Brochures have been used for a long time to showcase visually the goods and services of establishment and organizations. A brochure is basically a small document that briefly or definitively outlines the offerings of a group, organization or business. Typically it will have much more detailed information than a flyer and be composed of average to high detail graphics and text on decent to fine parchment.
Evolution
Brochures today can also be found on line. Many companies that don't offer a full suite of Web interactivity at their web site will at least offer what is often negatively referred to as "brochureware". This term is used to describe a Web site that basically offers "static" information about goods and services offered by the site owner/owners but no interactivity such as eCommerce, database searches, auto updated content, state info retained by server and other "gee-whiz" elements of site design.
Advantages
Creating an online brochure allows you to reach a larger target market in the most inexpensive method available today. It does not replace a physical brochure "off-line brochure", it merely gives the establishment an additional tool that magnifies their advertisement and promotional opportunities.