Colette Bell, vice president of franchise development for Ace Handyman Services, wants everyone to know the many ways the company’s corporate office and franchise owners give back to the community. The brand focuses on two special events each year with the first taking place every January alongside their annual, multi-day staff event held in Denver. By Cindy Charette
Colette Bell, vice president of franchise development for Ace Handyman Services, wants everyone to know the many ways the company’s corporate office and franchise owners give back to the community. The brand focuses on two special events each year with the first taking place every January alongside their annual, multi-day staff event held in Denver. At this event, staff from all over the country come together for meetings and training and development sessions.
“We always try and partner that with some sort of a give-back activity,” said Bell.
In 2024, Ace Handyman Services staff members partnered with Children’s Miracle Network, a large charity supported by Ace Hardware, to purchase supplies for the event. The team then spent an afternoon making flannel blankets for hospitalized children, giving them something soft and warm to wrap up in while going through treatments. In 2023, the team members made 100 blankets together, but the goal for 2024 was to reach 300 blankets.
Past corporate events have included building and donating bicycles to elementary school children and teaching them how to ride, as well as a weekend competition in downtown Denver where contractor teams built bathrooms, then transported and dropped them into Habitat for Humanity homes. Ace Hardware, even though not related at that time, provided all of the material free of charge.
Additionally, franchisees are encouraged to donate labor time to a cause of their choice in their communities once a quarter. Some franchisees have worked in domestic shelters, touching up paint or helping with other needs. Others have helped seniors on a limited budget with safety-related needs such as adding grab bars, removing tripping hazards or changing light bulbs for better visibility. Some even give their time bell ringing for the Salvation Army.
In another instance, men in assisted living facilities were provided wood, tools and craftsmen so they could build their own small tables, in the hopes to help them feel accomplished.
Not only does Ace Handyman Services help the members of the communities it’s a part of, but this technology-based repair and remodeling company believes in helping its franchise owners build a successful business with a solid foundation of repeat lifelong customers.
Cindy Charette