DISTRIBUTORS/CO-OPS

Houston-based co-op Handy Hardware Wholesale opens its 50th Anniversary Spring Market today in Houston. The event runs through Feb. 5.

Handy’s market floor will open at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday and will close at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5.  Market incentives will be enhanced as five market attendees will have the opportunity to draw for up to $50,000 in cash at the close of the market. Following the market close, the member-owned distributor will continue the celebration with a private concert by Sony BMG recording artist Kellie Pickler.

McDaniel's Do-it Center of Snohomish, Wash. received and Excellence in Business Award from the Snohomish Chamber of Commerce.

The award was presented at a March 15 board meeting, during which the hardware store was cited for its quality products, its customer loyalty and its ability to weather the storm of a recession.

The Founder of Rent-a-Husband has agreed to pay $2 million to settle criminal charges that claimed he duped investors in his home-repair business, according to an article in The Independent and other media outlets. 

Chicago -- During a general session that included sales and marketing strategies for success, Ace Hardware Corp. executives also expressed disappointment in the co-op's wholesale performance during its recent supply-chain conversion.

They also expressed optimism that its systems have stabilized and that the transition will bear fruit in the form of sales and growth.

Wayne, N.J.-based roofing and ventilation manufacturer GAF was recently awarded four American Graphic Design Awards. 

The company also won an American Package Design Award for its TruSlate Sample Box. There were over 1,500 submissions in this contest, organized by Graphic Design USA magazine, which rewards packaging, p-o-p and related projects that are visually attractive and which feature designs that advance the brand and forge an emotional connection with the purchaser.

The 2011 Ace Hardware Spring Convention and Exhibits held last week in Chicago saw a significant boost in attendance from the two previous years, according to the Oak Brook, Ill.-based hardware co-op.

Retailer attendance was up 36% compared with Ace's previous spring show in New Orleans. The Chicago event also posted a 17% increase in attendance compared with the spring show held two years ago in Las Vegas. 

Total convention attendance in Chicago topped out at about 15,000, according to Ace.

Jeff Schulein of Crown Ace Hardware has accomplished what few dealers can lay claim to: 17 stores, a solid succession plan and, since the economic downturn, no store closures or major employee layoffs. In fact, Schulein and his son, Mark, are in negotiations to open an 18th store, this one in San Diego. 


“I’m an entrepreneur who does things by the seat of his pants,” Jeff said. “Mark is a good manager. He’s highly organized. So together we make a good team.” 


The Hillman Group has announced the acquisition of TagWorks, a pet ID tag program, for $40 million in cash plus an additional consideration of $12.5 million on Oct. 31, 2011. TagWorks is responsible for paying $18.5 million in outstanding debt and transaction fees from the proceeds. The deal closed on March 16.