Sunbury Ace Hardware, an independent dealer outside of Columbus, Ohio, has added U-Haul truck and trailer rentals to its store. Customers can now purchase or rent a variety of moving equipment and supplies, including moving vans, open trailers, closed trailers, furniture pads, appliance dollies, furniture dollies, tow dollies and auto transports. Sunbury Ace Hardware also will offer sales items to protect their customers' belongings and make moving easier, such as heavy-duty boxes, which are made of up to 90% recycled content.

Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware Corp. posted total revenues of $908.2 million for the first quarter of 2012, an increase of 6.3% compared with 2011.

Net income was $10.2 million for the first quarter of 2012, an increase of 49.3% compared with $6.8 million in 2011.

Whether it’s a product designed to bring efficiency to the home, save time for the DIYer or allow a consumer a chance to feel good about buying a Made-in-the-USA product, show organizers have taken steps to give permanence to the show-floor activity.

The May 1 to 3 event at the Las Vegas Convention Center will see a few new twists.

For the first time at the show, a “Made in the USA Pavilion” will showcase domestic-made products.

For the sixth year in a row, Ace took home the hardware. 

The J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Home Improvement Retailer Store Satisfaction Study ranked Ace Hardware “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Home Improvement Retail Stores,” for the sixth consecutive year.

Ray Griffith, the CEO of Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware, explained during an interview on Fox Business that consumers will continue to spend on their homes.

“We had a real good first quarter, and so far it’s carrying into April,” said Griffith during a segment described by the network as “Banking on do-it-yourself.”  

Social media marketers are learning a few new tricks now that Facebook is rolling out a new interface design called “Timeline."

They have to. Consider the following Facebook posting from Milton, Wis.-based Dave’s Ace Hardware about the new Timeline format offered by the social media network:

Ace Hardware, together with The Weather Channel, is offering a $15,000 customized home maintenance makeover for the winner of its "Forecast Fix Up." Launched on April 2, the contest invites consumers to submit photos and a 100-word description of their homes. Nominations will be accepted until April 30 and official rules and details can be found online at weather.com/fixup, as well as on The Weather Channel's Facebook page.

Ace Hardware Corporation recognized seven vendors for outstanding service to the hardware cooperative, its retailers and customers. 

The companies are:

Even before Ace Hardware Corp. reported high single-digit sales increases for the quarter and the year — and even during a lingering housing downturn — CEO Ray Griffith told dealers that he liked the position in which Ace finds itself.

“Ongoing uncertainly keeps consumers cautious about spending, but many of you are doing well,” he told the members gathered in Denver for the co-op’s market last year.

A man recently released from prison after serving two years for five shoplifting convictions was arrested on Feb. 29 -- for shoplifting.

Orlando, Fla. -- The stage of the 2012 City of Hope “Spirit of Life” event featured one brand new honoree, several more industry icons and 30 years of memories for the hardware/homebuilding group.

Convening for the good of the California-based cancer treatment and research center, executives and supporters filled a banquet room at the Rosen Plaza Hotel here on the eve of the International Builders' Show to honor the man of the hour: Ace Hardware's Ray Griffith. The president and CEO of the Oak Brook, Ill.-based hardware co-op accepted the 2012 Spirit of Life award.

The Wichita Eagle reported that the Dondlinger family of Dondlinger and Sons Construction plans to add two more Williams Ace Hardware stores. 

The Goddard and Andover, Kan., locations are expected to open in the coming months. The family already owns the Williams Ace Hardware in Wichita.