For this elderly German shopkeeper, retirement not an option

Gerda Hammel is 95 years old and won't even consider retiring. She runs her own fashion shop, Strumpfkästchen, in Bad Nauheim, near Frankfurt. She rejects online retail and values personal customer interactions, even as sales decline.

Her life hasn't always been easy — she fled East Germany and raised two children on her own. Now, she finds purpose in her work.

Preserving small businesses in city centers drives her forward, and she fights against the impact of online commerce. For her, customers, meaningful conversations and good food are the key to a long and fulfilling life.