Store owner finds powerful niche
KnoxNews.com - January 20, 2010
Hugh Willett

It's a wireless world and that means a lot of the things we use every day run on batteries.

Have you ever tried to replace a battery in a garage door opener, a hearing aid or some other electronic device and found that it wasn't as easy as it looks?

Most folks know how to change a battery in their smoke detector or flashlight, but there are some devices that are harder to service.
Some batteries, especially the coin-type batteries, look the same as others but they're actually different, according Kevin Bailey, store manager at Batteries Plus in Knoxville.

Batteries Plus has been located in the same spot on Peters Road across the street from Dick's Sporting Goods for the past 10 years. The store primarily sells batteries, but it also dabbles in battery chargers, battery accessories and high quality flashlights.

It seems kind of strange that a store would only sell batteries, until you walk inside and see how many types of batteries they sell.
The store's owner, Todd Williams, also operates two other Batteries Plus stores in Chattanooga, so you could say he's pretty sold on the concept.

Williams says his store stocks hundreds of different types of batteries for cell phones, laptop computers, car keys, home alarm systems and cordless razors.

A lot of people will throw out these devices when the batteries go bad, but Williams says his store can provide replacements at a fraction of the cost of ordering a new battery or buying a new device.

"If we don't have the exact replacement in stock we can make one in our tech center," he said.

The store offers a great deal on replacement batteries for watches. Most watch batteries cost less than $10. For $11.99, you can get a lifetime watch battery replacement, he said.

Winter is a time when car batteries often go bad. Batteries Plus has a complete selection of car batteries designed to fit just about any type of vehicle. High performance and heavy duty batteries are available for special applications.

"We'll test your car battery for free and provide installation of a new battery," Williams said.

There are a number of pieces of home, lawn and garden equipment that require heavy duty batteries. Often these batteries go bad because they are sitting unused all winter. In addition to a replacement battery, homeowners might consider buying a trickle charger to keep the batteries fully charged through the winter.

Mobility devices such as electric wheelchairs and Scooters require heavy duty batteries for optimum performance. Batteries Plus sells and services the batteries and charging systems used in these vehicles, Williams said.

Hugh G. Willett is a freelance contributor to the News Sentinel.