"Meet your BBB Members: The Battery Center"
The Battery Center in Dubuque, Iowa, has found its niche in the market place with its resale and wholesale of batteries. Ten years ago the business had modest beginnings in a home garage and delivered batteries via a truck route. Since then Wayne Holt, President, has zeroed in on marketing to offer service to businesses, dealers and walk-in customers."We provide quality merchandise, numerous services and we don't sell our customers a battery unless they really need one," said Holt.
The company employs three full-time people and a part-time secretarial staff. "Each month we turn over our inventory in the warehouse," said Holt. "Our business is diverse. We sell lead acid storage batteries for all kinds of equipment ranging from cars, trucks, RVs, boats, garden tractors, and farm equipment to highway construction equipment. We sell to businesses such as marinas, construction, many cities and towns, John Deere (and other large manufacturers), offices, vehicle fleets and many others."
Environmental concerns are high among Holt's priorities. "Batteries are a corrosive material, and we strictly adhere to the EPA's mandates that any company that sells batteries must be responsible for proper disposal and safety. A few years ago the recycle rate was about 84%, but now its 99%."
The company's efforts in proper toxic waste disposal were recognized by the City of Dubuque which placed The Battery Center on the Dubuque Honor Roll. Over 411,000 pounds of batteries or nine semi-loads were safely and properly recycled in 1995.
"Our customers expect and receive honesty and integrity at our store which in turn builds our business reputation. As an experiment, we stopped all paid advertising for about nine months and our business has grown more than last year." The Battery Center has been a member of the Better Business Bureau since 1993.
If you're like most people, when you think of batteries, two types spring to mind - car and flashlight. The Battery Center on Highway 20 in Dubuque, Iowa, is the largest battery depot in the Tri-States. "Batteries are our only business," said owner Wayne Holt. "A lot of places sell batteries, but we pride ourselves on being able to tell you about them. We know our batteries."
A graduate of Brigham Young University with a degree in marketing management, Holt keeps his finger on the competition at all times. "I am solely responsible for the success or failure of this business. I consistantly check to see what the competition is doing and then do something else."
In addition to conventional types, like car, truck and motorcycle, The Battery Center carries specialty batteries for boats, commercial uses, like floor scrubbers, even computer back-up.
Holt says he is expanding his line to include emergency lighting batteries and accessories. He is also able to make custom-made cables.
Holt started his business in his garage with 400 batteries and a truck, making deliveries to service stations within a 60 mile radius. As business grew, he relocated, built an office and opened The Battery Center. "It's tough competing with the major discount stores. I can't say we have the cheapest batteries in town. But I can say we'll give you the highest quality product and service for lower prices. You'll always buy better at The Battery Center."
"Leave a Message at the Mall" will be the theme of Kennedy Mall's Earth Days, a celebration of the 22nd anniversary of Earth Day in Dubuque today and Sunday. .....The Finley Hospital will high-light its in-house recycling procedures and The Battery Center will provide information about how to recycle batteries.
Dubuque County residents who particapted in the city's Toxic Cleanup Day did the right thing, organizers said today. Last month's cleanup day was the first in six years in Dubuque County. About 880 people brought 26,800 pounds of household hazardous waste, including ......80 lead acid batteries handled by The Battery Center.
Members selected for the 1996 Dubuque County Environmental Honor Roll were honored recently....Business organizations named to the honor roll are:........The Battery Center-recycled more than nine semi-tractor trailer loads of batteries in 1995, education programs on safe battery use and disposal, staff for several Toxic Cleanup Days, and accepting lead-acid batteries for recycling.