This month, The Drill Down takes note of our increasingly mobile world. Efficiency! Efficiency! Everybody is always talking about efficiency. And now, the home improvement and building industry is getting creative to deliver — literally and figuratively — to professionals and homeowners alike.

Ace Hardware’s new partnership helps it rival Home Depot, Lowe’s

The world’s largest hardware cooperative announced it will partner with DoorDash to provide on-demand delivery of essentials from more than 4,000 Ace stores nationwide.

The launch makes Ace the first and largest U.S. hardware co-op retailer available on DoorDash. Ace and DoorDash promise delivery in under an hour for thousands of items, ranging from tools and paint to garden supplies and seasonal goods.

The move positions Ace to serve both weekend DIYers and professionals. Contractors can get missing materials delivered straight to job sites, avoiding costly delays. Urban customers without cars can get heavy supplies without multiple trips. More here: (Source)

The S/M Take: 

Look, The Drill Down is always a fan of finding ways to better serve professional audiences. Mainly because we know they’re the oft-forgotten key to connecting brands to end consumers. 

How can your brand make life easier for your pro audiences? We ask that question every single day.

Kudos to this savvy move by a retailer already known for going hyper local. On a jobsite, time is money — and Ace is offering to save contractors a whole bunch of both.

The top home security devices that can move with you

When investing in home security technology, you need to make sure it will help you out for years to come. But that's difficult to guarantee if you're planning a move or if you move frequently, like a military family or house flipper. Fortunately, there are home security devices that let you keep your investment and pack them up when it's time for a new home.

Use devices like these so you'll never have to leave security behind. More here: (Source)

The S/M Take: 

Just because people aren’t moving now doesn’t mean homeowners are ditching plans for the future. And that “One day, we’ll…” mentality can be the driver for purchases around the house. 

Why buy twice when you can buy once? 

Note how SimpliSafe offers a more traditional home security system but with adhesive sensors and DIY, no-contract setup.

Home security covers camera and motion devices from the article featured and also the rise of smart locks — biometrics, Apple Home Key integration and more personalized ways to unlock your home.

Security has never felt more accessible.

“Quiet Luxury” is taking over the housing market

Those seeking their own slice of real estate paradise may not appreciate the sky-high expense, crowds, and traffic. Or even want the bank-depleting and time-consuming maintenance of the gated, large-scale manse with garden and pool.

"Quiet luxury isn’t about how much you spend; it’s about how the home makes you feel," says Hamptons broker Adam Hofer of Douglas Elliman.

"It's the family dinners on a back deck with water views, the peace of being tucked away on a quiet street, or finding a property that feels like a true retreat without having to keep up with the Joneses."

"I think buyers are tired of chasing status." More here: (Source)

The S/M Take: 

We noted last month that consumer behavior is reflecting personal expression and fulfillment as more important than chasing what the neighbors are doing. 

Now, that trend has made its way to luxury homes.

As technology continues to flatten our world, we expect people to carve out their own paradise wherever they see fit.