The Odd Origins Of Brookstone

Brookstone began as a mail-order company selling hard-to-find industrial parts. Surprisingly, their first catalog featured niche items like dental clamps rather than the luxury gadgets they eventually became famous for.

Before it became a staple in airport malls selling massage chairs and high-end electronics, the company focused on specialized tools for hobbyists and professionals. They started in 1965 by hunting down hard-to-source instruments that people could not find in local hardware stores. It took nearly a decade for the business to move from paper catalogs to their very first physical store in New Hampshire. This shift from rugged industrial tools to lifestyle products remains one of the most drastic retail evolutions in history.