Retail cooperative Ace Hardware has unveiled a new experiential store concept, dubbed Elevate Ace, that will roll out to all new and existing stores over the next five years, supported by a $1 billion investment.
The new store design was unveiled at the retailer’s fall convention in Chicago earlier this month, which brought together more than 17,600 Ace Hardware retailers and industry professionals to celebrate the brand’s 100th anniversary. The design will be rolled out at select locations beginning this year with the full rollout to all new and existing stores set to launch in January 2025.
“Elevate Ace is not just a new store format; it’s our vision to become famous for four things in the neighborhoods we serve; namely paint, power, backyards and barbeque, and home preservation,” said John Venhuizen, President and CEO of Ace Hardware in a statement. “We believe in the power of local, and this initiative strengthens our community ties by creating experiential spaces that are not only places to shop but also places to connect.
Ace Hardware will invest more than $1 billion in opening new stores and remodeling existing stores over the next five years, and Venhuizen indicated that the Elevate Acestore model will “be at the heart of this investment.”
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Marking a “fundamental shift” in the retailer’s current store design, the new Elevate model aims to improve the customer experience and drive store growth via:
- Premium brand showroom areas featuring brands such as Weber, Traeger, Big Green Egg, Craftsman, DeWalt, Milwaukee, Ego and Stihl;
- Customer service enhancements aligned with new and evolving consumer shopping trends;
- Experiential design that “touches all five senses” including an outdoor space with a live goods display and grilling space for demos and events that will provide an aspirational backyard experience; and
- New product assortments and in-store features to enhance the overall consumer shopping experience.
