Ace Hardware has inked an accord with Lawsons, an English lumber and building materials chain, that will bring Ace Paint to the UK market.

In the accord, Lawsons, which has been serving the greater London area since 1921, has been granted exclusive rights to sell Ace Paint and related sundries in the UK. Lawsons paint departments will be converted to Ace’s Color Your Life format to compete against local brands.  

The deal also includes plans to build a warehouse/showroom for Ace’s products in the UK. This facility will be used to stock products to serve Lawsons eight stores located outside London, as well as to distribute to other retail outlets. Ace said this showroom will replicate the largest Color Your Life store format and will be used to welcome potential sub-franchisees to the Ace Paint brand.

At the cooperative’s convention in San Diego, CA, Ray Griffith Ace’s president and CEO signed the accord with Simon Lawson, managing director of Lawsons and grandson of the company’s founder.