Supply Chain Research

Electronics retailer Brookstone has filed for bankruptcy protection and will shut its mall stores to focus on e-commerce and airports. The timing of the failure is notable as its shipments into the U.S. are highly season. The September to November imports accounted for 42% of annual shipments since 2014. Imports surged 38% higher in November to January 2018, indicating a rapid build-up in inventory that likely came too late for the holiday sales season and has been followed by a 43% slump in February through June 30. While 64% of its imports came from China in the past year only 8% point...