Sharona Eiserer bought a struggling 60-year-old lumber yard at six months pregnant and grew it into six Wood Shed Lumber and Hardware locations across rural Missouri. In this episode of the Grit Blueprint Podcast, she shares how she saved a dying small-town retail business, why the Do it Best co-op model beat her franchise experience, and the exact social media and radio playbook she uses to win against bigger competitors. If you own an independent hardware store, run a rural lumberyard, or are thinking about buying a family hardware business, this conversation gives you a real plan. You will hear how to handle ownership transitions, how to get your team on TikTok without making it weird, and how to build a brand people choose. 

What you'll take away today:

- The independent hardware store plan Sharona used to turn one struggling yard into six profitable locations across rural Missouri.

- How the Do it Best co-op model gives small dealers buying power, retail design help, and training that franchises never offered her.

- Why rural lumberyard owners must run radio, TikTok, and Facebook at the same time so customers hear one voice everywhere they look.

- A practical plan for small town retail marketing that works without a big budget, big team, or a picture-perfect camera setup.

- The mindset shift that lets women in hardware and next-generation leaders step into family hardware business ownership and grow it faster than it has ever grown before.

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👉 About Stefanie Couch & Grit Blueprint

I'm Stefanie Couch, the founder of Grit Blueprint. I grew up in a third-generation building supply business. I've worked inside dealers, distributors, and manufacturers. I built Grit Blueprint to solve problems I saw in our industry.

Grit Blueprint is a visibility, media, and growth partner for manufacturers, distributors, dealers, service providers, and leaders in the building industry.
We help you get seen, build trust, and become unmistakable.