Westlake Hardware

What Westlake Hardware does

Westlake Ace Hardware is a privately held neighborhood hardware store chain founded in 1905 and headquartered at the Store Support Center in Overland Park, Kansas. It operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ace Retail Holdings, itself a division of Ace Hardware Corporation, and has been part of the Ace Hardware Cooperative since 1959. The company runs more than 175 retail storefronts across 13 states (California, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington), with store footprints ranging from 6,600 to 30,000 square feet, and is actively expanding into Oregon and additional Pacific Northwest markets.

The core business is traditional brick-and-mortar retail across hardware, tools, paint, plumbing, lawn and garden, outdoor living, BBQ, pet supplies, workwear, and specialty categories such as Ace Pools and Spas and The Kitchen Connection. Underlying technology is conventional retail infrastructure — e-commerce integration via AceHardware.com, the Ace Rewards mobile loyalty application, and standard payment integrations (Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay) — with no disclosed proprietary AI/ML, no API platform, and no SDK ecosystem. The Westlake Commercial B2B division extends the assortment to more than 800,000 commercial SKUs and serves multi-family properties, businesses, schools, and municipalities.

The revenue model combines transactional retail hardware sales (one-time purchases across 60,000+ SKUs), B2B commercial supply contracts (hardware_sales recurring in nature due to operational maintenance workflows), a free loyalty subscription (Ace Rewards), and fee-based in-store services (key cutting, blade sharpening, propane exchange, carpet cleaner rental, STIHL equipment repair). Customer segments span DIY homeowners, professional contractors, and institutional/commercial buyers, with go-to-market executed through company-owned retail storefronts, direct B2B field sales, and third-party marketplace delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart).

Name

Westlake Hardware

Legal name

Westlake Ace Hardware

Website

https://westlakehardware.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1905

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Westlake Ace Hardware is a 120-year-old neighborhood hardware store chain operating 175+ retail storefronts across 13 U.S. states, selling home improvement, lawn and garden, tools, and paint to DIY consumers and B2B commercial customers as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ace Retail Holdings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hardware Retail / Home Improvement Retail

NAICS

Hardware Retailers (44414), Hardware Retailers (444140), Home Centers (444110)

SIC

Wholesale-Hardware (5072), Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070), Lawn & Garden Tractors & Home Lawn & Gardens Equip (3524)

akta.pro primary industry

General Home Improvement & Hardware Stores (CRAIADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor Power Equipment Parts & Service Retail (CRAIADAH), Outdoor & Specialty Major Appliance Retail (Outdoor Kitchens, Grills, Ice Makers) (CRACACAG)

Keywords

• Hardware retail
• Home improvement
• Lawn and garden
• Neighborhood hardware stores
• DIY supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Lenexa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Hardware Sales: Core revenue from retail sales of hardware, home improvement, and garden supplies through company-owned stores. Offers more than 60,000 products.
2. B2B Commercial Sales: Westlake Commercial division serves commercial customers including multi-family properties, businesses, schools, and municipalities with maintenance and repair supplies. Access to 800,000+ commercial products.
3. Ace Rewards Loyalty Program: Customers earn points on purchases redeemable for reward cards. The program drives customer retention and increased purchase frequency.
4. In-Store Services: Various fee-based services including key cutting, blade and saw sharpening, carpet cleaning machine rental, propane tank exchange, and STIHL outdoor power equipment repair.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Westlake Ace Hardware operates more than 175 company-owned neighborhood hardware stores across 13 U.S. states, selling a broad assortment of home improvement, lawn and garden, paint, plumbing, electrical, tool, pet, BBQ, pool and spa, and outdoor living products from leading national brands. The company complements retail with in-store services such as key cutting, blade sharpening, propane exchange, and STIHL equipment repair, plus a dedicated B2B division (Westlake Commercial) serving commercial buyers with access to 800,000+ products.

