The Recyclery Collective
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
The Recyclery Collective firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Recyclery Collective
- Legal name
- The Recyclery Collective
- Website
- https://therecyclery.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Recyclery Collective industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Community Bike Shop Services
- NAICS
- Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance (8114)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Repair Services (7600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Used & Refurbished Bike Retail (CRAMAHAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Bike Service, Repair & Maintenance Shops (CRAMAHAH)
Keywords
Where The Recyclery Collective is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Recyclery Collective business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Refurbished Bike Sales: Sale of professionally refurbished used bicycles to community members at affordable prices. Bikes are inspected, tuned, and made ready to ride before sale.
- Bike Repair Classes: Revenue from teaching bike repair classes including Tune-Up (2-week) and Overhaul (6-week) courses, plus single-session topical classes.
- Open Shop Fees: Suggested donations for Open Shop usage ($10/hour for WTF Night), providing self-service access to tools and volunteer mechanic guidance.
- Donations and Fundraising: Financial contributions from individuals, annual Tailwind for Tools fundraiser campaign, and grants from foundations.
- Grants: Funding from organizations including Evanston Community Foundation, Reba Place Fellowship, and foundation grants for specific programs like FTWN-B.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Tune-Up Class (2-week course) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Overhaul Class (6-week course) |
| Donation/ grant-funded | Pay-as-you-go | Open Shop / WTF Night |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Refurbished Bikes |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Monetary Donations |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Recyclery Collective product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Recyclery Collective is a nonprofit community bike shop that sells affordable refurbished bicycles, provides Open Shop access to tools and volunteer mechanic guidance for self-repair, teaches hands-on bike repair classes (Tune-Up 2-week and Overhaul 6-week courses), and distributes free refurbished bicycles through its Freecyclery program to Chicago residents in need via partner organizations.
Product overview
The Recyclery Collective operates as a nonprofit educational bike shop offering a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offerings include refurbished bicycle sales and Open Shop access for self-guided repairs, complemented by formal bike repair education through Tune-Up and Overhaul classes. The organization serves underserved populations via the Freecyclery program (free bikes) and Earn-A-Bike fellowships, while youth programs and the inclusive FTWN-B Shop Time expand community access. Ancillary offerings include bike accessories, apparel merchandise, and the annual Tailwind for Tools fundraiser. All programs support the mission of making cycling accessible and building community resilience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Refurbished Bikes Affordable refurbished bicycles inspected, tuned, and ready to ride, sold at the Rogers Park shop and via the online shop. Average sale price approximately $350; As-Is bikes start at $30. Purchases support community programs including the Freecyclery program.
- Open Shop Community workspace where individuals can fix their own bicycles using shop tools and volunteer mechanic guidance. Sessions run Mon 5-7pm, Thu 7-9pm, and Sat 11am-2pm. Suggested donation of $10/hour (more if you can, less if you cannot).
- Bike Repair Classes Hands-on bike mechanic education including the Tune-Up Class (2-week course at $75 covering basic maintenance, tool terminology, fixing flats, chain maintenance, brake pad replacement, and basic shifting adjustments) and the Overhaul Class (6-week course at $180 covering disassembly, reassembly, and adjustment of each major mechanical system week-by-week). Occasional single-session topical classes include Fix a Flat and Winterize Your Bike.
- Freecyclery Program Free bicycle distribution program providing refurbished bicycles to Chicago residents in need through partner organizations including refugee resettlement agencies, social services, and community organizations. Approximately 250 bikes distributed annually.
- FTWN-B Shop Time Inclusive bike repair space specifically for Femme, Trans, Women, and Non-Binary cyclists to learn mechanics, wrench together, and build community. Held every Sunday 3-6pm in partnership with Women Bike Chicago and CommunityCave Chicago.
- Youth Programs Seasonal free youth bike program teaching bicycle mechanics, riding safety, and environmental awareness to Chicago kids and teens. Includes Youth Open Shop on Wednesday 4-5:30pm.
- Earn-A-Bike Fellowships
Quantifiable outcome
- 10,000+ used bikes refurbished and kept out of landfills
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Recyclery Collective
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Recyclery Collective technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
The Recyclery Collective partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- Evanston Bicycle ClubmajorNorth Shore Century Charity Partnership where cyclists can donate part of their registration fee to The Recyclery. Includes discount codes and Recyclery t-shirt incentives for donors.
- Women Bike ChicagocoreCollaboration on WTF (Women | Trans | Femme) Open Shop Night program held every 4th Sunday. WTF mechanics from both organizations co-lead the inclusive cycling skill-building sessions.
- CommunityCave ChicagocorePartner in WTF Night programming, helping create an intentionally inclusive space for trans and gender expansive community members.
