Brookstone Brings Inventors and Tech Brands to Its New Demo-Friendly Makers Showcase Store


MERRIMACK, N.H., April 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of its new Brookstone PLUS Innovation & Retail Platform, Brookstone opened its first Makers Showcase store in the Roosevelt Field Mall, Garden City, New York. At the Saturday, April 21, grand opening, more than a dozen product makers and tech brands from around the world visited to give in-person product demos and speak directly with customers. More Brookstone Makers Showcase stores will open in the U.S. and in China throughout 2018.

The hands-on, demo-friendly store features products from independent makers and global tech companies such as Anker Technology, Royole, Mobvoi, Echelon and Suunto. It also carries customer favorites from the Brookstone product collection.

“Brookstone has always been about bringing the latest, most exciting innovations to customers,” said Piau Phang Foo, Senior Executive for Brookstone parent company Sanpower Group. “Our new Makers Showcase store takes this concept to the next level, and we’re delighted to feature so many promising new products from up-and-coming makers.”

"I couldn't be happier to be here,” said Henry Adams, CEO and maker of Sound Caddy, the club-shaped Bluetooth speaker designed for golf bags. “This is a store I've shopped at since I was a kid, and to have a product come full circle and be available here is a dream come true. Best of all, I love being face-to-face with customers and seeing their eyes light up when they hear the Sound Caddy golf speaker in action." 

“There’s a terrific energy to this store, and there’s no substitute for being able to see a product live and try it out in person,” said Kristina Caron, national sales manager for the Echelon Connect smart fitness bike. “Brookstone Makers Showcase connects makers and customers in ways that just can’t be achieved through selling online.”

Brookstone to expand its World of Innovation
Since joining the Chinese-based Sanpower Group Company in 2014, Brookstone has brought its iconic American shopping experience to 500 retail locations throughout China, and expanded both its global product development and distribution capabilities.

“Brookstone is a truly American brand with enormous global potential,” said Foo. “By continuing to invest in Brookstone stores in the U.S. and internationally, and by leveraging the manufacturing and distribution network of all our Sanpower Group subsidiaries, we have created a powerful Brookstone PLUS platform that can quickly bring makers to customers all across the world.”

Brookstone will continue to open more Makers Showcase stores in the U.S. and China throughout 2018, and will also host a series of Innovation Competitions at universities and design schools where makers can audition their products to industry experts. The winners’ products may be featured in Brookstone stores worldwide.

About Brookstone
Founded in 1965, Brookstone is a U.S.-based product developer and retailer of wellness, entertainment, and travel products that are fun to discover, smart to use and beautiful in design. Brookstone products are available at its 140 retail locations in malls and airports throughout the U.S., online at Brookstone.com and through select premium retailers worldwide.

Brookstone is a member of Sanpower Group Company, a private conglomerate whose primary businesses are engaged in technology and modern service industries. With big data serving as its core competitive advantage, Sanpower is rapidly building an industrial ecosystem across the finance, health and commerce sectors. The company has an excess of RMB 100 billion in both total assets and annual gross sales, and a controlling stake in more than 100 subsidiaries. Through this diverse set of businesses, Sanpower provides growth opportunities for a 100,000-strong global workforce.

For more information, visit Brookstone.com and follow them at Twitter.com/Brookstone, Facebook.com/Brookstone and Instagram.com/BrookstoneGifts.

Media Inquiries: media@Brookstone.com
Brookstone PLUS Partnership Inquiries: Makers@Brookstone.com
University Innovation Platform Inquiries: Edu@Brookstone.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/99101e8b-7b2a-4264-bbf1-052530e1fc34

http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/bb6d5ff9-a8e5-44f9-8f8e-bc78c354e882

Echelon Lo-Res Ribbon Cutting Lo-Res