The Ace Hardware Story

Ace History

The beginning of one of the most successful franchises.

1924

•

Four hardware shop owners unite to start Ace Stores, Inc.

1931

•

Ace Stores, Inc. officially changes its name to Ace Hardware Corporation.

1940

•

By the end of the 1940s, Ace Hardware Corporation is supplying 133 Ace stores in seven states.

1959

•

Ace celebrates its 35-year anniversary with sales of $24.5 million and 325 stores.

1963

•

Ace begins to expand into the southeastern and western states.

1975

•

With stores in nearly all 50 states, Ace expands internationally, opening a store in Guam.

1985

•

A retailer ordering masking tape at a store in Michigan pushes Ace past $1 billion wholesale.

1994

•

The "New Retail Age of Ace" is launched to battle the "big box" chain hardware stores and help ensure the company's growth for years to come.

2006

•

Wholesale sales reach 10-year highs and the bottom line exceeds $100 million for the fourth straight year.

2013

•

Ace's Clark+Kensington® semi-gloss and satin paints are ranked No. 1 by a leading consumer magazine.

2019

•

12 out of 13 years ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction" by J.D. Power*

The Results

Ace Hardware continues to see robust growth year over year with increased Ace Rewards members, increased revenue and adding more Ace Hardware franchise locations worldwide.

Ace Rewards Members

Total Revenue

Patronage Distributions

Stores & Counting

Our Values

Each day, we are committed to providing helpful and superior customer satisfaction in the communities we serve, revolutionizing the independent segment of our industry and being the #1 hardware distributor in the convenience hardware industry. We're dedicated to being the best provider of products, services and operating methods to convenience hardware retailers.

Winning

In business, we keep score with money, which means we get paid to perform. To do that, we must compete and win and have a lot of fun doing it. At Ace, we win with and through people, for helpful is our weapon in the world.

Excellence

Excellence honors God and inspires people. We aspire to be the best, to continuously improve and to inspire others by giving the team our very best.

Love

Love the people, love the work and love the results.

Integrity

For Ace to win, we need to be able to trust each other. And trust will require us to be honest, reliable, caring, of high character and of unquestioned ethics.

Gratitude

We recognize that we are blessed to be in the business of serving others.

Humility

We strive for greatness with a humble, modest and respectful attitude.

Teamwork

We will fight the natural tendency for control and credit in favor of collaboration and mutual success, recognizing that…Together, We are Ace.

Our Vision to be the best, most helpful hardware stores on the planet requires both a differentiated retail strategy and a world-class wholesale strategy

- John Venhuizen | President and CEO

An Award-Winning Brand

There’s a reason Ace is one of the most popular franchise opportunities. It’s built for local owners who want to be the helpful place in town, backed by a trusted brand and a system designed to support real community impact

Net New Store Growth in a Row

Total Revenue

New Stores in the Last 5 Years

Entrepreneur's Franchise 500

Ranked #4 on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500®, #1 in Category for Fifth Straight Year. Surpassing Expansion Goals with 180 Domestic New Stores Last Year, Ace Hardware Cements Its Place as a Global Leader in Community-Driven Retail Cooperatives.

Forbes

Ranked #1 In Category on Forbes Best Customer Service List. Ace Hardware placed in top 5% of 3,000 eligible brands in the 2026 ranking from Forbes.

Franchise Times

Ace Hardware is the worlds largest retailer owned hardware cooperative. While it often feels like a franchise model because most locations are independently owned and operated, Ace is officially structured as a retailers cooperative.

Best in Class

The Ace brand is a favorite amongst hardware shoppers, even amongst the big box national chains. This is a direct result of our investment in our brand and core values. When it comes to Service, Convenience and Quality, Ace truly stacks up against the competition.

Are conveniently located

Have helpful and knowledgable store associates

Easy to find products I'm looking for

Have quick checkouts

Stands for values that are similar to mine

53.9%

53.7%

50.6%

45.4%

32.5%

51.7%

48.8%

46.9%

44.3%

26.9%

Ace data filtered to shoppers who bought from Ace Hardware within past 30 days, rolling 12-month average.

Ace is The Place for...

Veterans

As a benefit for prospective Ace retailers who are also U.S. Veterans, Ace Hardware will waive its $5,000 application fee for those who qualify*

*Owner must have a DD214 and own  at least 25% of the business

Get Started

The Coolest Stores

Only a select few Ace Stores receive this coveted recognition annually, based on how well the store differentiates its offerings, services, and culture to meet the needs of the community.

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Women in Retail

Ace supports women-owned franchises. Ace Women in Retail allows retailers to participate in a group that shares ideas, hosts guest speakers, and network with fellow retailers.

Open A Store

Heartware Stories

At Ace, we exist to help others. We tell our stories of helpful in this mini documentary series.

Watch Now

The Power of Rewards

Ace Rewards is the single most effective means of generating increased customer transactions.

World-Class Loyalty Program

71+ Million Ace Rewards members

$289 Million Incremental Sales

$65.1 Million in Instant Savings

3 Average Annual Visits per New Member

27 Average Visits per Premier Member

$35.85 Average Ace Rewards Transaction

Power Of The Brand

National Advertising Support

Ace spends over $190 Million on national advertising to support our retailers. Local Lift programs are available for retailers to easily customize their messaging to their local market.

Ace Foundation

Ace has been a proud partner of Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals and the American Red Cross since 1991, helping to raise over $100 million for CMN Hospitals.