Naples store reels in a cool award from Ace Hardware

Most people probably don’t expect a hardware store to be the go-to place for fishermen. But Sunshine Ace Hardware in Naples has become just that. For tailoring the products offered for local DIY-ers and fisherman alike, the store earned a 2011 “Coolest Hardware Store” award from Ace Hardware Corp. Of 4,500 locally owned and operated Ace Hardware stores worldwide, the Naples store on the Tamiami Trail is one of four to receive the award this year.

“We pride ourselves on having been a fixture in the community since 1958,” says Michael Wynn, president of Sunshine Ace Hardware. “We have a diverse group of people in our community, from those that have lived here all their lives to yearly vacationers and snowbirds… we have products, services and an educated staff to provide everything they need.”

The store has aisles stocked with rods, hooks, sinkers, bobbers and more. Just minutes from the beach, it’s a reliable resource for locals and visitors ready to hook the catch of the day.

Customers find what they need, including employees who have worked at the store for decades, spanning up to 50 years.

“We applaud Sunshine Ace Hardware’s owners and staff for their commitment to helpful service in the community,” says Kane Calamari, vice president of retail operations and new business at Ace Hardware Corp. “Our co-op business model lends itself to stores that can differentiate themselves based on the community they’re in.”

Local award recipients attended Ace’s annual Platinum Conference that brought together Ace’s top-performing retailers from around the country.

Across the board, Ace Hardware stores are known for their excellent customer satisfaction and helpfulness. In 2011, the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Home Improvement Retailer Store Satisfaction StudySM again ranked Ace Hardware “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Home Improvement Retail Stores, Five Years in a Row.”