Ace Hardware Home Services Marketing Intern – Summer 2026, Full Time/paid/12 Weeks

Ace Hardware Home Services Marketing Intern

Compensation Details: $22.00 per hour

Job Description: Ace Hardware Home Services Marketing Intern – Summer 2026, Full Time/Paid/12 Weeks

About this Role: Your primary focus as a Home Services Marketing Intern will be in the following areas:

Brand Building

Ace Hardware Home Services is Bringing Helpful to Your Home through a variety of services offerings like Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, Electrical, Handyman and Painting. This new brand is emerging into markets and currently building brand equity across several locations. Ace Hardware Home Services, with the power of the Ace brand, strives to be the best, most trusted provider of home preservation services. We differentiate in the market with exceptional service, a commitment to our local communities, an investment in our teams and by being locally operated. The marketing intern will drive best practices, brand consistency, speed to market and customization that makes each individual branch stronger in their local market.

• Work with marketing team, creative & agency team to assist with local & digital marketing planning and execution
• Develop hyper local media assets (billboard, sponsorships, radio, TV, direct mail, local social posts)
• Work with branch locations to drive brand awareness through local events including partnering with Ace Retailers on local events in shared markets
• Support digital growth via content development, social media initiatives, paid search, email, SEO, retargeting, Etc.
• Work with creative to create store signage and home services awareness materials
• Support initiatives for membership, loyalty programs and pilot programs
• Website strategies and continuous improvement
• Enhance services best practices guides and playbooks

Special Projects

• Support department and cross functional projects as assigned by Manager

The Ideal Intern Will Possess The Following:

• Working towards a bachelor’s degree in the following area(s): Marketing and/or Business Administration
• Entering Senior year of college (Graduating Dec ‘25 or May ‘26)
• Solid understanding of key financials and operations of a small business
• Retail/customer service experience (Sales, visual merchandising, retail pricing a plus)
• Experience with MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point)
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Adaptability and ability to learn quickly in high-pressure environments
• Ambitious self-starter who has demonstrated the ability to contribute as an effective team member
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Demonstrated motivation and initiative to succeed
• Knowledge and interest in Ace Hardware Corporation
• Ability to work 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday for 12 weeks
• Willingness and ability to give presentations to colleagues, managers and directors

Why Ace?

Ace Hardware (headquartered in Oak Brook, IL) is the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the world with over 5,800 locally owned and operated stores in approximately 60 countries. Since 1924, Ace has become a part of local communities around the world and known as the place with the Helpful Hardware Folks.

Ace has retained its #5 position in the annual Franchise Times Top 400 List in 2023. Unmatched customer service is a cornerstone of the Ace Hardware brand. We are a 100-year-old retailer that supports its owners with programs that leverage their local expertise, giving them a distinct advantage over their big box competitors and has resulted in Ace retailers being named by JD Powers #1 in Customer Satisfaction with Home Improvement Retailers, 16 out of 18 years. The Helpful Spirit transcends the enterprise with Ace Hardware Corporation consistently ranking amongst the top workplaces in Chicagoland.

Location Description

Ace Hardware corporate headquarters is about 20 miles west of Chicago and you’ll get the very best of city and suburban life – prestigious shopping, dining, recreation, performing arts and historical neighborhoods. Our brand new corporate facility opened in September 2023 and has state of the amenities such as a work-out facility, underground parking and upscale cafeteria. We work in the office the majority of the week and enjoy everything our new facility has to offer together as a team.

2026 Summer Internship Program Overview

The Ace Internship program allows you to apply skills and knowledge you’re learning in College today, while contributing in a hands-on environment to fit your career objectives, complement your academic work and enhance your learning. Here’s what you will take away from your experience:

• Real hands-on experience in your assigned department/function with day-to-day projects, responsibilities, accountabilities and deadlines.
• Opportunity to display your skills during your “Final Pitch” presentation
• Q & A with Ace’s CEO and Senior Leadership team
• Resume Workshop to help you prepare for future opportunities
• Opportunity to volunteer through the Ace Hardware Foundation
• Teambuilding activities
• Hourly competitive compensation
• 12-week full time program

Your internship experience at Ace will give you the knowledge and skills future employers will look for! Want to hear more? Please review our Glassdoor comments from former interns!

Why Should You Join Our Team?

We live our values - W.E.L.I.G.H.T (Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility, and Teamwork). Gratitude. Humility. Love. You don’t often see values like these in most corporate statements, but Ace is different. These things are important to us. They represent our commitment to the company, our employees, and to the Ace brand.

In addition to providing our employees a great culture, we offer competitive benefits* that address life’s necessities and perks, many of which expand and improve year after year, including:

• Incentive/commission/bonus opportunities (Based on role / grade level)
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching company contributions, eligible on your first day!
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision, company paid short-term disability, and long-term disability) and life insurance benefits for you and your dependents.
• Warehouse Merchandise Discount!
• Paid time off & paid holidays (depending on role and month of hire)
• Career Growth & opportunities within several channels (Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electrical, Handyman, Customer Service and others). Your career at Ace is more than just a job. It’s a chance to be part of something meaningful. We help locally-owned businesses thrive and make an impact in their communities.
• Ace invests in every employee we hire, with a key focus on development and coaching. We offer classes, facilitator-led courses, plus a performance management approach that goes beyond the typical annual review.
• Robust Employee Assistance Program, which will provide professional assistance for personal, legal, financial, work, childcare and elder care support.

* Benefits are provided in compliance with applicable plans and policies.