Hi, My Name Is

HI, MY NAME IS... PROFILE ON LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR: Dave Karsten

MY COMPANY & TITLE IS…

Along with my wife Cheryl, we are the owners of Karsten’s Ace Hardware with four valley locations including stores in Cave Creek and Carefree.

A TYPICAL DAY IN MY LIFE

INCLUDES… Hopefully, I start my day with a run, then on to work - touring one or more of our stores, meeting with the team, finding new and exciting products, serving our neighbors that shop the store, inventory management, strategic planning, merchandising, planning events, problem solving, IT system work. You know, all the typical work that a small business owner does each day.

MY FAVORITE MOVIE I COULD NEVER GET TIRED OF

WATCHING AND WHY... Hunt for Red October. I don’t know, you’ll have to ask my wife. Every time that it shows up on the channel guide (which is constantly), I have to stop and watch as much of it as I can. Maybe it is the cat and mouse relationship that was formed between two people from two very different countries operating in two separate steel tubes submerged somewhere under the ocean surface – and that connection they made.

MY FAMILY… Is amazing! I am blessed to have my wife as my business partner along with one of my sisters. Our “kids” have both worked in the business with us and are now pursuing their own paths. Our son Zach is finishing up his undergrad at ASU, hoping to land a job with the National Park Service – matching his love for the outdoors. Our daughter Hannah actually is working with us since she has graduated from ASU this past year and is getting ready to enter Physician Assistant school next Fall.

RED HOT BUYS VALID THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2019

Buy one, get one FREE

$999 each

Ace LED Bulb 2/Pk. 65, 75 or 100 watt equivalent. Lasts 10+ years. Soft White or Daylight, BR30 or A19. 3565868, 3565876, 3565835, 3565918, 3565801, 3565819

Buy two, get one FREE

Ace Basic Pleated Furnace Air Filter Assorted sizes available. 4000493

$799 each

Ace LED Bulb 4/Pk. 40 or 60 watt equivalent. Lasts 10+ years. Soft White or Daylight. 3565926, 3565892, 3565884, 3565843

$7.99 –$3 with card $499 each

Ace Drawstring Trash Bags 6186761, 6187116, 6214910, 6225858, 6297949 Limit 4 total at this price.

THE BUSINESS LESSON I LEARNED THE

HARD WAY IS… It is far easier to buy than to sell! As with any business, the goal is always to buy low and sell high. Entering into the transaction is easy whether you are buying inventory for the store, a stock investment or a house. Today you can simply press a button and poof - you own it! However, now the job becomes convincing others that they need what I have and are willing to pay for it. If I buy wrong and there is no demand, it could be a very costly mistake.

ONE THING I CANNOT LIVE

WITHOUT… My garage! I hang out and tinker in there a lot. I decompress and do some of my best thinking and creative work there. It is great therapy.

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I WANTED TO BE… A pilot.

THE ONE PERSON WHO

MOTIVATES ME IS… John Venhuizen, CEO of Ace Hardware Corporation. He is passionate, committed, inspirational, and knows his purpose. Check him out on YouTube – he’s great.

THE LAST THING THAT MADE

ME LAUGH OUT LOUD WAS… I laugh a lot – mostly at myself. Don’t take yourself too seriously and you’ll always have a lot to chuckle about.

THE BEST GIFT I’VE EVER

RECEIVED WAS... My wife and kids. MY FIRST JOB WAS… Washing planes (and bathrooms) at Scottsdale Municipal Airport, followed soon after by a job at the Shell Gas Station where we actually pumped the gas for you.

I’M CURRENTLY WORKING

ON… Planning a bedroom remodel into an office, definitely working on a car at some level, trying to build a better structure for our organization that will support growth for more stores, and at the 32nd Street store, we are building out the garden center at the back of the store by installing shade structures and bringing in vertical and container gardens!

THE ACTOR I WOULD WANT TO PLAY ME IN A MOVIE OF

MY LIFE IS... Jim Carrey – he’s a

28220 N Tatum Blvd • Cave Creek, AZ 85331 36889 N Tom Darlington Dr • Carefree, AZ 85377 Open Every Day • Karstensace.com

bit wacky, isn’t he?

MY DREAM VACATION WOULD

BE TO… Wander. No planned itinerary, no planned destinations – just start walking, riding, driving, flying and see what I can find.