- Elevate EnergyminorPresented energy efficiency programming at The Recyclery as part of community education initiatives.
- Active Transportation AllianceminorChicago-area active transportation advocacy organization listed as community partner.
- Blackstone Bicycle WorksminorChicago community bike shop partnership/network through Bike! Bike! organization.
- Green Machine CyclesminorAuthorized bike donation drop-off location at 1634 W. Montrose Ave, Chicago.
- BFF BikesminorAuthorized bike donation drop-off location at 2056 N. Damen Ave, Chicago.
- Big City BikesminorAuthorized bike donation drop-off location at 2425 N. Ashland Ave, Chicago.
- Cog Cycles ChicagominorAuthorized bike donation drop-off location at 3217 W. Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago.
- Wheelie Good BikesminorAuthorized bike donation drop-off location at 6981 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago.
- Patagonia Fulton MarketminorAuthorized bike donation drop-off location at 1115 Ww Fulton Market, Chicago.
- Fused Muse EnsembleminorCollaborated on video montage production with Alireza Ghoreshi for WGN News feature about The Recyclery.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Recyclery Collective competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Cog Cycles Chicago: Chicago independent bike shop acting as a Recyclery drop-off partner. Comparable local retail and repair footprint, but commercial (not nonprofit) operating model.
- Big City Bikes: Chicago independent bike shop serving as a Recyclery donation drop-off. Provides retail, repair, and used-bike services in the same metro, but operates as a for-profit retailer.
Others
- Patagonia Fulton Market: Outdoor apparel retailer hosting a Recyclery donation drop-off. Adjacent ecosystem partner rather than competitor — relevant as a corporate channel and potential corporate donor to community cycling causes.
Direct peers
- The Bike Project: Multi-city nonprofit (NYC, DC, London) refurbishing donated bikes for low-income adults and refugees. Comparable donation-intake, refurbishment, and community distribution mechanics.
- Working Bikes: Chicago-based nonprofit that refurbishes donated bicycles and distributes them locally and internationally. Most direct operational peer given shared geography, mission (donated-bike refurbishment), and revenue model (sales + donations + grants).
- Bikes Not Bombs: Boston-based nonprofit that refurbishes donated bikes for local youth and international distribution. Highly comparable mission, refurbished-sales model, and youth mechanic training program.
- Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective: Nonprofit community bike shop offering refurbished sales, Open Shop access, classes, and youth programs. Functionally identical model to The Recyclery in a different metropolitan market.
- Blackstone Bicycle Works: Chicago nonprofit community bike shop operating an Earn-A-Bike youth program, refurbished sales, and repair education. Listed as a Recyclery partner and member of Bike! Bike! network; near-identical operating model.
- Free Cycles (Bozeman): Montana nonprofit community bike shop running a volunteer-led giveaway program and DIY repair shop. Closely analogous volunteer-driven, free-distribution model.
Emerging players
- BFF Bikes: Chicago women-focused bike shop and one of The Recyclery's drop-off partners. Comparable retail/service footprint in the same city, with a narrower programmatic mission.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Recyclery Collective social profiles
Digital presenceThe Recyclery Collective compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The Recyclery Collective financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Recyclery Collective leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Recyclery Collective funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Recyclery Collective M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Recyclery Collective
What does The Recyclery Collective do?
The Recyclery Collective is a nonprofit community bike shop that sells affordable refurbished bicycles, provides Open Shop access to tools and volunteer mechanic guidance for self-repair, teaches hands-on bike repair classes (Tune-Up 2-week and Overhaul 6-week courses), and distributes free refurbished bicycles through its Freecyclery program to Chicago residents in need via partner organizations.
Is The Recyclery Collective a public or private company?
The Recyclery Collective is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Recyclery Collective founded?
The Recyclery Collective was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Recyclery Collective based?
The Recyclery Collective is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Recyclery Collective make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Refurbished Bike Sales are the primary driver. The others are bike Repair Classes, open Shop Fees, donations and Fundraising and grants.
Who are The Recyclery Collective's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Cog Cycles Chicago and Big City Bikes. Patagonia Fulton Market is listed as an others. Direct peers are The Bike Project, Working Bikes, Bikes Not Bombs, Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective, Blackstone Bicycle Works and Free Cycles (Bozeman). BFF Bikes is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Recyclery Collective have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Recyclery Collective.
What industry is The Recyclery Collective in?
The Recyclery Collective's product category is Nonprofit Community Bike Shop Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAHAK, Used & Refurbished Bike Retail, with a secondary code of CRAMAHAH, Bike Service, Repair & Maintenance Shops. Its NAICS code is 8114 and its SIC code is 7600.