Ace Hardware expands wholesale distribution network nationwide
Ace launches Emery Jensen Distribution to serve non-Ace independent retailers
Ace Hardware Corporation today announced that its wholesale distribution network has expanded coast-to-coast with the formation of Emery Jensen Distribution, LLC. This new distribution arm operates under Ace Wholesale Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of Ace Hardware Corporation, and is dedicated to serving non-Ace Hardware independent retailers.
Emery Jensen Distribution was formed after the strategic acquisitions of The Emery-Waterhouse Company in February 2014 and Jensen Distribution Services in January 2015. Both Emery-Waterhouse and Jensen will continue to operate independently under the Ace Wholesale Holdings umbrella at this time; Emery Jensen Distribution will service key national accounts and retailers in the geographic region of the country not covered by these organizations. This new division will allow Ace Wholesale Holdings to gain far greater reach of independent retailers throughout the entire country.
Since its inception in June, Emery Jensen Distribution has gained close to 100 customers with a projection of 2,000 retailers by the end of 2016.
“More important than growth is ensuring we’re serving our independent retailers well. We’re focusing the majority of our efforts this year on setting a strong foundation, including technology,” said Hoyoung Pak, President of Ace Wholesale Holdings. “This entails a state-of-the-art ordering portal, operations to handle various order sizes, opening up access to 75,000 SKUs for our customers and training our customer service team.”
Newly-signed customers were attracted by the ease of teaming up with Emery Jensen Distribution. Unlike many competitors, Emery Jensen Distribution customers will get transparent, easy-to-understand program and pricing. The product cost savings as result of increased buying power was also a powerful motivator to switch to this game changing distributor.
“Retailers have a ton on their plates serving customers and dealing with competitors. The last thing they need is a complex program,” said Pak. “We won’t do things like add an artificial 5% inflator on products only to pay it back at year end as a disguised rebate if retailers jump through hoops. We offer competitive prices tiered based on spend levels and charge market going delivery rates. That’s it. There are no start-up fees or annual dues of any sort.”
Beyond program and pricing, other benefits include:
- Access to 75,000 locally-relevant products across numerous categories including hardware, lawn & garden, housewares, automotive, pet, toys, camping and home improvement
- Best-in-class services levels in the range of 97%
- Access to Ace Hardware shows and deals
# # #
For more than 90 years, Ace Hardware has been known as the place with the helpful hardware folks in thousands of neighborhoods across America, providing customers with a more personal kind of helpful. In 2015, Ace ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Home Improvement Retail Stores, Nine Years in a Row," according to J.D. Power. With more than 4,800 hardware stores locally owned and operated across the globe, Ace is the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the world. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace and its subsidiaries currently operate 17 distribution centers in the U.S. and also have distribution capabilities in Shanghai, China; Panama City, Panama; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Its retailers' stores are located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and approximately 60 countries. For more information on Ace, visit www.acehardware.com.
About Emery Jensen Distribution, LLC
Emery Jensen Distribution, LLC is a national distributor serving independent retailers across multiple channels including hardware, lawn and garden, pro-lumber and grocery. Emery Jensen Distribution leverages Ace Hardware’s 17 distribution centers, the largest infrastructure within the hardware industry, allowing it to serve customers at exceptional levels. Operating under Ace Wholesale Holdings, LLC, Emery Jensen Distribution strives to give customers access to over 75,000 locally relevant paint, lawn and garden, hardware and various niche SKUs at competitive prices. For more information about Emery Jensen Distribution, visit www.emeryjensendistribution.com.
About Emery-Waterhouse Company
Established in 1842, Emery-Waterhouse is a leading independent hardlines wholesale distributor of home improvement and building products to customers throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Emery-Waterhouse has helped customers grow their business and meet the needs of their customers with professionally focused brands, personalized service and exceptional industry expertise. For more information on Emery-Waterhouse, visit www.emeryonline.com.
About Jensen Distribution Services
Based in Spokane, Wash., Jensen-Byrd, operating under the name Jensen Distribution Services, Inc., is a wholesale hardware distributor that serves more than 2,000 customers in 11 western states. Jensen carries more than 65,000 items, including household hardware, hand and power tools, electrical, paint and sundries, outdoor living, housewares, automotive, and lawn and garden products. For more information on Jensen, visit www.jensenonline.com.
