Future of Shopping Small Grant

COEUR d’ALENE — Brett Sommer had a few words for the $10,000 grant received by Figpickels Toy Emporium.

“Talk about a COVID-booster,” he said Friday as his store in the Plaza Shops on Sherman Avenue was busy with customers.

Main Street America and American Express recently launched the Future of Shopping Small Grant Program. This grant provides 10 small businesses across the United States with $10,000 each to help them innovate in the evolving retail landscape.

“We are proud to announce one of our very own Downtown Coeur d’Alene Businesses, Figpickels Toy Emporium, has been named as one of the 10 recipients of the Future of Shopping Small Grant,” said a press release from the Downtown Coeur d’Alene Association.

Figpickels was one of the two businesses on the West Coast to receive the grant.

Brett and Susan Sommer, the owners, will use the funds to launch a mobile toy store to make their products more accessible in areas where people may be unable to travel to their shop, such as senior centers, under-served school districts, and small mining towns.

They also plan to create a customized web portal for e-commerce and to allow people to book the mobile store to come to their area.

Figpickels has been in its current site since 2012 and in downtown Coeur d’Alene for 15 years. The Sommers also own Mrs. Honeypeeps candy store in the Plaza Shops.

Susan Sommer said they applied for the grant well before the coronavirus hit and the following government-ordered shutdown of nonessential businesses took place.

Like most businesses, COVID-19 and the stay-home order hit them hard, so the grant is providing a boost and bit of encouragement.

“It’s almost like a little sign, keep going,” Brett Sommer said.

On its website, Main Street America had this to say about Figpickels:

“With a focus on creating an experience for their customers, Figpickels has a “hands-on” philosophy that allows patrons to play games and test products. They are dedicated to supporting education and aiding underserved children in the region through participating in after-school programs, hosting learn-though-play events, offering educator discounts, and providing teachers with free materials needed for their classrooms.”

Brett Sommer said toys store have been facing challenges. In 1998, there were more than 1,500 toy stores in the U.S. Today, he said there are fewer than 600.

That’s why he appreciates the efforts of Main Street America.

“They are amazing,” he said. “What they’re doing around the country, what money they’re giving to downtown, I think people should really know more about them.

“There are people out there working really hard to help Main Street,” Brett Sommer added.