POWER SUPPLY
Lee's Summit man opens battery story in Lee's Summit
By Miranda Wycoff
The Journal Staff

For many people the phrase "battery store" doesn't evoke a lot of emotion.

"When you first hear about a battery store you think, 'So what,'" said Steve Gordon, owner of a Batteries Plus location at 1455 N.E. Douglas in Lee's Summit.

But Gordon said this battery store is much more than meets the eye.

Batteries Plus in Lee's Summit, which opened its doors on Monday, Sept. 17, is an independently owned and operated store in the Batteries Plus franchise.

Gordon said Batteries Plus offers "just about any kind of battery you could need or want," including those for cell phones, cameras, camcorders, motorcycles, motorized scooters and cars. And if they don't have the exact battery needed, they can either order it or rebuild a battery pack.

Gordon opened a Batteries Plus store in Lee's Summit after deciding he wasn't quite ready for retirement.
"It was a perfect opportunity for me and a great opportunity for my son," Gordon said.

His son, Jimmy Gordon, recently graduated with a business degree from Avila University and will be the store's manager.

Steve and Jimmy Gordon spent almost a month in training and learning about batteries and the franchise itself. And they say that's what makes Batteries Plus different than other retailers.

"It starts with product knowledge," Steve Gordon said.

He said he doubts any other retailer would be able to answer specific questions about a battery-operated device, battery or why a new battery is needed or not needed.

"This is all we care about," Steve Gordon said referring to batteries. "If you think you need a new battery in a watch, we can look at it for you and tell you why you need it or why you don't."

"That's where knowledge turns into service for the customers," he said.

He said they can tell customers how to get the most out of their batteries, and those suggestions may not be as common knowledge as one might think.

"A lot of people keep their cordless phone on their charger," Steve Gordon said. "But that may not be the best for the battery life."

And according to an information card Batteries Plus gives customers on how to improve battery life, if the battery is made of nickel cadmium, like those used in two-way radios, cordless tools, phones and razors, it shouldn't be stored on the charger.

"It's the little extra things we try do for our customers," Steve Gordon said.

Batteries Plus also will replace watch batteries and cells in battery packs for items like cordless drills, razors and handheld vacuums.
"We can build custom battery packs," Steve Gordon said. "I don't know of anyone else who can do that, either."

Steve Gordon said his previous business, Allied Office Solutions, was known for service, and he has brought the same customer service values and philosophy to the Batteries Plus store.

"If I can do it for a customer, I'll do it," Steve Gordon said. "I'm in this for the long haul."

And as for the store's potential long haul, Steve Gordon said Batteries Plus has "a tremendous future ahead of it."

"Who do you know who doesn't need batteries?" he said.