Batteries Plus Bulbs Signs Rocky Mount, North Carolina Franchisees, Paving Way for Further Growth in the Tar Heel State

Batteries Plus Bulbs has proved its staying power ever since the brand first opened its doors in 1988 and began franchising in 1992. The battery replacement and specialty bulbs brand rightfully anticipated a major need for such products in the constantly changing technology landscape. Over the years, Batteries Plus Bulbs evolved into a robust retail franchise that has thrived in the age of e-commerce . Today, the brand has more than 730 stores across the United States and aims to expand its footprint throughout the Raleigh metropolitan area in North Carolina.

The brand currently has more than 30 stores throughout North Carolina, with about seven of those located in the Raleigh metropolitan area. In addition to Raleigh, the brand has available franchise opportunities in Cary, Chapel Hill and Durham. Batteries Plus Bulbs also wants to expand into the North Carolina city of Mooresville, which is part of the Charlotte Metropolitan area.

“Batteries Plus Bulbs has a history of success in the Raleigh metropolitan area,” Vice President of Franchise Development Jon Sica said. “Our stores have performed really well in the state, especially around colleges and universities, and we also have several large ownership networks in the area.”

New franchisees

Batteries Plus Bulbs is about to further cement its status in the Tar Heel State thanks to father-and-son duo Ibrahim and Tarick Odeh. The Odehs recently signed on with the brand and will open their Batteries Plus Bulbs franchise in the spring of 2020 in the city of Rocky Mount, which is located approximately one hour east of Raleigh.

“The Batteries Plus Bulbs leadership team is excited to have Tarick and Ibrahim join our franchise family,” Sica said. “Tarick has extensive finance experience and the Odeh family also owns a chain of successful beauty stores in the Rocky Mount area. They understand retail and the importance of the in-store customer experience and will be excellent brand representatives in the region.”

Rocky Mount is an excellent spot for the Batteries Plus Bulbs brand. “Rocky Mount is a smaller market with less competition, which makes it attractive from a retail standpoint,” Tarick said. “Essentially, Rocky Mount is in that sweet spot of being outside of a larger DMA but being one of the larger communities outside of the Raleigh DMA.”

Franchise opportunities

The timing is perfect to join the Batteries Plus Bulbs franchise system, as there are still plenty of available franchising territories, not to mention a significant, growing need for the brand’s products and services. In addition to a robust franchise opportunity with proprietary products and learning resources, dual revenue streams and more, the brand also provides high levels of in-person customer service that simply cannot be found anywhere else. In an age where more and more retail stores transition to online-only enterprises, Batteries Plus Bulbs stands out with over 1,500 trained and brand-certified technicians offering expert, in-person phone and tablet repair services .

Additionally, Batteries Plus Bulbs appeals to a wide range of customers, which further strengthens its franchise offering.

“We don’t focus on one demographic,” Sica said. “We don’t just focus on moms between the ages of 25 and 35 or dads between the ages of 40 to 60. We serve immediate needs for all of our customers and our customer service scores far exceed anyone else’s in the specialty retail index.”

The Odehs were certainly attracted to the brand’s strong franchise model.

“The brand has a very strong value offering with the three different types of services between batteries, bulbs and phone repair,” Tarick said. “In addition, the B2B side was another appealing reason, and one that we felt we could do very well with.”

Ideal franchisees

Sica noted that people with previous business management experience typically make the best Batteries Plus Bulbs franchisees.

“These are people who aren’t learning how to run a P&L for the first time,” Sica said. “They understand the economy of scale and have the business acumen to make the investments that will drive sales. Those people are infinitely more successful when it comes to owning a franchise.”

Of course, a Batteries Plus Bulbs franchisee should also be obsessed with providing nothing short of the best possible customer service.

“The biggest determiner of success, beyond having business acumen and P&L knowledge, is the sales ability,” Sica said. “ Franchisees with previous commercial sales experience who have had that direct customer interaction will thrive at Batteries Plus Bulbs.”

For this reason, Sica and the Batteries Plus Bulbs leadership team are thrilled to have the Odehs on board.

“They know the importance of hiring, training, retaining and developing people,” Sica said. “That’s a big deal in the retail business, especially in the age of online purchasing and price competition. Customer service is the differentiator for any retail brand and the reason customers come back, which is why we’re excited for Ibrahim and Tarick to help us further our mission.”

With a strong franchise offering and an established and successful presence, Batteries Plus Bulbs is ready to further penetrate the North Carolina market.