No longer just nuts and bolts...
With the San Tan Mountains in the background – a new breed of hardware stores is rising. A store that promises an amazing shopping experience for all who enter. A store that is truly part of the community and caters to moms and kids as much as contractors and do-it-yourselfers. Chandler Ace Hardware ( Chandler Heights/Gilbert Road ) is a new breed of hardware stores taking over metro Phoenix/Tucson.
"When you walk into some retail stores nowadays - there is no sense of friendliness. You feel like you are bothering them when you ask for help. Even on your way out – they make you stand in line for self service checkouts – what a frustrating experience!" says Brian Freeland co-owner of Chandler Ace Hardware. "In contrast – we open another register staffed with a friendly face if there are 3 or more people in line and WE ask our customer how we can help them."
"Ace Hardware is typically known for great customer service and being able to get what you need quickly. What makes us a new breed of stores is that we have a larger format (20,000 sq. ft.) and we can customize our selection to fit our neighborhood. We are just the right size so we can respond quicker to our neighborhood's needs, adapt our product selection, deliver better service and still offer convenience. The big surprise is that we are pricing our items right in line with the big boxes" says co-owner Robert Vasquez.
Chandler Ace Hardware has aligned itself to be dealers for 2 of the top BBQ Island distributors of Grills: VIKING Grills and CAPITAL Grills. They have developed a truly one-stop shop where you not only can buy a built in grill and all the accessories (refrigerator, flexible light, drawers, ice machine, etc) but you can also buy the island itself – with installation. You can choose between a prefabricated ready to go island and customize it from there or you can customize a brick and mortar island. Choose between natural gas or propane or select a travertine, granite or flagstone counter – either way you choose. To add even more excitement is the new Searing Technology available from these top of the line grills. "We think people will drive 25 miles to come see our BBQ selection and get our first rate service. In fact we believe we are one of the only stores in the country to have a working BBQ Island that we will use for regular cooking exhibitions with free tasting samples" says Brian.
Chandler Ace Hardware has aligned itself with Sunset Patio – top-of-the-line custom handmade wrought iron Patio Furniture. "Once you see and feel this Patio Furniture – you will be amazed. This is truly the finest patio furniture in Arizona. Just sit in the Grande Collection with 9" Cushions and you will feel like a king!" says Robert. They offer over 10 different Sunbrella Fabrics that you can choose from and customize right down to the accent pillows. The customer even has a choice on 3 different types of wrought iron – "copper vein" is the owner's favorite. Everything is "made to order" and only the highest grade materials and craftsmanship are used.
The Paint department will be offering 3 different lines of paint including ACE , BENJAMIN MOORE and FRAZEE Paint – so that the color selection will make it easy for customers to match the paint in their home or to start their paint project from scratch. The Benjamin Moore line is typically used by interior decorators and designers and is known for being the finest paint in the industry. Ace also invested in a computerized tint machine to ensure a shorter wait for customers and better service for contractors. For those interested in faux painting – the staff is trained to help a beginner learn the basics.
No longer just nuts and bolts – the store has an in-store " Boutique " which has a great assortment of unique gift items including: handmade candles, Primal Elements handmade soaps, picture frames, greeting cards, wind chimes, spice racks, The Laundress fabric care, unique baby accessories and much more. "We wanted to have a section that truly catered to women. It's like you pulled a specialty boutique out of Sedona and put it in the middle of the store" says Robert. The main aisle of the store even has a tremendous selection of Silk Plants and Trees . The Trees are "one of a kind" and made from real wood. The quality on the silk trees and plants is unsurpassed as they are locally handmade. Not to leave the kids out of the picture – they also have a great kids section. Offering Safari Toobs, Papo Toys, Radio Flyer, and many other items kids love. They will also have Kids Zone workshops where Kids can do activities. The Kids Monthly Activity calendar is available on their website.
Chandler Ace Hardware aspires to be The Helpful Place for customers with friendly, helpful service and knowledgeable staff. The most valued quality in our team members is the strong desire to serve customers. While knowledge of the hardware business is certainly desirable, we also offer extensive training for our employees in do-it-yourself techniques and our specific selection of products. Most importantly, Chandler Ace Hardware strives to provide the best customer service of any home improvement destination – and of any retailer for that matter. We will offer our customers "AN AMAZING SHOPPING EXPERIENCE" and treat them as valued guests. This is our pledge – to be more than just helpful – and to provide the highest standard of service. It is how we all would love to be treated.