New Digital Circular Platform will power Ace Hardware and Ace Members’ Shoppable Digital Circulars
Oak Brook, IL. & Palm Harbor, FL, June 3, 2024 – Ace Hardware Corporation, the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative with locally owned stores and Webstop, the largest privately-owned provider of retail digital marketing solutions and circular platforms, today announced a strategic partnership. This collaboration includes national digital circular support for Ace’s 4,500+ U.S. stores as well as digital circular support for individual Ace stores and aims to drive store visits, increase basket sizes (in-store & e-commerce) and elevate sales for Ace Hardware retailers nationwide.
Digital transformation has been challenging for retailers worldwide. Webstop’s innovative Digital Circular Plus Platform allows retail chains of all sizes to increase user engagement and loyalty with searchable and shoppable features while driving the efficiency of digital circular production.
“Webstop’s 25+ years supporting regional and independent retailers uniquely positions us to partner with Ace Hardware and their locally owned stores,” said Shawn Tuckett, CEO of Webstop. “From working with many of our regional chains for over 10 years, we know our digital circular will increase shopper engagement and level the playing field in an increasingly competitive marketplace. It’s an honor to be working with Ace as they continue to drive small business growth nationwide.”
“Webstop has been a great partner to work with. They have digitalized our flyer and helped us share our local and national promotions with our customers in ways we were never able to before” shared Michael Cripe, owner of Whitmore Ace Hardware and one of the early adopters of the new Ace Digital Circular Platform.
The new Ace Hardware Digital Circular Platform will for the first-time ever deliver the AceHardware.com digital circular experience and the local store-specific digital circular content all in one place. Using Webstop’s proprietary circular processing, Ace and their locally owned stores can now deliver circular content simultaneously, increasing efficiency for all stakeholders and expanding engagement with local offers via AceHardware.com. With integrated digital advertising, dynamic promotional opportunities, integrated e-commerce, and extensive analytics, the Ace digital circular experience will drive Ace’s continued growth and success.
About Webstop
Webstop increases retailer success digitally. Over 3,000+ stores have utilized Webstop’s Digital Circular Plus Platform to gracefully transition from print-dominant advertising to a balanced advertising mix positioned for the future. Webstop’s leading retail solutions set regional and local retailers apart by taking the digital features that all tier-one retailers offer and connecting them in innovative ways that are unique in the marketplace to deliver true shopper engagement while simultaneously driving revenue. Webstop is proud to work with regional chains, wholesalers, and local stores nationally including Tops Markets (Northeast Grocery), Lowe’s Market, Harps Food, SpartanNash and now Ace Hardware. Email Webstop at sales@webstop.com to learn more.
About Ace Hardware
Ace Hardware is the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the world with over 5,800 locally owned and operated hardware stores in approximately 60 countries. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace and its subsidiaries operate an expansive network of distribution centers in the U.S. and have distribution capabilities in Ningbo, China; Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico. Ace also owns Ace Hardware Home Services, a collection of local service companies with experienced professionals dedicated to helping homeowners complete home maintenance tasks. Since 1924, Ace has become a part of local communities around the world and known as the place with the Helpful Hardware Folks. For more information, visit acehardware.com or newsroom.acehardware.com.