Shop carries vast array of batteries
by Anne Fitten Glenn, CITIZEN-TIMES CORRESPONDENT
published October 29, 2007

ASHEVILLE - Need batteries for your cell phone, laptop, car, flashlight, portable radio or all of the above? You can find those and more at the Batteries Plus store on Hendersonville Road.

Chuck and Helen Snyder purchased franchise rights to a Batteries Plus store when they were living in Wisconsin, where the retail chain is headquartered. Chuck Snyder grew up in Greenville, S.C., and spent time in Asheville as a child. When he saw that there was an opening for a Batteries Plus store in this area, he and his wife jumped at the chance to move.

The store first opened five years ago on Hendersonville Road near Biltmore Village. On Oct. 1, the Snyders moved the store next to the new Ingles Market near the intersections of Hendersonville and Mills Gap Roads, where there's more parking. Chuck Snyder now serves as general manager of the business, and his wife works as an office assistant at UNC Asheville.

Batteries Plus carries around 750 different types of batteries, everything from batteries for hearing aids to batteries for bulldozers, according to Chuck Snyder. He and his employees have access to more than 12,000 kinds of batteries.

"It's amazing how dependent we are on portable power and battery backup. Our cell phones, laptops, cameras, iPods - all need battery power," Snyder said.

If the store doesn't carry and can't order the battery you need, employees can build it in their on-site technical center. Snyder said he often rebuilds batteries for cordless tools and appliances and custom builds battery packs for commercial clients.

The store also sells bulk batteries to commercial businesses and can deliver if needed. Givens Estate, Ingles Markets, the Grove Park Inn and the Biltmore Estate are just a few of the local businesses taking advantage of these services.

Ed Fiantaca's business, Accurate Technology in Fletcher, has been a Batteries Plus client for three years.

"We were having batteries shipped in, but Chuck came in and worked with me on pricing and offered to deliver batteries to my door, which made it doubly advantageous," Fiantaca said.

Now Snyder visits Accurate Technology's manufacturing plant weekly to check battery levels and replace them as needed.

"He understands what we're doing. I wish I had 10 more vendors like him," Fiantaca said.

The store's best-selling batteries include those for cell phones - Snyder carries 100 different types. Other best-sellers are batteries for iPods and other digital music players.

Snyder notes that many businesses, such as Radio Shack, Circuit City and Home Depot, refer customers to Batteries Plus if those stores don't have the batteries they need.

"What we hear from customers is that other businesses tell them that if we don't have the right battery, no one else will," Snyder said.

Another aspect of the business is a "battery school" that the national organization runs for franchisees at their Wisconsin offices. "We try to educate our customers as to how to care for their batteries so they last longer," Snyder said. "I didn't know a lot of this until I went to battery school."

Batteries Plus accepts lead-based batteries for recycling, although they're unable to recycle regular alkaline-based ones. The business also offers home service calls to install batteries in medical equipment such as wheel chairs.

Batteries Plus is a national retail chain that currently has 300 independently owned and operated store locations in 40 states and Puerto Rico. Additional stores are in development.