Ace Hardware Store

What Ace Hardware Store does

Mansfield Supply, Inc. (operating as Ace Hardware Store) is a family-owned, single-location independent hardware retailer founded in 1954 and continuously operated by the Barlow family across four generations. The store is located at 1527 Storrs Rd. in Storrs, Connecticut, near the UConn campus, and operates Monday through Saturday from 7:30am to 6pm. It is an affiliate of the Ace Hardware cooperative, which gives it cooperative purchasing power while preserving independent ownership; the owners have explicitly opted out of Ace's advertising program to preserve margins for customer service investments.

The business sells a broad assortment of hardware and home improvement products across categories including fasteners, hand and power tools (DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Craftsman, Hilti, Klein, Dremel), paint (Pittsburgh Paint / PPG, Rust-Oleum, Krylon), electrical components, plumbing supplies (ABS, PVC, copper, steel, PEX), lumber and trim, outdoor/garden products (Weber grills, Corona and Felco pruners, Hart's seeds, Swan hoses), premium appliances (Miele vacuums), and select local Connecticut products (maple syrup, honey from Hansen Apiaries, artisan hot sauces). Beyond products, the store generates ancillary revenue through fee-based in-store services: key duplication, screen and window repair, propane refilling (10–100 lb tanks), glass/Plexiglas/Lexan cutting, computerized paint color matching, custom pipe threading up to 2-inch diameter, tool and chainsaw sharpening, RugDoctor rentals, and delivery of bulk items such as mulch and soil.

The revenue model is primarily one-time retail product sales supplemented by professional/transactional service fees. Go-to-market is almost entirely direct-to-consumer via the single physical storefront, walk-in traffic, phone, and email, with a minimal digital presence consisting of a mobile-friendly website offering a 10% off coupon to first-time mobile visitors. Customers are segmented horizontally across local homeowners, contractors and tradespeople, and gardeners/outdoor enthusiasts, with no enterprise accounts and no recurring contracts. There are no funding rounds, no parent company, no subsidiaries, no e-commerce channel, and no disclosed revenue; the company is privately held and has never sought external capital.

Name

Ace Hardware Store

Legal name

Mansfield Supply, Inc.

Website

https://mansfieldsupply.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mansfield Supply is a family-owned, single-location independent hardware store in Storrs, Connecticut, serving local homeowners, contractors, and gardeners with broad hardware assortments and in-store services (key cutting, paint matching, pipe threading, tool sharpening) via an Ace Hardware affiliate partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hardware Retail

NAICS

Hardware Retailers (44414), Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers (444)

SIC

Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply (5200), Retail-Lumber & Other Building Materials Dealers (5211)

akta.pro primary industry

Tools & Tool Accessories Retail (Hand, Power, Pneumatic) (CRAIADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fasteners, Nails, Screws & Anchors Retail (CRAIADAC), Workplace/Jobsite Supplies Retail (Site Consumables, Tarps, Ropes, Chains) (CRAIADAN)

Keywords

• Hardware retail store
• Home improvement supplies
• Tools and fasteners
• Paint and plumbing
• Seasonal garden products

Headquarters

HQ city

Storrs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware and home improvement product sales: Retail sales of hardware, power tools, hand tools, paint, electrical components, plumbing supplies, lumber, home and garden products. One-time product transactions with no recurring revenue component.
2. In-store services: Various fee-based services including key cutting/duplication, screen/window repair, glass cutting, paint color matching, tool sharpening, chain saw sharpening, pipe cutting and threading, propane refilling, RugDoctor rentals, and delivery services for bulk items like mulch and soil.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Mansfield Supply is a family-owned, single-location hardware store in Storrs, CT that retails a comprehensive assortment of hardware, power and hand tools, paint (PPG/Pittsburgh Paint), electrical and plumbing supplies, lumber, home and garden products, and seasonal items from national and local brands. The store complements product sales with fee-based in-store services including key duplication, screen and window repair, glass/Plexiglas/Lexan cutting, propane refilling, computerized paint color matching, custom pipe threading, tool sharpening, and RugDoctor rentals, plus special-order sourcing for hard-to-find items.

