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MERRIMACK, N.H., Feb 27, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Brookstone today announced that customers affected by the recent action to suspend acceptance of Sharper Image gift cards and gift certificates could exchange them at any Brookstone Store for an instant 25 percent savings off a Brookstone purchase. Brookstone, an innovative product developer and specialty retailer of gifts and lifestyle merchandise, said it made the decision after Sharper Image announced on its website it was suspending acceptance of Sharper Image gift cards, rewards cards, gift certificates and merchandising certificates related to Chapter 11 Bankruptcy proceedings. Brookstone said it would exchange...

You know that Sharper Image gift card you got for Christmas? Right now, it's worthless. And other gift cards in your wallet could lose their value, too. As more retailers file for bankruptcy or go out of business, more than $75 million in gift cards are at risk of becoming worthless pieces of plastic this year. [snip] The number of retail bankruptcies or liquidations this year is expected to reach the highest levels since the 1991 recession. Brian Riley, senior analyst at The TowerGroup, estimates that shoppers could lose more than $75 million just from stores and restaurant closings in...

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- After years of declining sales, The Sharper Image -- known for creature comforts and gadgets like robotic massage chairs and $170 toothbrushes -- has gone belly-up, declaring bankruptcy Wednesday. In a brief statement, Sharper Image (SHRP: SHRP 0.41, -1.03, -71.5%) announced it had filed for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, but that it "intends to continue to conduct business as usual while it devotes renewed efforts to resolve its operational and liquidity problems and develops a reorganization plan."

Court Dismisses Sharper Image Lawsuit against Consumers Union Stephen Barrett, M.D. In November 2004, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California dismissed a lawsuit that the Sharper Image Corporation filed against Consumers Union (CU) over reviews of the Ionic Breeze Quadra air cleaner [1]. The lawsuit, filed in September 2003, concerned articles in the October 2003 and February 2002 issues of Consumer Reports which concluded that the Ionic Breeze was "ineffective" as an air cleaner and produced "almost no measurable reduction in airborne particles." CU is now entitled to reimbursement from Sharper Image for the legal fees...

Do you shop at REI or Barnes and Nobel or Clearcreek? If so, you might want to reconsider or at least drop them a line and let them know how you feel about their businesses raising money to defeat President Bush. shoptodropbush.com