Hardware Stores Near Me
Hardware stores allow any average man or woman to take control of their own home, embark on a DIY project, or repair something in need of some TLC. Sometimes known as DIY stores or home improvement stores, hardware stores sell household hardware for home improvement DIY projects, including: fasteners, building materials, hand tools, power tools, keys, locks, hinges, plumbing supplies, housewares, paint, and many other DIY needs.
Are you interested in finding a hardware store near you? Simply browse hardware store near me on the map below and find a list of hardware stores located near your current location. Need a bit more information on hardware stores? Read on for facts, trivia, and history on these historic stores.
Hardware Stores Near Me – Find it on the Map
Hardware Stores Near Me – Hardware Stores Trivia
When is the busiest time of year for a hardware store?
Some may be inclined to answer: winter. After all, so many of us are stuck indoors with little else to do but look at our houses and find issues to fix. While winter may seem like a logical answer, the true answer is summer. This is when hardware stores typically rake in the most profit and boast the most foot traffic. In the summer, Americans in particular spend a large amount of time working on home improvement projects. This means Americans also spend lots of time and money in hardware stores, hoping to make all of their DIY dreams come true. In recent years, a few box stores have come to dominate the hardware industry, particularly Lowes and Home Depot. According to experts, these hardware juggernauts are responsible for around 80% of the industry’s $153.8 billion in annual revenue. With the economy and the housing market on the rebound, home improvement is on an upswing. Home Depot stock is up more than 180% since the end of 2009 and Lowe’s is up around 100%. With many Americans choosing to do it themselves rather than hiring contractors or professionals, the home improvement market won’t be slowing down anytime soon. As you search hardware stores near me, consider when you search hardware stores the most.
The Home Depot is one of America’s largest hardware retail chains.
When was Ace Hardware founded?
If you’re searching hardware stores near me, odds are you’ll come across more than one Ace Hardware store. As one of America’s oldest and most trusted hardware stores, Ace is known for its commitment to quality and expertise. Ace Hardware was founded in 1924 by Richard Hesse, E. Gunnard Lindquist, Frank Burke, and Oscar Fischer in Chicago, Illinois. The company was named after the ace fighter pilots of World War I, who were faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges but managed to overcome all odds. Ace Stores was formally incorporated in 1928, with the company opening its first warehouse one year later. By the end of the 1940s, Ace had wholesale sales of more than $7 million, coming from the 133 stores it was supplying. By 1959, Ace had tripled this figure, with wholesale profits of more than $24.5 million from a whopping 325 stores.
Hardware Stores Near Me – Hardware Stores Facts
Be Careful With Your Returns
If you’re searching hardware stores near me, then you know that not everything you purchase on your hardware store run will be a perfect fit. Home improvement can be a difficult task. Often time colors don’t work, measurements are wrong, or something simply doesn’t work. This makes the option for a return or exchange highly ideal. The two biggest hardware retailers in the US, Lowes and Home Depot, both state that returns aren’t an issue. Each state that their goal is to make sure you are completely satisfied with your purchase. While both go above and beyond to make sure you’re satisfied in their items, both companies do have exceptions on their return policies, particularly for those customers who return non-receipted items, or didn’t input a phone number for returns at checkout. Without a receipt, both stores reserve the right to refuse to accept a return. They can also limit the number of returns you make without a valid receipt. If you’re one who tends to lose receipts rather quickly try inputting your phone number at checkout or pay with a debit or credit card. This makes it easy for sales associates to look up your purchase and prove that you legally purchased the merchandise you are attempting to return.
The Best Deals are Reserved for Contractors
Sure, as a DIYer or home improvement ace, you may be the cornerstone of the hardware store, but it’s contractors who score the best deals time and time again. This is because contractors tend to buy in bulk, often ordering palettes of bathroom tiles or wood, rather than a few key pieces here and there. This is why Lowes and Home Depot reserve the best deals for those contractors who prefer to buy bulk from them rather than through a supply chain or local hardware store. Lowes and Home Depot even reserve dedicated parking areas and checkout lanes for specialty sales associates. Home Depot has even been known to offer its contractor customers free coffee and pastries, just for stopping by. Of course, you can also speak with a manager about getting a discount if you’re in need of bulk items such as tile or lumber. More often than not, they’re more than happy to oblige or cut you a deal, especially if you mention visiting another hardware store instead. Be savvy and you can save a buck just like the professionals. Will you cut a deal after searching hardware stores near me?
