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Article: Ace has high-end line of paints up its sleeve; Selling Benjamin Moore products, chain has what big boxes lack.(News)(Ace Hardware Corp.)
- Article from:
- Crain's Chicago Business
- Article date:
- September 18, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Crain Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: JOHN T. SLANIA
Ace Hardware Corp. is adding the high-end Benjamin Moore line to many of its 4,700 stores, a move Ace execs hope will help in its battle with home improvement superstores.
Peter Principe, merchandising manager for paint at Ace, first called Benjamin Moore & Co. four years ago to propose adding the premium paints to the hardware co-op's product lineup. At that point, Benjamin Moore supplied paint to roughly 3,500 retailers, mainly small paint and decorating stores.
After three years of negotiations and test marketing, Benjamin Moore agreed to add its line to select Ace stores earlier this year.
Ace has been ...