Ace Home Center came to stay

When Ace Home Center opened in Vietnam at the tail end of 2019, it had been ready to not only showcase the iconic brand to Southeast Asia’s fastest growing economy, but also to pioneer the one-stop shop concept in the country. But before it could even establish itself, Covid-19 swooped down and physical distancing became the norm. Ace’s newly minted outlet found itself unable to fully operate. 

Amid the crisis, Ace took the opportunity to pivot and focus on putting in place the foundations it needed to cater to shoppers once they could return. Six years on, Ace Home Center’s managing director, Allan Rey Espiritu Lim, walks DIY International through the company’s journey – from its difficult start to becoming a retail chain with a network of six stores in two major cities – and discusses how commitment plays a major role in its business decisions. Jennee Grace U Rubrico reports.