Retail sales during the 2024 holiday season grew 4% from 2023 to $994.1 billion, an unexpectedly high increase, says the National Retail Foundation (NRF). This number surpassed NRF’s forecast for 2024, which was that 2024 holiday sales would increase between …
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Ace Hardware to Debut Ace YardRx on Groundhog Day 2025
This year, Ace Hardware joins in the age-old tradition of Groundhog Day with the introduction of Ace YardRx, a new subscription service offering personalized yard care for homeowners across the country. Ace will then hold the title of “Official Yard Care …
Read More »Ace Hardware Earns Top Spot on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 List
Once again, Ace Hardware has ranked No. 5 on Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500® list. The franchise also ranked No. 1 on the ‘Miscellaneous Retail Business’ category list for the fourth year in a row. In 2024, Ace Hardware surpassed its …
Read More »Construction Job Market Remains Stable
According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), residential construction employment is now at 3.4 million, with 961,000 builders and 2.4 million residential speciality trade contractors. In December 2024, construction workers saw a 5.5% unemployment rate. This is slightly …
Read More »Westlake Ace Hardware Acquires Augusta Ace Home Center
Westlake Ace Hardware recently announced its acquisition of Augusta Ace Home Center in Augusta, Kansas. The acquisition will occur on March 17. Augusta Ace Home Center is currently owned by Pat and Diane Herian, who have owned the store for …
Read More »Perennial Sales Boom, Shrubs and Indoor Plants Sales Dropped in 2024
The Garden Center State of the Industry Report documents the health of the independent garden center industry, tracking trends and economic activity. According to Garden Center’s 2024 report, the industry’s growth is slowing after the COVID sales boom and garden centers …
Read More »The Aubuchon Company Acquires 3 Noble Ace Hardware Locations
Noble Ace Hardware store owner, Robert A. Noble III, recently completed the sale of three store locations—in Rutland, Vermont and Cobleskill and Cambridge, New York—to The Aubuchon Company. The settlement will be completed on January 23 and the stores will …
Read More »Economy Ended 2024 On a High Note, NRF Says
In 2024, economic growth withstood inflation, high interest rates and other global challenges and should continue to show strength in 2025, says National Retail Federation chief economist Jack Kleinhenz. “The U.S. economy ended 2024 on a high note and the …
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