Content about Oak Brook, Illinois

Chicago -- Ace Hardware supplied several growth-minded statistics to members during the co-op’s Fall Market general session, which was heavy on strategy initiatives and inspirational messages for store owners.

The paint department figured heavily in the Thursday morning presentation. So did payment systems, logistics and -- as one would expect -- the concept of customer service as delivered by a friendly store. 

Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware Corp. has unveiled the redesigned acehardware.com for consumers.

The website features new functionality designed to greatly enhance the consumer’s online experience, prominently featuring product reviews, tips and advice, store locator, enhanced “My Store” pages and Ace’s “Red Hot Buys.”            

Ray Griffith, the CEO of Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware, explained during an interview on Fox Business that consumers will continue to spend on their homes.

“We had a real good first quarter, and so far it’s carrying into April,” said Griffith during a segment described by the network as “Banking on do-it-yourself.”  

Even before Ace Hardware Corp. reported high single-digit sales increases for the quarter and the year — and even during a lingering housing downturn — CEO Ray Griffith told dealers that he liked the position in which Ace finds itself.

“Ongoing uncertainly keeps consumers cautious about spending, but many of you are doing well,” he told the members gathered in Denver for the co-op’s market last year.

Ace Hardware appointed John Venhuizen chief operating officer, effective Jan. 1, 2012.

Venhuizen has spent nearly two decades with Ace and most recently served as executive VP supply chain, information technology (IT) and international. In this position, he helped grow the number of Ace stores around the world, as well as create a variety of successful support and incentive programs for retailers.

Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware Corp. reported total revenues of $912.0 million for the third quarter of 2011, an increase of 10.6% from 2010.

Denver -- The air was thick with sports metaphors during Ace Hardware's General Session of the 2011 Denver Fall Convention & Exhibits. 

Ace's top marketing and merchandising executives mixed retail strategies with quotes from Knute Rockne and Vince Lombardi during a presentation in which they described the top 10 plays for winning at retail. The session even included half-time highlights of power tools and football touchdowns.

Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware Co. will unveil its new live goods program in Denver during its Fall Convention & Exhibits Oct. 15 to 17. 

The live goods program was tested at some Northeast retailers with strong results, according to Ace. The new program includes a partnership with BloomIQ.com, offering personalized garden planning tools for customers.

The live goods program is launching nationally in 2012.

Ace Hardware has recognized four member stores with the company’s first-ever “Coolest Hardware Store” awards. 

The four winners, named during Ace’s annual Platinum Conference held in Las Vegas this summer, share common traits yet offer local flavor and product selection above and beyond most hardware stores:

In a second-quarter earnings season characterized by weather-depressed sales figures, Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware Corp. managed to show a gain in revenues.

For the three months ended July 2, Ace saw revenues increase 0.5% to $1.021 billion. For the six-month period, sales increased 1.6% over the same two quarters in 2010.

The J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Home Improvement Retailer Store Satisfaction Study ranked Ace Hardware highest in customer satisfaction among home improvement retail stores. It's the fifth straight year for the recognition. 

The Home Channel News coast-to-coast and state-by-state search for All-Star hardware stores turns to Louisiana, Maine and Maryland.