Colette Bell and her husband founded their handyman business, Handyman Matters, in 1998 because they kept hearing stories from local homeowners about the lack of ethics and integrity in the industry. By Kelsi Trinidad
Colette Bell and her husband founded their handyman business, Handyman Matters, in 1998 because they kept hearing stories from local homeowners about the lack of ethics and integrity in the industry. “They felt like homeowners were overcharged for things,” said Bell. “They felt like they were not necessarily told the whole truth. People felt like they were at the mercy of some of the workers. There was certainly a huge lack of reliability in the industry.”
The Bells’ business became the solution to this problem. The values and ethics at the heart of their business were just as crucial as the skills that their craftsmen brought to each job. “In the early days, when we were doing research, we were right up there with used car dealers in terms of how consumers felt about us,” said Bell. When founding Handyman Matters, the Bells prioritized providing an affordable service in an ethical and integrity-based way. They recognized that it starts at the top, with the franchisees having a belief in doing the right thing and helping members of their community. The company also ensures that its craftsmen are treated with integrity by providing them with health insurance benefits, giving out personalized business cards, holding company parties and offering extensive support.
This holistic integration of values has made their company shine. In 2019, Ace Hardware acquired the Bells’ business and became Ace Handyman Services. The core values of the business have been sustained, but it has gained the well-known reputation and reach of Ace Hardware. This has allowed the Bells’ revolutionary handyman business to expand even further, with the added benefit of robust marketing and national sourcing of materials.
Kelsi Trinidad