Ace Hardware sets off on cross-country tour

Ace Hardware is kicking off its J.D. Power Award Neighborhood Tour for the second year in a row. Recently ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Home Improvement Retail Stores" for the eighth year in a row by J.D. Power, Ace will celebrate the achievement by taking all eight J.D. Power trophies on the road, visiting 38 states and more than 175 neighborhood stores.



Following the success of the inaugural J.D. Power Award Neighborhood Tour earlier this year, the latest tour will occur in two phases. The first phase, spanning more than 12 weeks, launched this week and will last through November, with the trophies making stops in 22 states east of the Mississippi River and covering more than 12,000 miles. The tour's second phase will start in January and last through April 2015 with the trophies making stops in 16 states west of the Mississippi River, covering more than 12,000 miles.



Ace's J.D. Power Award Neighborhood Tour will honor Ace retailers who provide their customers with what the company calls “a more personal kind of helpful.”



"We are honored and humbled to receive this recognition from our valued customers for the eighth year in a row," said John Venhuizen, president and CEO, Ace Hardware Corporation. "We believe we are blessed to be in the business of serving others, so it is encouraging to see our local Ace owners and their teams of 'helpful hardware folks' ranked so highly by consumers. I know the Ace team views these awards not with arrogance, but with a humbled determination to even better serve their communities."



Customers will have the opportunity to take a photo with the prestigious trophies at each event throughout the J.D. Power Award Neighborhood Tour, as well as have the opportunity to win prizes and take advantage of in-store promotions in appreciation for their continued support of locally owned businesses like Ace Hardware.



Ace Hardware has received the ranking of "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Home Improvement Retail Stores" since J.D. Power began this study eight years ago. The study is based on responses from more than 2,900 consumers who purchased home improvement products or services within the previous 12 months. Ace Hardware ranked highest among major retailers with an overall satisfaction index score of 791 on a 1,000-point scale. The score is based on performance in five areas: merchandise, price, sales and promotions, staff and service, and store facility.