Case Study: E&H Hardware Group achieves 6% inventory reduction and 2.5% margin increase with Epicor

Hardware Retailer Reduces Inventory Value And Increases Margins With Epicor Tools

E&H Hardware Group, a family‑owned retailer based in Wooster, Ohio, operates 21 Ace Hardware stores in mixed formats—from standalone shops to locations inside Buehler’s supermarkets—and faced the challenge of efficiently managing multi‑store formats, perpetual inventory, competitive pricing, and benchmarking against big‑box rivals.

By deploying Epicor Eagle N Series with Compass, Pricing Planner, Eagle Mobile Manager, Accounts Receivable and an NCR integration, E&H automated ordering, pricing and reporting, enabling price‑locking, store benchmarking and mobile‑informed buying. The results: companywide margins increased 2.5%, inventory value fell about 6% per integrated store, invoicing and eStatements were streamlined (saving roughly $400/month in postage alone), and the team can make faster, more strategic growth and purchasing decisions.

E&H Hardware Group

Rich Fishburn

Director of Operations