Entrepreneurs Prevail in Downturn
Jan. 22nd, 2009
By Chuck Hagee/Gazette Packet

The economy may be in a tailspin and unemployment may be reaching heights not seen in decades, but the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Alexandria. This applies to new enterprises, expanding ones, and those transitioning to new owners.

In the new enterprise category is BatteriesPlus which opened at the beginning of December in the Bradlee Shopping Center. No matter what type of battery is needed BatteriesPlus has it. And, if they don't or can't get it, they can build it.

"We carry batteries for everything from cell phones to vehicle batteries. And, we can custom build batteries for what ever use is needed," said Aileen Mitchell, who, along with her husband, Jason Mitchell, is the owner of the store at 3690-D King St. BatteriesPlus is a franchise operation based in Heartland, Wisc. They have 340 stores nationwide.

This is the Mitchell's second store in Northern Virginia. Their other location is 11213-G Lee Highway, Fairfax, which they opened three years ago. "We got into this business because of our children," she said.

"We were looking for what we considered a common battery for a toy our son got for Christmas and we couldn't find it anywhere. My husband was on the phone to a friend complaining about not being able to find the battery and he told us about BatteriesPlus," Mitchell said.

THEIR NEWEST STORE is like a homecoming for the Mitchells. "When we were first married we lived in Farlington, just across King Street from this store. Now we live in Clinton, Virginia," she said.

Both stores are open seven days a week. The Alexandria location operates Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

Although they sell a variety of brands, both retail and commercial, the company brand is known as Werker. In addition to selling batteries they also do test charges, building of batteries, and recycling batteries.

"We do recycling of all batteries including alkaline. We have recycling bins with plastic bags that we will drop off and pick up at businesses, churches, schools and other locations," she said. There is also a recycle bin just inside the store's front door for customers to deposit spent batteries.

They also service batteries and do checkups on battery chargers. "Often people think the problem is with the battery when it's actually with the recharge unit. They have a life span also," Mitchell said.