John Venhuizen, president and CEO of Ace Hardware, and Jules Pieri, CEO and co-founder of e-commerce start-up The Grommet, joined Cheddar to discuss the major stake Ace Hardware recently took in the online retailer.
According to The Grommet's CEO Jules Pieri, the partnership with Ace Hardware is going to provide entrepreneurs who sell products on The Grommet greater access to capital.
The Grommet currently brands itself as a company that "launch undiscovered products and helps them succeed." It is known for launching companies such as Otterbox, SodaStream, and Fitbit on its platform.
The deal with Ace is projected to help The Grommet expand its audience and grow its base of 3 million subscribers, according to Pieri. To make that possible, selected products from The Grommet are set to hit in-store and online shelves at Ace Hardware locations across the U.S.
The Grommet and Ace Hardware alliance comes at a time when entrepreneurs are gravitating towards locally-sourced products. Companies such as Amazon, and recently Wal-Mart, are competing in the field. Wal-Mart recently launched "Uniquely J" an independent label to rival Amazon.
Jules said that she believes locally-sourced products have piqued consumer's interest because people have a natural drive to create, and technology offers a platform for this creativity to flourish.
Venhuizen adds that Ace Hardware's brick and mortar stores offer independent entrepreneurs another platform to sell products beyond Amazon.
"We can now bring these makers what we think is a real clear path and a meaningful path to growth without always having to bow down to the altar of Amazon," he said.
It's a tough time for the job market. Amid wider economic uncertainty, some analysts have said that businesses are at a “no-hire, no fire” standstill. At the same time, some sizeable layoffs have continued to pile up — raising worker anxieties across sectors. Some companies have pointed to rising operational costs due to U.S.'s new tariffs, while others have redirected money to artificial intelligence investments. Workers in the public sector have also been hit hard. Federal jobs were cut by the thousands earlier this year. And many workers are now going without pay as the U.S. government shutdown has now dragged on for more than a month.
Nvidia smashes earnings with record-breaking revenue and soaring Blackwell demand as shares slip this morning, Barron’s senior writer Adam Levine unpacks it all
Jeff Wagoner, CEO of Outrigger Hospitality Group, discusses the company’s coral preservation initiatives and sustainable practices at their hotels and resorts.
Dena Jalbert, Head of M&A at Align Advisory, discusses the state of mergers and acquisitions in 2025 and beyond, highlighting key trends and opportunities.
Kim Perell, author and entrepreneur, shares actionable tips and tricks to help current and aspiring entrepreneurs kick off 2026 with confidence and momentum.
Computer chipmaker Nvidia is poised to release a quarterly earnings report that is expected to either deepen a recent downturn in the stock market or prompt an ebullient sigh of relief among investors increasingly worried the world’s most valuable company is perched upon an artificial intelligence bubble about to burst.
Emera CEO Scott Balfour discusses soaring energy demand, AI-driven grid challenges, clean-power investments, and how the company is building a resilient future.
JB Mackenzie discusses Robinhood’s new entertainment prediction markets, letting users engage with pop culture, award shows, and more through low-stakes bets.
