Ace Hardware Corp. announced Tuesday that it has purchased the majority stake in e-commerce startup The Grommet. The Grommet operates an e-commerce website that markets and sells new and innovative products created by independent entrepreneurs, also known as makers, according to Ace. The Grommet has …
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Ace Hardware Hosts Maker to Market Event for Product Inventors
Ace Hardware Corp. hosted its first Maker to Market™ Day, an event created to allow entrepreneurs and inventors to pitch product ideas that could end up for sale in co-op stores. Ace employees who make purchasing decisions for more than 5,000 …
Read More »True Value Fall Reunion Pushes Retailers to ‘Act Now’
As retailers begin planning ahead for their busy spring selling season, those attending the True Value Fall Reunion were also encouraged to think in the moment. The buying show, which the co-op hosted in Chicago at McCormick Place, ran Sept. …
Read More »Ace CEO: Hurricanes, Plans and an ‘Incredibly Good Enemy’
Ace Hardware’s president and CEO, John Venhuizen, recently sat down with Hardware Retailing for an interview. He discussed weather events that have impacted Ace retailers, strategies for competing with “an incredibly good enemy” in Amazon and the co-op’s opportunities and plans for growth. …
Read More »Branneky True Value Hardware Journey Continues After 160 Years
In the mid-19th century, many Americans took off on the Oregon Trail in search of new lands and opportunities. Its main departure points were in Missouri, and the route stretched 2,000 miles to California. More than 400,000 pioneers traveled the …
Read More »Ace Hardware CEO: ‘It’s Either Forward or It’s Lights Out’
The Ace Hardware 2017 Fall Convention began with both warnings and encouragement from the cooperative’s top executives. Ace leaders spoke to retailers at the buying show’s general session, which started off the Aug. 17-19 convention in Chicago. President and CEO …
Read More »EXCLUSIVE: True Value CEO Discusses Earnings, Sale Rumors
The results of continued investments in True Value’s strategic plan are starting to pay dividends and the recent rumors swirling around a potential sale of the co-op will not be a distraction, according to the company’s president and CEO John …
Read More »Ace Hosting Entrepreneurs at Maker to Market Event
Ace Hardware Corp. is inviting entrepreneurs to show off their best product innovations at its first Maker to Market event. Formerly known as Open Buying Day, Ace’s new Maker to Market event will offer attendees opportunities to pitch their products to a panel of …
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