Content about Ace

Ace Hardware president and CEO Ray Griffith announced his plans to retire from the hardware cooperative on March 31, 2013, and the company’s board of directors has named Ace’s chief operating officer John Venhuizen his successor.

Effective Sept. 1, 2012, Venhuizen assumed the role of president, while retaining his existing chief operating officer duties of Ace Hardware Corp. Griffith will maintain his role as CEO until his retirement.

Rallying the troops during the Ace Fall Convention and Exhibits, chairman Dave Ziegler showed the early morning general session audience a video clip of Ace COO John Venhuizen wielding a Home Channel News magazine.

In the magazine was a quote from a Home Depot executive about leading the industry in convenience and service. Venhuizen responded by channeling defiant former NRA spokesman Charlton Heston: Ace will relinquish the title of most convenient “when they can peel it out of our cold dead hands.”

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, during a hearing held earlier this year, told Congress: “We’re not Sherwin-Williams paint. We don’t cover the earth equally.”


The exchange confirmed HCN’s position that slogans matter — a case we made in this space back in 2009. Among the notable slogans highlighted here were those of Sherwin-Williams (Cover the Earth), McCoy’s Building Supply (Go Build Something) and Lowe’s (Let’s Build Something Together).


The Ace Hardware Foundation and local Oakland, Calif.-area Ace retailers presented a check for $34,105 to the Children's Hospital and Research Center Oakland last month.

Chicago -- After a year in which consolidated wholesale sales were up 2.1%, Ace Hardware Corp. is planning for sales growth of 3.0% in 2011.

"It feels good to be back in the positives," said Dorvin Lively, Ace CFO, speaking to co-op members assembled during the Ace Spring Convention and Exhibits in Chicago last week.

Jeff Schulein of Crown Ace Hardware has accomplished what few dealers can lay claim to: 17 stores, a solid succession plan and, since the economic downturn, no store closures or major employee layoffs. In fact, Schulein and his son, Mark, are in negotiations to open an 18th store, this one in San Diego. 


“I’m an entrepreneur who does things by the seat of his pants,” Jeff said. “Mark is a good manager. He’s highly organized. So together we make a good team.” 


Orlando, Fla. -- Record attendance, international growth and an overhaul of Vision 21 were just some of the topics covered during the morning merchandising and consumer marketing presentation at the 2010 Ace Fall Convention Oct. 28. 

The event, held at the Orange County Convention Center, saw an increase of more than 600 members in attendance over the 2009 Fall Convention, the company said. Total attendance, including vendors and dealers, approximated 14,000.