Most small business owners ask themselves is ” will I be able to compete against my big box store and online competition?” When we hear the name Ace Hardware we may not always think about them being a small local business. In fact, each location is owned and operated by members of our local communities. You will notice that each Ace store has varying selections because the owners are empowered to make their own purchasing decisions. Inventory is not dictated by a corporate office, allowing each location to offer the right products and prices for their local community.

Ace Wins Big!

Locally owned and operated Ace Hardware stores throughout the country, have out-ranked Lowe’s, Home Depot and Menards as the favorite home improvement retailer. The small town hardware store achieved an incredible composite loyalty score of 63% in a Market Force Information study.  They beat the Big Box stores!

Of the four companies selected Ace Hardware’s score was 63%. The remaining competitors were  Menards 60%, Lowes 55% and Home Depot 51%. A poll of more than 7800 consumers was used to determine the home improvement rankings.  Ace Hardware was strong in most categories, especially ease in finding merchandise, knowledgeable and service-driven staff, and speedy checkouts.

Small Business Works For The D.I.Y. Consumer

The study also shows that 60% of the consumers polled consider themselves “DIY enthusiasts. Those are the consumers who make their own purchases and complete their own home improvement projects.  As for the “do-it-for-me” group, 22% purchase the material and outsource the work.

Home improvement could be a bright light in the retail sector with remodeling  projects on the rise and consumers more confident about investing in their homes,”  says Ray Walsh, CEO of Market Force Information,  “…retailers must continue to focus on the customer experience to differentiate their offer and capture a greater share of this growing market, excelling  in areas such as value, store cleanliness and merchandise variety and availability.”

Card Systems understands the challenges of small to medium-sized businesses. One of the most complicated tasks is to determine what system is right for me? Whether you’re in need of a basic credit card terminal, the point of sale system, integrated solution, or need to take payments online, we can help you choose the right solution for your business.  Call today 866.207.3298 or email for more information how we can increase your business efficiency and workflow.

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