Batteries Plus Bulbs Is Powering Franchise Development In New York State

Since the brand began franchising in 1992, Batteries Plus Bulbs has grown to an impressive 750-plus units nationwide, due in large part to an offering that taps into the $32 billion battery and $22 billion bulb industries in the United States. Thanks to an offering of in-demand tablet and smartphone repair services, such as cracked screen and battery replacements, and an extensive line of premium battery products that cover applications ranging from cell phones to military equipment to construction devices, the brand has continued to add units in a changing retail landscape.

With such a constantly evolving selection of products and services designed to meet immediate needs, it’s no wonder Batteries Plus Bulbs has seen success. Bolstered by recent corporate store openings in Schenectady and Latham , and an opening this summer in Albany, the brand is preparing to increase its New York footprint with the capacity to add 55 more stores throughout the state, bringing up to 300 new jobs.

New York Expansion Plans

Vice President of Field Operations and Corporate Stores for Batteries Plus Bulbs Derek Siddons said that the brand is excited to expand from its base of five stores.

“We plan to utilize consultants to leverage B2B business and build local partnerships, and we’re excited to go into a big market like Albany with three stores in a short period of time,” said Siddons.

For franchisees that purchase a territory in New York, the brand is offering a savings program of $2,500/month for 18 months ($45,000) for a limited time.

Dana Polonsky, Director of Real Estate for Batteries Plus Bulbs, said that the brand identified New York due to the market’s alignment with the brand’s target audience.

Target Market Selection

“We chose New York for its multifaceted match to our preferred demographic profile,” Polonsky explained. “Our stores work best when they can fire on all three cylinders: retail, service and commercial sales. Our targets in New York offer a good mix of retail trade, median household income and a business population.

Albany posed a unique opportunity for us as a 30-year-old brand in that [the market] had not yet been penetrated by other any franchisees and was the right size for us as corporate to roll the brand out confidently. We have an established national reputation and there is a high demand for our level of products and services.

In addition to Albany, the rest of New York has plenty of room for Batteries Plus Bulbs to grow. Elsewhere in the state, Batteries Plus Bulbs’ corporate leadership team is targeting Watertown, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Utica, Saratoga Springs, Plattsburgh, Poughkeepsie, Middletown, Nyack, Binghamton, Ithaca, Elmira, Jamestown, Oneonta, Kingston, Newburgh/Fishkills, New Rochelle, Yonkers and Long Island. Polonsky’s team is currently sourcing prime real estate.

Competitive Differentiation

Polonsky pointed out that Batteries Plus Bulbs’ points of differentiation including leading services, industry-leading training, and an offering that caters to both specialty and commercial consumers significantly set the brand apart from competitors .

“We offer a wide variety of batteries and light bulbs for every kind of household, commercial, automotive, marine and specialty need,” Polonsky said. “Furthermore, our services for device repair is one of the best in the country; our staff goes through extensive training on various pieces of personal devices; and our ability to service commercial customers is unlike any other specialty concept.”

Katie LaTour is a staff writer for 1851 Franchise and Estatenvy. She has experience in copywriting, editing and translation, and has written content for brands including Coca-Cola, Ivivva and Ray Ban's. She holds a Master of Arts in Writing and Publishing from DePaul University and a B.A. in English and Spanish from the University of Dayton. Presently, Katie is working on a poetry collection and building a platform for Chicago creative professionals to share best practices.