Recovery Hardware

Determined to bring her neglected neighborhood back to life, Gina Schaefer opened her first hardware store near Whitman-Walker's Addiction Services program. What began as an effort to help her community recover evolved into a safe space for countless people in recovery to rebuild their lives.

Recovery Hardware shares A Few Cool Hardware Stores CEO Gina Schaefer's path to building a business that revitalized her neglected urban community and provided opportunities for everyone to thrive, no matter their past.

You'll discover:

• Lessons from resilient employees who struggled with substance abuse.
• Surprising skills from unconventional backgrounds that you won't find on a résumé.
• How to put bravery into the backbone of your business.
• Humorous insights into retail ownership, like how to choose the right store dog.
• Workforce solutions to remove obstacles for people in recovery.

Second chances transform communities and change lives-and it starts with one store at a time. Read Recovery Hardware and start building a better business where growth gives back.

Gina Schaefer is the founder and CEO of over a dozen hardware stores in Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, and the surrounding areas. As a member of the Ace Hardware Cooperative, Gina leads a multimillion-dollar business that employs more than 250 people and has begun a transfer of ownership through an ESOP to her teammates. Her big passion lies in developing urban markets, supporting small businesses, and helping women to succeed in all aspects of the hardware industry. Learn more at recoveryhardware.com.