had jumped to $143.7 million and management was enjoying the largest profits in history.

The de Beaumont Foundation was created in 1998 by Pierre S. (Pete) de Beaumont, the founder of the Brookstone Company, with the broad purpose to relieve human suffering.

The Foundation was fully funded upon Mr. de Beaumont’s death in December 2010.

In 2014, Brookstone was sold to the Sailing Capital, and Sanpower, for more than $173 million.

PH WINS 2017, the second national survey of the public health workforce, is released, revealing a growing risk of turnover in state and local health departments.