Craftsman(R) Tools Now Available at More Than 2,000 Ace Hardware Stores Nationwide

OAK BROOK, IL--(Marketwired - Apr 16, 2013) - Ace Hardware, the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the industry, announced today that Craftsman® products are now available at more than 2,000 Ace stores throughout the nation, further establishing Ace as a premier neighborhood destination for America's most trusted tool brand.

More than 2,000 neighborhood Ace stores now offer a full line assortment of more than 650 Craftsman products, including hand tools, portable and bench top power tools, compressors, pneumatic tools, wet/dry vacs, tool storage, lawn and garden, outdoor power equipment items and garage door openers. Since the inception of its agreement with Sears Holdings to sell Craftsman products in 2010, Ace has remained the exclusive retailer of Craftsman products in the convenience hardware industry.

"The sheer number of stores that carry Craftsman products is a real testament to the brand's strength and our retailers' commitment to offering homeowners the best brands paired with the personal, knowledgeable and helpful service that they have come to expect when shopping at their neighborhood Ace Hardware store," said John Surane, senior vice president, Marketing, Merchandising and Sales for Ace Hardware Corporation. "As is true of all our retailer programs, our independent retailers are able to select different sets to meet the needs of their communities and markets."

"When we started the Craftsman brand relationship with Ace in 2010, we believed that Ace strongly complemented our existing offerings available in the market place," said Michael Castleman, head of the Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard business unit of Sears Holdings. "Expanding Craftsman to more Ace retail stores confirms that belief, shows the continued strength of the brand, and better serves the passion of the DIY community which is shared by Ace and the Craftsman brand."

In conjunction with Craftsman products now being available at more than 2,000 Ace stores, Ace is launching a national marketing campaign to let consumers know that Ace is the neighborhood destination for Craftsman tools, garage, and lawn and garden items. The campaign will include national TV and radio advertising as part of the recently launched "Meet the Aces" campaign; a Father's Day gift guide featuring Craftsman products; social media; digital advertising; emails to members of the Ace Rewards customer loyalty program and public relations initiatives.

At Ace, Craftsman products are available in-store only, so visit acehardware.com to find a participating neighborhood Ace store near you.

About Ace Hardware
For nearly 90 years, Ace Hardware has been known as the helpful hardware store in thousands of neighborhoods across America, providing customers with a more personal kind of helpful. With more than 4,600 hardware stores locally owned and operated across the globe, Ace is the largest hardware cooperative in the industry. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace and its subsidiaries currently operate 14 distribution centers in the U.S and also have distribution capabilities in Shanghai, China; Panama City, Panama; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Its retailers' stores are located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and approximately 60 countries. For more information on Ace, visit www.acehardware.com.

About Craftsman
The Craftsman brand is America's most trusted tool brand. For more than 85 years, the Craftsman brand has developed innovative tools and products, earning a reputation for unsurpassed quality and durability, trusted for generations. Offering a full range of hand and power tools that meet the needs of both the DIY user and the demanding professional, the Craftsman brand also offers lawn and garden products and tool storage.