Ace Hardware
Encyclopedia
Ace Hardware Corporation is a hardware cooperative
based in Oak Brook
, Illinois
, United States
. ACE Hardware Corporation, with 4,444 (May 2011) stores, does over $3 billion in retail hardware sales annually down from its peak of $12.5 billion in 2007.
, and Oscar Fisher in Chicago, Illinois
. Ace Hardware, incorporated in 1928 as Ace Stores Inc., was founded to provide a centralized purchasing organization to supply the founders' and members' stores. The company was named after the Ace fighter pilots of World War I
, who were able to overcome all odds. Its retail network expanded to hundreds of dealers by 1949, when annual sales reached about $10 million.
After Hesse retired in 1973, Ace was sold to its retailers, becoming a cooperative
, and the headquarters moved to suburban Oak Brook
. Independent owners became dealer-owners and shareholders in the company. Because it is a co-op and not a franchise
, each Ace Hardware store looks different. Ace has placed a focus on Ace stores exhibiting some similar characteristics, such as signaled and core product lines. The Vision 21 program, as this is called, is aimed to make all stores look recognizable as an Ace Hardware.
Ace Hardware's long-time slogan The helpful hardware place has been replaced by The helpful place. Another change came when its longtime jingle — "Ace is the place with the helpful hardware man" — was modified with the more gender-neutral "folks" replacing "man." Much of their advertising since 1987 features John Madden, a former NFL
coach and announcer. In some commercials, he uses football quotes.
Prior to Madden, Suzanne Somers
was a spokesperson for Ace Hardware but was dropped because of a previously issued topless poster for Maheraja water skis. Home improvement expert Lou Manfredini
currently serves as ACE's "Helpful Hardware Man" and media spokesperson.
Ray Griffith currently serves as the President and CEO of Ace Hardware Corporation and has served in that position since taking over for Dave Hodnik in 2005. Hodnik had served as ACE's leader since 1996. David Ziegler serves as Chairman of the Board. ACE Hardware Corporation now does over $3 billion in hardware sales annually and had $12.5 billion in retail sales during 2007.
:ACES
) has opened the world's largest 14,695 square meter ACE Hardware shop in Living World Mall Alam Sutra, Tangerang
, Indonesia
. In July 2011, there are 48 ACE Hardware shops in Indonesia. The brand is further sold in Barbados
, through the chain Dacosta Mannings.
Retailers' cooperative
A retailers' cooperative is a type of cooperative which employs economies of scale on behalf of its retailer members. Retailers' cooperatives use their purchasing power to acquire discounts from manufacturers and often share marketing expenses. It is common for locally owned grocery stores,...
based in Oak Brook
Oak Brook, Illinois
Oak Brook is a village in DuPage and Cook Counties, in Illinois. The population was 8,702 at the 2000 census. A suburb of Chicago, it is the headquarters of McDonald's and Lions Clubs International.-History:...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. ACE Hardware Corporation, with 4,444 (May 2011) stores, does over $3 billion in retail hardware sales annually down from its peak of $12.5 billion in 2007.
History
Ace Hardware was founded in 1924 by Richard Hesse, E. Gunnard Lindquist, Frank BurkeFrank Burke
Frank Burke may refer to:*Frank Burke , American Army officer and Medal of Honor recipient*Frank James Burke , American organized crime figure...
, and Oscar Fisher in Chicago, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Ace Hardware, incorporated in 1928 as Ace Stores Inc., was founded to provide a centralized purchasing organization to supply the founders' and members' stores. The company was named after the Ace fighter pilots of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, who were able to overcome all odds. Its retail network expanded to hundreds of dealers by 1949, when annual sales reached about $10 million.
After Hesse retired in 1973, Ace was sold to its retailers, becoming a cooperative
Retailers' cooperative
A retailers' cooperative is a type of cooperative which employs economies of scale on behalf of its retailer members. Retailers' cooperatives use their purchasing power to acquire discounts from manufacturers and often share marketing expenses. It is common for locally owned grocery stores,...
, and the headquarters moved to suburban Oak Brook
Oak Brook, Illinois
Oak Brook is a village in DuPage and Cook Counties, in Illinois. The population was 8,702 at the 2000 census. A suburb of Chicago, it is the headquarters of McDonald's and Lions Clubs International.-History:...
. Independent owners became dealer-owners and shareholders in the company. Because it is a co-op and not a franchise
Chain store
Chain stores are retail outlets that share a brand and central management, and usually have standardized business methods and practices. These characteristics also apply to chain restaurants and some service-oriented chain businesses. In retail, dining and many service categories, chain businesses...
, each Ace Hardware store looks different. Ace has placed a focus on Ace stores exhibiting some similar characteristics, such as signaled and core product lines. The Vision 21 program, as this is called, is aimed to make all stores look recognizable as an Ace Hardware.
Ace Hardware's long-time slogan The helpful hardware place has been replaced by The helpful place. Another change came when its longtime jingle — "Ace is the place with the helpful hardware man" — was modified with the more gender-neutral "folks" replacing "man." Much of their advertising since 1987 features John Madden, a former NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
coach and announcer. In some commercials, he uses football quotes.
Prior to Madden, Suzanne Somers
Suzanne Somers
Suzanne Somers is an American actress, author, singer and businesswoman, known for her television roles as Chrissy Snow on Three's Company and as Carol Lambert on Step by Step....
was a spokesperson for Ace Hardware but was dropped because of a previously issued topless poster for Maheraja water skis. Home improvement expert Lou Manfredini
Lou Manfredini
Lou Manfredini is an American television/radio personality and home improvement expert. Born in Highland Park, Illinois he is the host of House Smarts TV, Chicago's WGN Radio's Mr. Fix-It program and is a contributor on NBC's Today Show.-Early Years:While a student at Deerfield High School ,...
currently serves as ACE's "Helpful Hardware Man" and media spokesperson.
Ray Griffith currently serves as the President and CEO of Ace Hardware Corporation and has served in that position since taking over for Dave Hodnik in 2005. Hodnik had served as ACE's leader since 1996. David Ziegler serves as Chairman of the Board. ACE Hardware Corporation now does over $3 billion in hardware sales annually and had $12.5 billion in retail sales during 2007.
Overseas shops
PT ACE Hardware Indonesia Tbk (IDXIDX
Indonesia Stock Exchange or in Indonesian Bursa Efek Indonesia is a stock exchange based in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was previously known as Jakarta Stock Exchange before its name changed in 2007 after merging with Surabaya Stock Exchange...
:ACES
ACeS
ACeS is a regional satellite telecommunications company based in Jakarta, Indonesia. It offers GSM-like satellite telephony services to Asian market. The coverage area includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, China and India. The company operates the Garuda 1...
) has opened the world's largest 14,695 square meter ACE Hardware shop in Living World Mall Alam Sutra, Tangerang
Tangerang
Tangerang is a city in the Province of Banten, Indonesia. It is located about 25 km west of Jakarta. It is the third largest urban center in the Jabotabek region after Jakarta and Bekasi. It has an area of 164.54 km² and an official intercensal estimated population of 1,537,244 for 2005...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. In July 2011, there are 48 ACE Hardware shops in Indonesia. The brand is further sold in Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, through the chain Dacosta Mannings.