MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Marshburn's Ace hardware

Where do you go if you need a tool, paint or what-cha-ma-call-it to finish a project or repair? You probably go to Marshburn’s Ace Hardware on 117 in Wallace. What was originally an electrical supply company in 1976, became one of the buyer owned co-op Ace Hardware stores about 13 years ago. Unlike many franchises, this company is owned by it’s co-op owners, and they have a stake in it’s success. That translates to people who care about their customers and offer exceptional customer service, as evidenced by their winning the JD Powers & Associates Award for Customer Satisfaction for the past 2 years- over their big box rivals. Any time you walk into the store, you’ll be greeted quickly, and whichever one of the 9 employees(5 FT & 4 PT) asks you will know what you need and where to find it. If by chance the item is out of stock- no worry- they order and receive trucks twice a week, so they can get it to you in 3 days as long as it is in the distribution center. The store is supported by the Ace hardware website www.acehardware.com and , if you find something there that is not carried here, there is no charge to have items ordered online shipped to the store. Many of the items carried are Ace branded, and they are made by the same names you see in other stores, but have the added benefit of being quality tested to Ace standards. When the company had consistency issues with the name brand paint it carried, they bought a factory to make their own- with more consistent standards achieved by computerizing the plant. They now have a second plant to meet the demand! They offer several color palettes, and offer test sizes in the most popular colors.
The next project you take on- before you waste the time and gas to go to Wilmington- Check out Marshburn’s Ace Hardware- the place with the helpful hardware men ( and woman!)