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 …
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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 …
Read More »Ace Hardware Earns Top Spot on Forbes Customer Service List
Ace Hardware recently earned the No. 1 spot on the Forbes’ 2025 Best Customer Service List in the home improvement category. This is the second year in a row the company has been named to the top of the Forbes …
Read More »Houzz Renovation Barometer Shows Slow Q3 in 2024, Expected Increase in Q4
With home remodeling at an all-time high, homeowners should be aware of construction, architect and designer firm activity and wait times. According to the 2024 Q4 Houzz Renovation Barometer, expectation for project inquiries increased by 7 points in the fourth …
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