POCATELLO — Four new brand shops will be coming to Ace Hardware next month, providing new opportunities for customers to meet all their outdoor and construction needs from companies they trust and rely on.
Milwaukee, DeWalt, EGO and Traeger will be receiving their own specialized brand shops at the local Ace Hardware & Element Outfitters, 222 S. 5th Ave., by the end of February.
“It will give Pocatello a better shopping opportunity,” said Jacob Gebo, co-owner of Ace Hardware. “This will make sure that all the things (local residents) need for their house are under one roof and provide a place their families can shop at.”
The renovation will re-categorize the hardware section, separating tools and equipment by brand, allowing customers to easily locate and purchase gear from their favorite power tool companies and premier grill suppliers.
For Gebo, who has gradually been taking over the long-time local business from his parents Paul and Stacie over the last three years, the difference between Ace Hardware and big box stores in the area like Walmart, Lowe’s and Home Depot is shopping convenience, a concerted effort to fill online orders within 15 minutes and through same day delivery.
“The largest way that we compete against big box retailers is by just out-competing them,” Gebo said.
Gebo said the business also focuses on customer loyalty, fighting tooth and nail to get new customers into the store along with differentiating themselves from their competitors.
“All of those tie together into getting in more customers and providing the best shopping experience possible,” Gebo said. “Over the past couple of years, our customer engagement ratings have been going up. We went from our low at 78 percent to where now we sit consistently at 85 percent on customer satisfaction, which takes a very long time.”
Gebo said that the business is also looking to dedicate further expansion to its housewares section by adding new items like Messermeister knives, meat splicers and other cooking supplies.