Ace Hardware Blog

Excedrin Headache #15

Have you ever thought it might be fun to run or manage a hardware store?

I have a question for you.....How do you feel when the bagger at the grocery store puts the gallon of milk on top of your loaf of soft white bread?  Probably the same way I feel when our Retail Support Center delivers a 150 pound Weber gas grill ON TOP of a pallet of compact fluorescent light bulbs.  This is what we found as we were unloading our freight today.

My General Manager, Todd Hesgard, asked me to snap a picture of this just in case any of the bulbs were broken.  I think he was afraid the folks at the Ace warehouse would think he was joking!  In this case, it's no joke.  Hopefully all is well and nothing is broken. 

If anyone is still looking for a job running a hardware store after reading this, let me know.  I'm seriously thinking of submitting an application for a bag boy position at the Piggly Wiggly! 

Dave's Evansville Ace Hosts a Horse Clinic!

For those of you who have read our Evansville newsletter, you already know we are hosting a Free Horse Seminar at the store on Thursday, March 29, beginning at 6:30 p.m.  Until recently, the guest speakers were Mitch Diamond of Diamond V, speaking about Robotics & Yeast, C. J. Gilbert, speaking about riding through fear and Cassandra Poquette talking about nutrition 101.  I think you will agree, that is a great slate of experts!

Today, I just learned that Tracy Porter, an internationally known horse rider and trainer will also be making a special appearance!  Although I've never judged a horse show, I do consider myself a pretty good judge of people.  I've known Tracy and her parents for years and feel fortunate to call them all my friends.

Coincidentally, they are all good customers too (but they'd be my friends even if they weren't!).  If you've ever seen Tracy and her horse jump through a ring of fire, you've seen some of our quality Ace Hardware products.  The majority of her special  propane fueled incendiary show device was dreamed up, engineered and constructed in the back room of our Milton store.  We can't take all the credit.  There is no question that it was a group effort by Tracy, her mother Shirley, her friend Floyd Finney and our staff of helpful hardware folks.  What's really most important to me is, when Tracy needs knowledgeable and friendly help, she doesn't head to a big orange box.... she heads to her local Ace Hardware store.

If you need any additional information about the seminar, call Cassandra Poquette at 608.235.9404, e-mail her at cpoquette@landmark.coop or visit www.landmark.com.  If you need additional  information about  quality hardware or home improvement products, call Dave's Ace!

Paint Department Inside Information

For as many years as I can remember, we have sold Ace Hardware Brand paint.  Made in a modern manufacturing facility in Matteson, Illinois, Ace Paint is a top quality product.  I know that to be true.  Customers who have tried it know it to be true.  Unfortunately, there are many professionals and do-it-yourselfers who simply have no intention of ever trying a "hardware store brand".  That's too bad.... but it's a retailing fact of life.

In our Milton store, we tried to address that problem by adding the Pratt and Lambert brand as a second line of paint.  Although we did sell some, we did not sell enough to make our investment pay off.   For that reason, when we designed our new Evansville paint department, we didn't include the Pratt and Lambert line.

About a year had past since we opened the new Evansville store and we were still looking for products to differentiate us from every other hardware and home center store in the area.  In speaking to our regular customers at both stores, one suggestion we heard over and over was.... "look into Benjamin Moore Paint".  Still gun shy from our experience with a second line of paint in the Milton store, I was very hesitant.... but when my wife pointed out the new Pottery Barn catalog (she gets what seems like 10 a day!), was showing Benjamin Moore's Regal paints in their display settings,  my opinion began to shift.  If Lori was looking at the colors in catalogs, wouldn't it make sense that other women were too?  My staff and I started asking around and the answer we heard over and over again was YES!

Toward the end of April, you will notice some major changes in both our stores.  About 40 feet of color chip racks, idea centers and Benjamin Moore paints will be taking their place next to our quality Ace Paint line.  Unfortunately, it will be a bit of a mess for a while.  Progress like this doesn't come easy, fast or cheap (just ask my banker!), but finally, our paint department will have the products to satisfy all kinds of painters form the weekender who needs a quart of touch up paint, to the professional looking for 50 gallons. 

This news is not exactly top secret, but this blog is the first place I have publicized our decision.  If you are reading this, you are among the first to know!

 

Get Hardware and CAR WASHES TOO!

It's not just any store where you can purchase hardware, get a free cup of gourmet coffee, visit with friends AND get your car washed too.  It's probably not a big surprise, but Dave's Ace Hardware is not "just any store"!

Back in 1991 when I purchased the store that I'd worked in for most of my adult life (since 1977), I made a commitment to become a major supporter of local and county charitable causes, because of my belief that "helping others succeed helps us to become even more successful".

As funny as it seems, allowing local non-profit organizations to conduct car washes is one of the  ways we are able to help them succeed.  Fortunately, on most weekends, we can offer a pretty steady stream of customers, a very steady stream of clean water and an endless supply of passion for all things that make Milton and Evansville great places to live and to conduct business in! 

