About Us
Ace Through the Years
1924
Four hardware shop owners unite to start Ace Stores, Inc.
1920
1931
Ace Stores, Inc. officially changes its name to Ace Hardware Corporation.
1930
1940
By the end of the 1940s, Ace Hardware Corporation is supplying 133 Ace stores in seven states.
1940
1959
Ace celebrates its 35-year anniversary with sales of $24.5 million and 325 stores.
1950
1963
Ace begins to expand into the southeastern and western states.
1960
1975
With stores in nearly all 50 states, Ace expands internationally, opening a store in Guam.
1970
1985
A retailer ordering masking tape at a store in Michigan pushes Ace past $1 billion wholesale.
1980
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.
1990
2006
Wholesale sales reach 10-year highs and the bottom line exceeds $100 million for the fourth straight year.
2000
2013
Ace's Clark+Kensington® semi-gloss and satin paints are ranked No. 1 by a leading consumer magazine.
2010
2019
12 out of 13 years ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction" by J.D. Power*
The History of Ace
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
Sales
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
Patronage Distributions
Digital Business
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
Our Accolades
Entrepreneur's Franchise 500
#1 In our category Entrepreneur Magazine's 500 List
Entrepreneur's Franchise 500
2022 Best of the Best Franchise
Franchise Direct
#9 on Franchise Direct Top 100 Global Franchises
Franchise Times
#5 Franchise Times Top 500
J.D. Power
Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Home Improvement Retail Stores, 15 out of 16 Years*
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.
While other stores have become large and impersonal, at Ace, we've remained small and very personal. That's why we say a visit to Ace, is like a visit to your neighbor.
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|---|---|---|---|
| Are conveniently located | 75.2% | 61.9% | 54.2% |
| Have helpful and knowledgable store associates | 74.4% | 56.0% | 48.6% |
| Easy to find products I'm looking for | 59.5% | 53.8% | 47.5% |
| Have quick checkouts | 52.9% | 46.7% | 40.1% |
| Stands for values that are similar to mine | 42.1% | 34.8% | 30.2% |
| Ace data filtered to shoppers who bought from Ace Hardware within past 30 days, rolling 12-month average. | |||
Our Support
Each day, we are committed to providing helpful and superior customer satisfaction in the communities we serve, revolutionize the independent segment of our industry, and be the #1 hardware distributor in the convenience hardware industry. We're dedicated to the best provider of products, services and operating methods to convenience hardware retailers.
Over $120 Million spent on National Advertising
The Power of Rewards
Ace Rewards is the single most effective means of generating increased customer transactions.
- 58+ Million total Ace Rewards members
- $8 Billions in annual Customer-Level Sales
- $55 Million in Instant Savings
- $211+ Million Incremental Sales
- 3.7 Average Annual Visits per New Member
- 30 Average Visits per Premier Member
Ace is The Place for Veterans
Ace Hardware will waive its $5,000 application fee for prospective Ace retailers who are also qualified U.S. Veterans.
Ace
Foundation
Ace has been a proud partner of Children's Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals and the American Red Cross since 1991. Together Ace Retailers, customers, vender partners and Corporate team members have raised over $100 million for CMN Hospitals.
