Ace(R) Hardware Partners With The Weather Channel(R) to Help Homeowners Restore Their Outdoors

OAK BROOK, IL--(Marketwire - Apr 18, 2011) - To encourage consumers to turn their outdoor to-do list into a to-done list, Ace(R) Hardware has teamed up with The Weather Channel(R) to launch the "Restore Your Outdoors" promotion. The campaign pairs Ace Hardware's outdoor and lawn and garden expertise with The Weather Channel's trusted local weather knowledge by rewarding one deserving homeowner with a customized outdoor makeover.

With more than 4,500 locally owned stores, Ace Hardware understands the needs of its communities and knows the devastation that changing weather conditions can have on outdoor spaces across the country. Snow, ice and excessive rain can damage decks or turn a once beautiful and well-manicured yard into an insurmountable mess, irritating neighbors and potentially reducing the home's value. Together with The Weather Channel, Ace Hardware will provide homeowners with the information and tools they need to quickly and efficiently bring their outdoor spaces back to life.

"People often underestimate the amount of damage winter weather conditions can have on their lawns, and no one wants to sink all of their free time into repairing these issues," said Lou Manfredini, Ace Hardware's Home Expert. "Our partnership with The Weather Channel not only offers us the opportunity to makeover a deserving outdoor space, but also provides homeowners with targeted lawn and garden advice so they can spruce up their outdoor areas and get back to enjoying their weekends."

Starting today, consumers are invited to nominate their own home by submitting photos of their drab, lackluster lawns or outdoor spaces; one winner will receive the outdoor makeover of his or her dreams. Nominations will be accepted until May 15 and entries can be submitted online at www.weather.com/restore. Visitors to the website can also view voting criteria, check out other submissions and share content with their friends and family.

"Checking the weather is an important part of any outdoor project, which makes the partnership between TWC and Ace a natural one," said Beth Lawrence, executive vice president, ad sales and media solutions for The Weather Channel Companies. "Pairing our localized weather content with Ace Hardware's local outdoors advice delivers on our promise to help viewers live their best life outdoors."

The final winner's makeover will be revealed and featured in an extended programming block on The Weather Channel on May 29.

Ace Hardware takes pride in offering its customers a wide variety of top-performing, innovative and eco-friendly products and will provide all of the materials for the makeover. Additionally, AceHardware.com will offer exclusive resources, tips and advice for homeowners looking to fix up their outdoor areas quickly and cost effectively.

For more information on how to "Restore Your Outdoors" or to enter for a chance to win, visit www.weather.com/restore. No purchase is necessary to enter or win in the contest.

About Ace® Hardware
For more than 85 years, Ace Hardware has been known as the helpful hardware store by both customers and communities. In 2010, Ace ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Home Improvement Stores for the Fourth Consecutive Year," according to J.D. Power and Associates. With 4,500 locally owned and operated hardware, home center and building materials stores, Ace is the largest hardware cooperative in the industry. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace currently operates 14 distribution centers in the U.S. and one in Shanghai, China, and its retailers' stores are located in all 50 states and more than 60 countries. For more information on Ace, visit www.acehardware.com.

About The Weather Channel® Companies
The Weather Channel Companies (TWCC) is made up of The Weather Channel television network, The Weather Channel digital properties, and Weather Services International (WSI). The Weather Channel® is based in Atlanta and is seen in more than 100 million U.S. households. TWC also operates Weatherscan, a 24-hour all-local weather network; The Weather Channel Radio Network; and The Weather Channel HD. The digital properties of TWC, which include the weather.com® site, The Weather Channel Desktop and The Weather Channel Mobile, reach more than 45 million unique users online each month and is the most popular source of online weather, news and information according to Nielsen//NetRatings. WSI, headquartered in Andover, MA, primarily provides business-to-business weather services, particularly for the media, aviation, marine and energy sectors. TWCC is owned by a consortium made up of NBC Universal and the private equity firms The Blackstone Group and Bain Capital. For more information, visit www.weather.com/press.