Today we had the first car wash of the year.  It was conducted by the Milton High School Girl's Soccer Team.  They were a very enthusiastic bunch and seemed to do a pretty good job of washing cars too.  I even had them put a shine on the Ace Hardware delivery truck.  It may have been the first real wash job its had since new!  If you didn't get a chance to support the team today, don't worry.  I'm sure they (or another worthy group) will be in one of our parking lots again very soon!

                                                                         

Make Your Garbage Even Less Appealling!

Friday is trash pickup day at my home.  Since I live in the country, with raccoons and feral cats as my closest neighbors, I always put my garbage out to the road in trash cans.  The one thing I hate though, is having to retrieve the empty cans after I return home from work.

Some of my human neighbors simply set a sealed plastic bag out for the trash.  Occasionally I think to myself how much easier that would be.... except for mornings like today, when I saw remnants of a bag surrounded by a stinking assortment of household refuse in the driveway across from mine!  How ironic, I thought.  To see something like that the very day after I received my first shipment of safe, non-toxic, REPELL em garbage bags.

What are REPELL em garbage bags you ask?  They are heavy duty, super thick plastic bags that are treated with a delightful, fresh smelling scent that dogs, cats, raccoons, mice, mosquitoes, ticks, flies, wasps bees, ants, and other nuisance insects and animals find absolutely disgusting!  Not only could these be used for trash, but also to protect your stored valuables from pesky intruders.  Imagine how handy something like this would be on your next camping trip.

At $9.99 for a dozen 13 gallon or six 33 gallon bags, they are not exactly cheap, but I know you'd agree, the first time a garbage eating predator chooses your neighbor's stash instead of yours, they are worth every penny.  For the few of you who disagree, Dave's Ace still offers the regular bags that 4 out of 5 critters prefer!

Spring's Coming!

You know that winter is officially over when the greenhouse goes up in our parking lot!   The folks that supply us with those great looking flower and vegetable plants also erect a greenhouse for us each spring.  It's nothing too fancy, but it does serve us very well.

I had forgotten all about them coming today.  In fact, until I left for lunch and saw them busily working in the parking lot, I didn't even know they were here!  Speaking of lunch.... if you have not tried the Whitewater Pier on Merchant Row in Milton, you don't know what you're missing!  Located between the Spot and Scoreboard taverns, the Whitewater Pier is first and foremost, a really good fresh fish market.  But on Wednesday through Friday, it's also my favorite place to eat lunch (they are open other days for lunch and dinner too, but those are the times you're most likely to see me).  Roxanne and Mike and the whole staff are friendly and aim to please but more importantly, the food is really good!  Today, Kay, the young blond server who I am not entirely convinced even likes most sea creatures, suggested the seafood bisque.  Not one to question a friendly blond young waitress, I acquiesced.  Great choice (as are most of their offerings)!  Hold it.... I think I was writing about spring and our greenhouse, but get me thinking about food, and I can't think of anything else!

For the next few weeks, about every other person that walks in the door will ask, "when are the plants coming?"  The only answer I can offer is "as soon as the grower thinks there's no more reasonable chance of frost".  As much as I would like to sell plants now only to have them freeze in home gardens so they must be repurchased at a later date, I will refrain.  Until then, why not buy a bag or two of fertilizer from Dave's Ace and maybe even a side of salmon or a few giant scallops from the Whitewater Pier. 

Mosquito Magnet Repair

Although like many good hardware stores, we  offer our customers a variety of services, one that is especially unique is our Mosquito Magnet repair.  Back in 2000 we began selling the original Commercial Pro and the Freedom models.  I remember the confused looks people had when I'd explain how they worked and then the shocked look they had when I told them the price.  Back then, the least expensive units sold for $799.  You would have thought I was trying to sell swampland or something!

I purchased the first Commercial Pro we sold, for my home in the woods.  I didn't really want to spend the money, but I also didn't want to let me newly built deck or my daughter's new play set sit idle as the mosquitoes buzzed merrily around.  The results were nothing short of amazing!  Within 3 weeks, we could walk out the back door without being attacked.  Within 5 weeks, my daughter could play outside without a layer of insect repellent.  This thing really worked!  From then on, I had no trouble selling the technology to my customers and friends.

Since then, the technology has changed a bit.  Mosquito Magnet no longer produces the original Commercial Pro or the Freedom.  New models called the Defender, the Liberty, Liberty Plus and Solar Pro have taken their place.  Like most high tech items, the Mosquito Magnets occasionally need to be serviced.  Unfortunately, up until last year, the only option for my customers (and all customers) was to return the unit to the American Biophysics headquarters in North Kingston, RI.  There, the factory technicians would recondition and return the unit at a fairly steep price.  Although cheaper than purchasing a new trap, it was still inconvenient and time consuming.  For years, I begged the company to offer training and parts to a few good retailers (like us).  Finally, my wish came true last spring.

