The retail industry tends to get quite a bit of flak these days. They don't seem to be catering to the customer as much as they used to.
A little toy shop in Chicago has gained national attention this week because they are putting their customers first in a big way.
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A unique and interactive one-stop toy shop for parents and educators of children on the autism spectrum.
It's a new idea, but it's catching on.
In the heart of Chicago's Roscoe Village is the Spectrum Toy Store.
The store provides sensory toys, adaptive equipment, specialty products, as well as therapeutic programming.
Store owner Jamilah Rahim says there was a definite need for a store like this.
"I did in-home behavior therapy with families and I was able to see firsthand what kind of toys the kids played with, what they were into and I found out most parents got their toys online mainly because there was nowhere for them to shop locally. So with that being said I decided this was a great idea to get into," said Rahim.
Parents can even try out the toys before they buy them.
"They are able to come in here, play with the items, touch them, feel them, see them and then determine what works for their child."
Spectrum is the only non-profit toy store in the state of Illinois. It's also one of few in the country that specialize in children with disabilities.
"It focuses on children with disabilities ages 3-13. We do different activity groups. We focus on different core areas like communication skills, life skills, cognitive skills, gross and fine motor skills, and sensory play..."
The community has had a positive reception of the business.
"The turnout has been wonderful. The community has been very accepting. People come in all the time and ask what we're about, what we do. They give suggestions about what works well for their children so we try to keep items in the store that fit the community," Rahim said.
Their business is even expanding.
They plan to release a monthly toy subscription service and the profits are giving scholarships to area families so kids can participate in summer camp programs.
What do you think of this store?
Does your community have a need for something like this? Does your community have a store like this and does it do well? Let us know in the comments!
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