Message From Chairman

Message to Shareholders: Brett Stephenson

A message from the Chairman of the Board

Brett Stephenson, Chairman

Dear Ace Shareholders,

In business, we keep score with money. And if you read John Venhuizen’s message in this Annual Report, you’ll see how, despite modest declines in a few areas, we continue to put points on the board in the face of persistent headwinds and various outside influences.

Most companies would be content taking only those financial victories each year – but at Ace, we are not most companies. While we will always fight for improved financial performance, we will also continue our devotion to serving our communities, winning the hearts and minds of consumers, and maintaining an engaged and helpful workforce.

Looking back on 2023, it’s safe to say we’re lighting up the scoreboard in those areas.

The Ace Foundation raised a record $23.6 million.This includes funds for Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals, the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and our own Ace Helpful Fund.
Our customers are happy – 86.8% of customers rated Ace retailers a 5 out of 5 for customer satisfaction.
Our employees are engaged – Participating retailers enjoyed an employee engagement survey score above 85%.

If those weren’t enough, we notched several more victories that demonstrate the strength of our company and the power of our brand. Here are just a few of the noteworthy accomplishments from 2023.

#1 in Customer Satisfaction by J.D. Power
#3 in the Franchise Direct Top 100 Global Franchises
#5 on Franchise Times’ Top 400 List
#6 Most Trustworthy Retailer in America (according to Newsweek)
#7 in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500
#10 on Franchise Times’ Fast & Serious List
#21 on the National Retailers Federation’s Top 100 Retailer List

2023 was not without its challenges. But like we always do, Ace retailers responded with grit, determination, and compassion. On behalf of the entire Board, thank you for contributing to these impressive results. Your commitment to building your business and strengthening the Ace brand – all while serving your communities – is a big reason why Ace is a special place that can serve as a tremendous source of good in this world.