A growing retailer is looking to expand in Hartford, citing New England’s harsh winters
New England’s cold winters are chasing some residents away, but they’re a draw for a national franchise retail chain looking to open 10 or more stores in Hartford in the next few years as demand rises for stored energy.
Batteries Plus, a repair franchise and retailer of batteries, light bulbs and key fobs, has announced nationwide expansion plans. The business, founded in 1988 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, now counts more than 700 stores.
Batteries Plus signed 88 franchise agreements in 2021, capitalizing on the pandemic that prompted a rise in home improvements and forced more people to stay home. Its goal is to add 60 by the end of 2022.
New England’s harsh winters and the need for backup generators and batteries were cited by Batteries Plus as a reason it’s looking to expand in Hartford.
The average U.S. household has about 28 battery-powered devices and 61 light bulb sockets, powering demand for Batteries Plus services and products, the company said.
Batteries Plus is seeking qualified single-unit and multi-unit franchisees interested in scalable growth or a stable, predictable and secure franchise. The investment to open a Batteries Plus is between $222,000 and $424,000.
Batteries Plus also is looking to expand with 10 sites each in Dallas and San Bernardino County, California.
