Batteries Plus put a creative spin on a classic franchising convention this year by reimagining the event as PlusCon, which included collaborative workshops, thought-provoking speakers, and the conclusion of its first Plus Games. In order to increase franchisee participation in training and sales targets through friendly competition, the Plus Games were created as a year-long program that would eventually improve store performance and team knowledge.
Redefining a Convention
Although many franchisors have their own annual franchising convention to inspire their owners, PlusCon used a novel strategy by creating the Plus Games, which generated anticipation and promoted franchisee involvement long in advance of the event.
“We knew we had to break the mold of a typical franchise convention and spark some new excitement within our system, so we sought out an opportunity to shake things up and give our owners something different to look forward to attending,” stated Joe Malmuth, Chief Development Officer for Batteries Plus. “The result was franchisee and store engagement even beyond anything we expected. We’re proud of our owners for their dedication to this new competition and we’re incredibly grateful to all our corporate team for helping bring our vision to life.”
PlusCon also fostered relationships and cooperation among franchisees by holding a lively general session and breakout sessions that provided insightful information on successful tactics. At PlusCon, officials from Batteries Plus also revealed a new branding campaign called Experts In Charge, which aims to highlight the wide range of knowledge store owners and associates provide to customers and organizations looking for power solutions.
The Final Four of the Plus Games Finale
The Final Four shop owners fought to the end during the brand’s PlusCon in Las Vegas, which brought the Plus Games to a head since its November introduction. After outperforming 294 other franchise stores during the tournament, Frank Meier and his staff at the Batteries Plus store in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, were ultimately declared the winners of the first Plus Games. Last year, Richard and Kelli Epps and their business colleagues from Largo/Spring Hill, Florida, came in second.
Competition by the Numbers
The Plus Games not only saw a healthy competition amongst owners determined to push boundaries and further their success, but they also resulted in a noticeable difference in sales across the franchise system. During the games, stores were evaluated on performance across key metrics, including key fob sales, flashlight sales, and total sales. The top three quartile stores saw a median total sales growth of 5.9-7.4% between November 2024 and January 2025, compared to the same period the previous year. Stores in the top quartile also saw a 12.3% median increase in key fob sales during the Plus Games, compared to the same time in the previous year.
“We had a vision to redefine what you could achieve with a franchise convention, and we knocked it out of the park,” stated Jon Sica, Chief Operating Officer for Batteries Plus. “The Plus Games lit a fire across our system, and the resulting sales lift we witnessed across our top-performing stores is a testament to what’s possible with a motivated, aligned, and focused franchise system.”
By providing unrivaled value to both consumers and companies, Batteries Plus, which has almost 40 years of operating expertise and more than 800 locations open or in construction, continues to lead the specialized battery market.
Electrify your feed! Click here to join our Whatsapp group and to get the latest updates, expert insights, and innovations driving India’s energy storage revolution.
