Ace Vendor University | A three-day workshop for Ace Hardware vendors

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I designed a workshop to help vendors understand how Ace operates and practice the tasks they handle in Ace’s systems. Two days of classroom instruction and exercises covered topics such as demand planning, data quality, and item and price maintenance. A warehouse tour gave vendors a firsthand look at the supply chain behind those processes.

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My role: Workshop design, facilitation, promotion, and logistics

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How I designed it

I organized the workshop around what vendors needed to do on the job, from maintaining accurate product information to understanding shipping expectations. In the participant guide, I used prompts, worked examples, and space for notes to give vendors a way to follow along and refer back to the material. For example, an On Time in Full (OTIF) exercise used a sample order and a shipping timeline to show how delivery timing and quantities affect the score.

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I developed the content, recruited presenters from across Ace, and led the item maintenance session. I also built the schedule, assembled participant materials, coordinated transportation and meals, and created promotional content for the paid workshop.

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Workshop Components

• Facilitator guide: A reference for presenters to prepare for and deliver their sessions.

• PowerPoint presentations: Slides that supported classroom instruction and discussion.

• Participant guide: A workbook with exercises, reference information, and space for notes.

• Promotional materials: Emails, flyers, and course catalog copy that helped vendors understand what to expect and decide whether to register.

• Workshop swag: Notebooks, pens, and keychains for attendees.