After attending a one day initial training in Chicago and following it up with three days at the North Kingston facility, our General Manager, Todd Hesgard, added the title of Mosquito Magnet Technician to his business card.  No longer did our customers have to endure the high prices and long wait times to send their Mosquito Magnets in to be reconditioned!  We could repair them right in our own store!  Not only are we fixing traps for our local customers, but other folks (some from several states away) have begun sending their units to us for a quick repair and return.  What began as a way to keep our local customers happy has turned into a busy sideline for us.  We are happy to offer this service to all Mosquito Magnet owners, regardless of where they purchased their traps.

We can repair any currently produced model.  We are still unable to repair either of the original models.  Hopefully, in the future, we will be able to get the necessary training and parts to add the Commercial Pro and the Freedom to our list of "patients".

As I have more time, I plan to devote a post or two to specific issues owners of Mosquito Magnet traps may encounter.  I'd welcome any suggestions on what those subjects should be!

Testimonial for Gutter Stuff

I just found this great testimonial for Gutter Stuff, a solution to blocked roof gutters. It's from a blog written by a contractor and the article is called, Does anyone have a solution to keeping gutters clean?:

Without question Gutter Stuff, the original foam filter insert proved to champion the cause with its no tools required, fit it and forget it policy and its mid range pricing, There was only one realistic choice.

By the way, we carry Gutter Stuff at Dave's Ace.

Ace Hardware Convention

Now that I have officially begun this blogging thing, I guess I better start writing! 

On Thursday, March 15th, I flew to Las Vegas to attend the Ace Hardware Spring Convention.  It was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center.  For those of you who have never attended an Ace Hardware convention, they are REALLY BIG!  Hundreds of vendors set up displays of everything from paint, to tools, to plumbing supplies, to lawn products, to Christmas decorations and absolutely everything in between.  I like to at least glance at every display.  Although I did not take an official measurement, I would guess the total walking distance to see it all is easily several miles.  Since I am still recovering from my January ACL reconstruction surgery, I definitely felt some swelling and discomfort by the time I got back to the hotel (nothing a generous glass of Cabernet sauvignon couldn't fix!).

In case you are wondering what I actually do at the convention (like my staff), I do purchase a number of items for our stores.  One of the more interesting things this time was a new Match-rite paint color computer for each of the stores, which not only accurately measures color samples, enabling us to create near perfect paint color matches, but also suggests complimenting colors, duplicates colors in other brands and stores customer formulas for easy retrieval in the future.  These units will even allow our customers to enter digital photos of their homes and "virtually" paint them in our store!  This is some really cool stuff.  These computers are so new, they will not be available for shipment until May.

I also purchased a display of Gutter Stuff for each of the stores.  This is a product designed to keep things out of your home's rain gutters.  Made of a durable foam, it's easily  inserted into your gutters and lasts for years.  It requires no professional installation and is absolutely invisible from the ground.  Although it is not exactly a cheap product (about $4 a foot), it is far less expensive than Gutter Helmet, Gutter Topper or any of the other professionally installed covers.  I expect to have this in the stores by the middle of April.

Whenever I travel, I try to visit at least one interesting restaurant.  This time I had the pleasure of dining at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill, locating at Caesar's Palace. I arrived about an hour early and sat at the bar.  The bartender turned out to be a girl who was raised in Wisconsin, as did the guy sitting next to me.  I felt right at home.  After the rest of the group arrived, we were seated and placed our order.  I had  shredded duck on blue corn tortillas as an appetizer (yum) and two lamb porterhouse steaks (medium rare) with a side of breaded chili rellano.  The meal was outstanding and even more memorable because one of my friends picked up the check!

On Sunday, after rising at 3:30 a.m. PST, I arrived at the airport for my 6:00 a.m flight.  By noon, I was back to Milton , walking in my front door to be warmly greeted by my two favorite girls in the whole world.  It's good to be home!

Welcome to Dave's Ace Hardware Blog

It seems kind of funny to welcome anyone to my blog.... especially since only 2 weeks ago, I didn't even know what a blog was!  Sure, I've seen the word show up in the newspaper and overheard some of our younger staff members mention them.  I may have even read one and not even realized what I was doing!  In case you're wondering why all of a sudden I think I need one of my own, read on.

I am a member of the Janesville Noon Rotary Club.  I'm also the President Elect.  Besides filling in for the President on the rare occasion that she is absent, my main purpose in our Club structure is to line up and schedule interesting programs.  Back in January, one of our more senior members suggested I contact Brian Brown, owner of Pajama Market Blogs.  He thought our membership might be interested in learning more about this novel information sharing tool.  Not having anything to add to the conversation (it's hard to contribute when you know absolutely nothing), I simply made the contact.  Lucky for me, Brian agreed to speak and on March 5th, he shared his story to the Club.  Fascinated (doesn't take much to fascinate me!), I made an appointment to have him visit me at my Ace Hardware store to teach me even more.  That was yesterday.  Today, I am a blogger.  I hope you enjoy sharing my experiences and thoughts!