History. In 1924, to increase buying power and profits, entrepreneurs Richard Hesse, E. Gunnard Lindquist, Frank Burke, and Oscar Fisher united their Chicago, Illinois, hardware stores into "Ace Stores". The company was named after the ace fighter pilots of World War I, who were able to overcome all odds.

That would be the jingle with the line "Ace is the place with the helpful hardware folks." The current version of the jingle, first introduced in 1989, was a variation on the original jingle used in the 1970's and 1980's that had the line "Ace is the place with the helpful hardware man."

In some commercials, he uses football quotes. Home improvement expert Lou Manfredini served as Ace's "Helpful Hardware Man" and media spokesperson. Ray A. Griffith is the President and CEO of Ace Hardware Corporation and has served in that position since taking over for Dave Hodnik in 2005.

John Venhuizen (2013–)Ace Hardware / CEO John Venhuizen is President and Chief Executive Officer of Ace Hardware Corporation.

Founded in 1924 by a small group of Chicago hardware store owners, Ace changed the retail landscape by allowing individual stores to purchase merchandise in bulk to save money and buy at the lowest possible price.

In 1924, to increase buying power and profits, entrepreneurs Richard Hesse, E. Gunnard Lindquist, Frank Burke, and Oscar Fisher united their Chicago, Illinois, hardware stores into "Ace Stores". The company was named after the ace fighter pilots of World War I, who were able to overcome all odds.

In 1989, Ace's longtime jingle "Ace is the place with the helpful hardware man" was modified, replacing man with the more inclusive and accurate folks. Celebrities Connie Stevens (from 1974 to 1978) and Suzanne Somers (from 1979 into the early 1980s) starred in TV commercials for Ace Hardware.

Vijay Agarwal, a leading industrialist, Investor and Philanthropist laid the foundation of ACE in year 1995. Since then, the company has witnessed tremendous growth under his visionary leadership.

Action Construction Equipment Ltd. ACE is India's leading Material Handling and Construction Equipment manufacturing company and are market leaders in Mobile Cranes & Tower Cranes segment.

The ability to be locally owned and stay connected with its communities continues to be critical to Ace's growth. Each of the company's more than 4,600 stores across the country is uniquely adapted to its neighborhood.

A hardware store typically sells building materials, hand and power tools, fasteners, chains, electrical supplies, keys, locks, hinges, plumbing supplies, housewares, utensils, cleaning products, and paint.

Men like to be able to fix things. Those who don't enjoy doing the work itself like the idea of self-sufficiency, of not having to call in a professional. The array of equipment at the hardware store is enough to make a man believe he has ability with tools, even if he hasn't.