Product overview

Mansfield Supply is a family-owned Ace Hardware-affiliated hardware store operating as a single-location brick-and-mortar retail operation. The store offers a comprehensive range of hardware products organized into categories including fasteners, power tools, hand tools, paint (PPG/Pittsburgh Paint brand), electrical components, plumbing supplies, lumber, and home/garden products. The product portfolio includes national brands such as Weber grills, Miele vacuums, Hilti tools, Craftsman, DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, Klein Tools, and Dremel, alongside local Connecticut products like maple syrup, honey, and artisan hot sauces. The store also provides value-added services including key making, screen/window repair, propane refilling, glass cutting, paint color matching, pipe threading, tool sharpening, and RugDoctor rentals. Mansfield Supply differentiates through personalized service rather than a platform-based technology architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fasteners Retail assortment of hardware fasteners including screws, nuts, and bolts in sizes from 0-80 to 1 inch, in S.A.E. and metric, stainless and zinc-coated varieties, sold to homeowners and tradespeople.
• Power Tools Retail line of hand-held power tools including wired and cordless drills, VSR drills, right-angle drills, hammer drills, sanders, angle grinders, jigsaws, reciprocal saws, circular saws, multi-tools, and bench grinders, for homeowners and tradespeople.
• Hand Tools Retail assortment of hand tools including screwdrivers, crowbars, vises, jack planes, and power planes from brands such as Klein and Ridge, for homeowners and tradespeople.
• PPG/Pittsburgh Paint Retail paint line carried since the store's opening, including Pittsburgh Paint brand, Manor Hall paint line, and Pure Performance low-odor paint, available in flat, eggshell, pearl, semigloss, and gloss sheens, for homeowners and contractors.
• Electrical Components Retail electrical supplies including extension cords, rigid and flexible conduit, boxes and fittings, switches, plugs, lightbulbs, and wire sold by foot and roll, for homeowners and tradespeople.
• Plumbing Supplies Retail plumbing supplies including drain openers, snakes, plungers, pipes, valves, washers, o-rings, flappers, and fittings in ABS, PVC, copper, steel, and PEX materials, for homeowners and tradespeople.
• Lumber and Building Materials Retail lumber including 2x4s, 1x4s to 1x12s, plywood, and a limited selection of trim and moulding, plus pressure-treated and cedar mailbox posts.
• Branded Tools and Outdoor Equipment Retail assortment of national-brand products including Weber gas and charcoal grills, Miele vacuum cleaners, Hilti professional construction tools, Craftsman, DeWalt, Makita, and Milwaukee power tools, Klein Tools, and Dremel rotary tools.
• Paint and Garden Brand Products Retail assortment of Rust-Oleum and Krylon spray paints, Swan garden hoses, Corona and Felco pruning tools, Brentwood wheelbarrows, and Hart's grass seed and lawn products.
• Local Connecticut Products Retail local products including pure Connecticut maple syrup, raw honey from Hansen Apiaries in Chaplin, CT, and Dragon's Blood Elixir artisan hot sauce.
• RugDoctor Rentals Rental of RugDoctor carpet cleaning machines in standard and wide-track models at a flat rate for 24-hour periods for residential cleaning projects.
• Key Duplication In-store key cutting and duplication service for homes, cars, padlocks, mailboxes, cabinets, and some vehicle transponder keys (excluding high-security or "Do Not Duplicate" keys).
• Screen and Window Repair In-store repair and custom manufacturing of window and screen products including thermal windows, with turnaround time varying by shop load.
• Propane Refilling In-store propane tank refilling service for tanks from 10 lbs to 100 lbs, including RV tanks, plus disposal of tanks older than 12 years for a small fee.
• Glass, Plexiglas, and Lexan Cutting Custom cutting of glass, Plexiglas, and Lexan to size, including edge seaming, for DIY and repair projects.
• Paint Color Matching Free computerized paint color matching from customer samples such as fabric or paint chips, using an in-store color-matching computer system.
• Pipe Threading Custom pipe threading service for pipes up to 2-inch diameter using an in-store pipe threading machine, for custom-fit plumbing solutions.
• Tool Sharpening Sharpening service for chain saws, hand saws, knives, lawnmower blades, and clippers, supporting equipment maintenance for homeowners and tradespeople.
• Paint Recycling Drop-Off (PaintCare) Drop-off service as part of the PaintCare program, allowing customers to bring unused paint for recycling or reuse; PaintCare representatives remove collected products.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PaintCareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational non-profit organization devoted to managing leftover consumer paint. Mansfield Supply serves as a drop-off location where customers can bring unused paint for recycling or reuse. PaintCare representatives remove collected products.
• Ace HardwarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMansfield Supply has the buying power of Ace Hardware while maintaining independent ownership. They chose to opt out of Ace's advertising program to free up resources for better customer service. Being part of the Ace Hardware network provides purchasing advantages while preserving local autonomy.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• Woodcraft: Specialty woodworking and quality-tools retailer; partial overlap with Mansfield's premium hand-tool and contractor customer base, particularly relevant given the store's depth in professional-grade brands like Klein and Hilti.
• Harbor Freight Tools: Discount tool and equipment retailer exerting pricing pressure on entry-level hand and power tools; competing on price points where Mansfield Supply's premium brand assortment (DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita) must justify its premium.

Direct peers

• Aubuchon Hardware: Family-owned New England hardware chain with similar small-format neighborhood stores; offers comparable product breadth (hardware, paint, plumbing, electrical, seasonal) and competes directly for the same regional DIY and contractor customer base.
• True Value Company: Hardware cooperative with affiliated independent retailers operating in the same single-store, service-oriented model; product assortment, customer demographic, and supplier economics closely parallel Mansfield Supply's.
• Do it Best: Member-owned hardware, lumber, and building materials cooperative serving independent retailers; business model and store format are structurally similar, providing direct comparison for assortment and supplier leverage.
• Ace Hardware: National hardware cooperative whose retail model Mansfield Supply operates under; comparable single-store format, similar product mix, and shared buying power make every Ace affiliate a direct operational peer.

Broad incumbents

• Lowe's: National big-box home improvement chain; overlaps on the full hardware, paint, plumbing, electrical, and garden assortment, and is the primary large-format competitor anchoring consumer expectations on price and selection.
• Tractor Supply Company: Rural-lifestyle retailer with hardware, tool, and outdoor categories that overlap with Mansfield's lawn, garden, and contractor offerings; broader in scope but competes for similar Connecticut rural and homeowner customers.
• Home Depot: Largest U.S. home improvement retailer competing in the same product categories (tools, paint, plumbing, electrical, lumber); not format-comparable but defines the competitive ceiling and pricing benchmark for Mansfield's assortment.

Regional players

• Renys: Family-run New England variety and hardware chain with similar hometown positioning and seasonal merchandise; comparable regional footprint and customer demographic make it a relevant geographic peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ace-hardware-store

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Ace Hardware Store