Product overview

Westlake Ace Hardware operates as a traditional retail hardware store chain offering a comprehensive range of home improvement products across multiple departments. The company provides a unified retail experience through its network of over 175 stores, organized around core product categories including Lawn & Garden, Outdoor Living, Backyard BBQ, Paint & Painting Supplies, Power & Hand Tools, Building Supplies, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Lighting & Electrical, and Pet Supplies. Specialty departments like Ace Pools and Spas, The Kitchen Connection, and Westlake Pet Supply function as store-within-a-store concepts. The company also offers a B2B division called Westlake Commercial for business customers, and provides complementary services including key cutting, automotive key fob replacement, propane tank exchange, carpet cleaning machine rental, and STIHL outdoor power equipment repair. The Ace Rewards loyalty program enhances the customer offering across all product lines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Westlake Commercial: B2B division offering commercial supplies including HVAC equipment, plumbing supplies, safety products, commercial lighting, and other products to maintenance and repair operations.
• Helpful Hearts

Products and services

• Lawn & Garden Plants, gardening supplies, lawn care, and outdoor living products including Scotts and Miracle-Gro brands for residential lawn and garden care.
• Outdoor Living Outdoor furniture, patio items, and seasonal outdoor living supplies for backyard spaces.
• Backyard BBQ Grills and BBQ accessories featuring premium brands including Weber, Traeger, Big Green Egg, Blackstone, and Ooni.
• Paint & Painting Supplies Paints and painting supplies including Benjamin Moore and Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines paints, plus paint color matching services.
• Power & Hand Tools Power tools and hand tools from leading brands including Milwaukee, DeWalt, Craftsman, and Makita.
• Building Supplies Construction materials, fasteners, and hardware supplies for building and repair projects.
• Ace Pools and Spas Spas (Dynasty Spas, Master Spas, Generation Hot Tubs), pool supplies, spa services including delivery, crane services, repairs, and parts and chemicals.
• Plumbing Supplies Plumbing fixtures, pipes, fittings, and supplies for residential and commercial plumbing needs.
• Heating & Cooling HVAC equipment, air conditioning, heating solutions, and seasonal climate control products.
• Lighting & Electrical Electrical supplies, lighting fixtures, light bulbs, and electrical components for home projects.
• Pet Supplies Pet food and supplies including premium brands such as Blue Buffalo, Hill's Science Diet, Canidae, Taste of the Wild, and Merrick.
• Automotive and Marine Supplies Automotive accessories, marine supplies, and vehicle maintenance products.
• Workwear Work clothing and footwear including Carhartt and Dickies brands for job site protection.
• Nursery & Landscape Live plants, flowers, succulents, shrubs, pottery, and landscape supplies for gardening projects.
• Westlake Commercial Dedicated B2B division offering commercial customers access to more than 800,000 products including commercial lighting, appliances, safety and cleaning supplies, HVAC equipment, and plumbing supplies for maintenance and repair operations. Serves multi-family properties, businesses, schools, and municipalities with dedicated business development managers.
• In-Store Services Fee-based in-store services including key cutting, blade and saw sharpening, carpet cleaning machine rental, propane tank exchange, and STIHL outdoor power equipment repair.
• Ace Rewards Loyalty Program Free-to-join loyalty program offering 10 points per $1 spent, a $5 reward card for every 2,500 points, plus birthday and holiday rewards. Accessed via the Ace Rewards mobile app to track points and offers.
• The Kitchen Connection at Ace Hardware Store-within-a-store concept offering gourmet foods, cookware, kitchen utensils, and linens from brands such as Joseph Joseph, Lodge, OXO, and USA Bakeware.
• Westlake Pet Supply Dedicated pet supply section with an extensive array of pet food, toys, grooming products, health supplies, and premium pet food brands.
• Ace Handyman Services (Referral) Referral service connecting customers with professional handyman services for home repairs and improvements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Raised more than $1.3 million for Children's Miracle Network in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Veterans Community ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2026Store grand opening events feature Bravo Bravo Que sauce sampling and tours of VCP 'tiny homes' to support Veteran housing initiatives.
• Children's Miracle Network HospitalscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Annual fundraising partnership including bucket sales, round-up campaigns, World’s Finest Chocolate bar sales, and calendar sales. All funds stay in local communities supporting CMN-designated hospitals. Raised more than $1.3 million in 2025.
• City of HopeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 November 2025Cancer research and treatment organization. Westlake Ace presented $30,000 donation in November 2025 from fundraising efforts across California and other state locations.
• KC Pet ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2025Partnership to create 'Barks & Rec' dog playground at KC Pet Project - the Kansas City metro's first outdoor playground for adoptable shelter dogs.
• City of HopeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 November 2024Presented check for $20,472 in October 2024 from fundraising efforts across more than 40 locations.
• Veterans Community ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 October 2020Partnership to launch Bravo Bravo Que BBQ sauces with 100% of proceeds going to end Veteran homelessness. Also includes store events featuring VCP tiny home tours.
• The Salvation ArmycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Annual Fan Drive partnership providing box fans to those in need of summer heat relief. Since 2012, has distributed more than 78,000 fans. In 2026, raised $165,000 providing 8,400 fans.
• Ace Hardware CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1959Part of Ace Hardware Cooperative since 1959. Wholly-owned subsidiary of Ace Retail Holdings, a division of Ace Hardware Corporation. Provides access to 60,000+ products and Ace Helpful Promise brand.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ace Hardware Corporation: Westlake Ace Hardware is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ace Hardware Corporation via Ace Retail Holdings. Ace is the cooperative parent and brand platform that supplies Westlake's 60,000+ product assortment and Ace Rewards program; the broader Ace network includes more than 260 stores across multiple banners.
• The Home Depot: The largest US home improvement retailer with more than 2,000 big-box stores. Competes head-to-head with Westlake on DIY tools, paint, plumbing, and building supplies, with materially greater scale, SKU breadth, and vendor negotiating leverage.
• Lowe's Companies: The second-largest US home improvement retailer with approximately 1,700 stores. Competes directly with Westlake on virtually every core category (paint, tools, plumbing, lawn and garden), with stronger national marketing and a growing pro customer focus.
• Menard Inc. Privately held Midwestern big-box home improvement chain with more than 300 stores concentrated in the Midwest — overlapping significantly with Westlake's geographic footprint in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and surrounding states.
• Tractor Supply Company: US rural-lifestyle retailer with 2,000+ stores focused on home, lawn, garden, and light agricultural categories. Overlaps with Westlake's lawn & garden, outdoor living, workwear, and rural/SMB customer segments, though with a larger-format rural store model.

