For the first 45 years of its existence, Ace had just one distribution center. In 1969, knowing the key to future growth was to expand nationally, Ace opened two new centers near San Francisco and Atlanta. Centers in Toledo, Ohio, Dallas and Chicago followed over the next nine years, setting the stage for what was to follow: 12 new centers over the following 15 years.

Ace's largest center, 1.1 million square feet, is located in Princeton, Ill., and was completed in 1993. It is one of the largest in the home improvement industry. Ace's newest center is being built in Moxee, Wash., and will replace the current Yakima facility when completed in June 2006. The new Moxee RSC will span 800,000 sq. ft. and serve 325 retailers throughout the Pacific Northwest.

More than 75 percent of Ace employees work at Ace's retail support centers, which operate on a seven-days-a-week, 362-days-a-year schedule. The centers utilize the latest technology to ensure low cost distribution, including offload scanning, bar code scanning, radio frequency, a Quick Response program with vendors and ACENET, an Internet-based private intranet for use by Ace retailers. Ace stores actively use the system for item and invoice inquiries, stock reservation, defective goods processing and more.

Each of Ace's RSCs in the United States has access to some 65,000 items, giving each Ace retailer the inventory selection and delivery service vital to the dealer's business success.