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When it comes to choosing a cause to support, Matt Shapiro and Jim Marsh say they pick things that hit close to home.
The pair first opened the store at the corner of Penfield Road and Route 250, in the former Chase Pitkin, in 2009. It was a transition for 44-year-old Marsh, who left behind a career in the biomedical industry and Shapiro, 40, who studied business at Columbia University before working several years in retail in Australia. His toolbox of knowledge was filled after working with the Home Depot corporation and later as overseer of tools and hardware sales for retail giant Amazon.com.
But after he and his wife decided to come back to the east coast, Shapiro and Marsh took a leap of faith and opened for business. Although the business is a member of the national True Value cooperative, they’ve worked hard to make it their own.
Their mission?
“When we got into this we felt there was a void in the market of hardware and home improvement,” said Shapiro.
Unlike the “big boxes” like Home Depot, Lowe’s and other large national retailers, Beyond Hardware provided the smaller alternative for people on the east side searching for a quick one-stop store for hardware and home improvement materials.
“People were screaming for an alternative, and we provide them with a choice,” said Marsh.
Their approach to management is very hands-on and energetic. There are 18 employees at the store, but you can catch both owners on the floor helping customers, cracking jokes or introducing Shapiro’s golden retriever, Brooklyn, to strangers.
They sarcastically list “Super Home Depot, or “Matt and Jim’s Super Hardware Store” as possible names for the store.
But like the name “Beyond Hardware” implies, their work is more than a home improvement or lawn and garden aisle. Since opening, the business has donated funds and materials to a number of local charities, including $10,000 in paint, lumber and fixtures to Habitat for Humanity, paint to the Open Door Mission, and Fairport and Pittsford schools.
The store has started two major charity events to be held each year. In “Demos for Divas,” they set up stations with how-to sessions on different topics like matching paint colors, all while guests sampled wine and cupcakes. All proceeds went to cancer support organization, Gilda’s Club of Rochester.
“That’s our version of ladies’ night,” said Shapiro.
When it comes to choosing a cause to support, Matt Shapiro and Jim Marsh say they pick things that hit close to home.
The pair first opened the store at the corner of Penfield Road and Route 250, in the former Chase Pitkin, in 2009. It was a transition for 44-year-old Marsh, who left behind a career in the biomedical industry and Shapiro, 40, who studied business at Columbia University before working several years in retail in Australia. His toolbox of knowledge was filled after working with the Home Depot corporation and later as overseer of tools and hardware sales for retail giant Amazon.com.
But after he and his wife decided to come back to the east coast, Shapiro and Marsh took a leap of faith and opened for business. Although the business is a member of the national True Value cooperative, they’ve worked hard to make it their own.
Their mission?
“When we got into this we felt there was a void in the market of hardware and home improvement,” said Shapiro.
Unlike the “big boxes” like Home Depot, Lowe’s and other large national retailers, Beyond Hardware provided the smaller alternative for people on the east side searching for a quick one-stop store for hardware and home improvement materials.
“People were screaming for an alternative, and we provide them with a choice,” said Marsh.
Their approach to management is very hands-on and energetic. There are 18 employees at the store, but you can catch both owners on the floor helping customers, cracking jokes or introducing Shapiro’s golden retriever, Brooklyn, to strangers.
They sarcastically list “Super Home Depot, or “Matt and Jim’s Super Hardware Store” as possible names for the store.
But like the name “Beyond Hardware” implies, their work is more than a home improvement or lawn and garden aisle. Since opening, the business has donated funds and materials to a number of local charities, including $10,000 in paint, lumber and fixtures to Habitat for Humanity, paint to the Open Door Mission, and Fairport and Pittsford schools.
The store has started two major charity events to be held each year. In “Demos for Divas,” they set up stations with how-to sessions on different topics like matching paint colors, all while guests sampled wine and cupcakes. All proceeds went to cancer support organization, Gilda’s Club of Rochester.
“That’s our version of ladies’ night,” said Shapiro.
The second fundraising event to benefit the Flower City Down’s Syndrome Network is called Carnival of Clinics. It also uses the workshop format, but instead of attracting a female crowd, the offer face-painting, clowns and food for kids while their parents learn about interior design.
Each of these efforts is inspired by a personal connection.For example, the owners chose to support Gilda’s Club after losing a close family friend to cancer, and the Down’s Syndrome Network, since Marsh’s nephew has the condition. Beyond Hardware has also sent care packages containing flashlights, Swiss army knives, batteries and other supplies to soldiers in Afghanistan when one of its cashiers went there on duty.
As the owners sit in their office, they mention Shapiro’s late grandfather who used to greet customers.
“Maybe we can do something for the veterans next time,” said Shapiro.
And that’s how it happens.
“We don’t really think about it,” added Marsh. It just comes naturally.”
