Building a Retail Media Network with Heart Inside Ace Hardware

Molly Hjelm, Corporate Vice President of Retail Media at Ace Hardware Corporation, joins Jeremy Bloom (Marketecture Media co-founder, OhHello.ai founder) and Josh Palau (Media and AdTech executive and America’s favorite plus-one) to share how she built Red Vest Media from the ground up. She dives into the power of first-party data, the strength of Ace’s co op model, and how local personalization competes with massive retail media networks. From loyalty data to in-store experience, this conversation explores what it takes to scale while staying authentic.

Takeaways
- Ace Hardware combines national scale with hyperlocal personalization
- Strong first-party data is the foundation of effective retail media
- Most sales still happen in-store, making physical experience critical
- Simplicity and seamless integration matter most to advertisers
- Listening to customers drives faster and better product development
- Retail media success depends on measurable and real-time results
- Co op structure can be a competitive advantage, not a limitation

Chapters
00:01 Introduction to Molly Hjelm and Red Vest Media
00:31 Why Ace Hardware’s model stands out in retail
01:31 Molly’s background and building the network
02:30 The scale and reach of Ace Hardware
03:13 How local ownership creates authenticity
04:54 Staying human in a digital and automated world
06:48 Ace’s core value proposition
08:35 Growth of e-commerce and delivery partnerships
10:10 Challenges of building a retail media network
12:27 Launch strategy and leveraging partnerships
13:46 Standing out in a crowded retail media space
15:47 Advice for marketers building platforms
17:00 The importance of knowing your customer
19:01 Building for the next generation
21:25 Molly’s journey into retail data and marketing
23:35 Personal insights and closing thoughts

Видео Building a Retail Media Network with Heart Inside Ace Hardware канала MarketectureTV