Ace Express Stores for smaller spaces

The following article appeared in the latest edition of Chain Store Age. It continues a direction that more retailers are going to follow with the increase in online shopping and expense of brick & mortar locations but filling the need for necessary items at a more convenient proximity:

Ace Hardware launches 'Express' store format for smaller spaces

JULY 16, 2012 | BY MARIANNE WILSON

Oakbrook, Ill. -- Ace Hardware has launched an “Express” format for both current Ace retailers and other business owners seeking to integrate the Ace brand into their existing offerings. The new, more compact stores average 5,000-sq.-ft. or less, and include customized merchandising displays and stock more than 11,000 of the most popular and profitable hardware products.

“At this time, there are nearly 400 successful Ace Hardware retail locations operating within less than 5,000 sq. ft., and the consistent high performance of these stores proved we had an incredible opportunity to create a specialized, smaller-format Ace retail model,” said Mike Berschauer, director, retail development, Ace Hardware Corp. “Our goal is both to drive incremental store growth for Ace and to mirror the ‘best in class’ offerings available at our larger stores. Essentially we’re providing the same top-notch brands and exceptional customer service, but just in a smaller space.”

The Ace Hardware “Express” format makes it possible for Ace to continue growing share in markets that aren’t able to accommodate additional full-size retail locations and is ideal for the following retail scenarios:

Ace will provide incentives of up to $150,000 to retailers utilizing the “Express” format. In addition, the company has created a variety of tailored resources to support these retailers – including merchandise profile guides, plan-o-grams to ensure that product selection is “shoppable” for customers, customized fixtures to create space efficiencies and a variety of incentive programs.

In addition, the in-stock product selection at “Express” format locations will mirror that available in a larger store model.

Currently, there are “Express” format Ace Hardware locations in six states across the United States – including Kansas, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.