Direct peers

• True Value Company: True Value is one of the two largest hardware cooperatives in the US, operating a comparable dealer model serving independent hardware retailers with shared brand, supply chain, and marketing services — directly analogous to Westlake's relationship with Ace.
• Do it Best Corp. Do it Best is a member-owned hardware, lumber, and building materials cooperative serving thousands of independent retailers across the US. Operates a near-identical model to Ace Hardware and competes directly for independent dealer conversions and acquisition targets.
• Harbor Freight Tools: US tool and equipment retailer with more than 1,500 stores selling primarily own-brand tools and accessories. Directly competes with Westlake's Power & Hand Tools category and shares a value-oriented DIY and pro contractor customer base.
• Rural King Holdings: Privately held farm-and-home retailer with more than 130 stores across more than a dozen Midwestern and Southern states. Directly comparable to Westlake in assortment (hardware, tools, lawn & garden, workwear, pet) and geographic concentration in the Midwest.

Regional players

• Sears Hometown / Hardware Sales: After Sears Hometown's downsizing, a fragmented network of independent hardware dealers — many aligned with True Value or Do it Best — operates in markets overlapping Westlake's footprint. They compete for the same independent dealer acquisitions and rural/suburban customers, though typically with weaker balance sheets and brand support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/WestlakeAce
• Facebookfacebook.com/WestlakeHardware
• Instagraminstagram.com/westlakeacehardware
• Pinterestpinterest.com/WestlakeAce
• Xx.com/WestlakeAce
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/westlake-hardware

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Westlake Hardware