DISTRIBUTORS/CO-OPS

Venhuizen's rule: no standing still
Orlando, Fla. -- Ace Hardware CEO John Venhuizen took the stage in Orlando during the co-op’s Fall Convention and energetically spelled out reasons for Ace stores to be optimistic. He also declared: “We lack the luxury to stand still.”
True Value's top merchant points to winners
With the message that relevant, up-to-date assortments are the lifeblood of successful hardware retailers, True Value Co.'s Mike Clark, senior VP and chief merchandising officer, identified winners during his presentation at the co-op's Fall Market in Philadelphia.

Clark also introduced the Chicago-based co-op's initial Farm & Ranch assortments.

True Value's farm and ranch offerings range from towing, jacks, oil and air filters, electric fencing, baler twine and Miller plastic buckets, to name a few.

Walking the aisles in Lockhart, Texas

The Tuttle Lumber True Value store on San Antonio Street in historic Lockhart Texas — straight down the road from one of the prettiest courthouses in the state — has a colorful past. 

And the owners, with an assist from the Chicago-based co-op, are working to ensure that it is well designed for the future. 

Originally a 1950’s-era grocery store, then a True Value hardware store, then an Ace hardware store, then a vacant shell for three years, the site was finally converted to its current form as Tuttle Lumber True Value in mid-2010. 
Ace CFO Dorvin Lively resigns

Ace Hardware CFO and EVP Dorvin Lively is leaving the Oak Brook, Ill.-based hardware co-op to pursue other interests.

Lively joined Ace about three years ago and was promoted to EVP in January 2011. On an interim basis, Lori Bossmann will oversee the finance department, while the co-op searches for a new CFO.

Lively was a professional accounting fellow at the Financial Accounting Standards Board in the early 1990s. He later became a senior VP and corporate controller at Toys “R” Us before moving on to Maidenform Brands, and then to Ace Hardware in 2008.
Ace prefers this POS vendor

Ace is officially endorsing Epicor as the POS provider for its stores around the globe
Do it Best rebates take center stage

For five dealers, a million-dollar (plus) night
Do it Best announces promotions at headquarters

Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Do it Best Corp. announced four promotions in its finance and merchandising divisions.

Brian Eichman of Fort Wayne has been named director of financial analysis. In this position, he will analyze company financial activities to improve decision-making and provide for operational efficiencies. He has served as accounting manager since joining Do it Best in 1991.
Pongs Do it Best has big plans in Indonesia

Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Do it Best Corp. signed a deal that will bring the Do it Best brand to Indonesia for the first time. The deal also landed Do it Best a partnership with Paulus Ong, who helped grow Ace Indonesia from three stores in 1999 to 45 stores in 2011.

Grand openings are planned for Aug. 3 for the first four Pongs Do it Best Hardware stores in Jakarta.
Parksite acquires Atlantic Plywood Corp.

The national building material distributor points to a broader product offering.
The new PrimeSource names new CEO

After ownership transition, an industry veteran takes the helm.