Home-improvement giants Home Depot and Lowe’s have seen their fortunes shift in 2025.
In Q2, Home Depot reported $45.28 billion in sales, up 4.9% year-over-year, with comparable sales rising just 1%.
On the company’s most recent earnings call, CEO Ted Decker highlighted that customers are engaging “more broadly in smaller home improvement projects,” a shift from the big-ticket renovations that drove growth during the pandemic.
Lowe’s also reported modest gains but echoed the same trend: Shoppers are cautious about expensive remodels amid high interest rates, tariffs, and economic uncertainty.
That backdrop leaves space for competitors like Ace Hardware, which is finding ways to grow by targeting a different segment of the market —
smaller projects, convenience, and speed.
Ace has shown a steady increase since 2020. The following approximate revenue figures are based on reported company filings and press releases:
Because its stores are individually owned, Ace Hardware is able to offer services and products that the mega stores can’t. That includes offering regional products — e.g., surfboards at stores in Southern California and shrimp cleaning tools in coastal North Carolina.
Now, as part of its effort to set itself apart, the world’s largest hardware cooperative announced it will partner with DoorDash to provide on-demand delivery of essentials from more than 4,000 Ace stores nationwide.
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The launch makes Ace the first and largest U.S. hardware co-op retailer available on DoorDash. Ace and DoorDash promise delivery in under an hour for thousands of items, ranging from tools and paint to garden supplies and seasonal goods.
“For someone in the city, it might mean skipping the subway ride home with a heavy toolbox. For someone in a small town, it might mean saving a trip for just one plumbing fitting — or even a simple battery or light bulb,” Head of Digital at Ace Hardware Bill Kiss told TheStreet. “Either way, Ace on DoorDash makes getting all the right supplies, no matter the need, fast and stress-free.”
The move positions Ace to serve both weekend DIYers and professionals. Contractors can get missing materials delivered straight to job sites, avoiding costly delays. Urban customers without cars can get heavy supplies without multiple trips.
Dashers from local Ace stores fulfill orders in real time, extending Ace’s reputation as the neighborhood hardware shop into the digital space.
“Whether you need last-minute charcoal for a backyard BBQ or the perfect paint color, Ace on DoorDash ensures you’re never held up,” said VP of Grocery & Retail Partnerships Mike Goldblatt in a statement, calling the partnership a way to support local economies.
To celebrate the rollout, Ace and DoorDash are offering limited-time discounts through September 30, 2025:
Ace’s Q2 2025 results show how it is carving out a niche. The co-op reported $2.8 billion in revenue, up 3.9% from a year ago, with digital sales surging 18.1%. While same-store sales dipped slightly, the company added 38 new locations and continues to expand its footprint.
Related: Home Depot seals billion-dollar acquisition to win back shoppers
On the company’s August 27, 2025 earnings announcement, Ace Hardware President and CEO John Venhuizen put it succinctly:
“In a macro-environment that has confounded and humbled even the best retailers, I’m delighted to report a 3.9 percent increase in revenue, a 4.1 percent jump in net income, and an 18.1 percent surge in our digital business,” said Venhuizen. “I’d like to thank the Ace team for serving with dignity, decency, character, and class. They really do make Ace the helpful place.”
By offering services that make it easier for customers to get exactly what they need, fast, Ace is competing in ways the big-box chains can’t easily replicate.
While Home Depot and Lowe’s focus on big remodeling projects and pro accounts, Ace is doubling down on being the “helpful place” for quick solutions.
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