Batteries Plus Bulbs Opens 42 New Stores in 2014, Experiences Dramatic Boost in Light Bulb Sales .

Hartland, WI The nation's increased dependency on smart phones, tablets and other technologies, coupled with the greater demand for energy-efficient lighting, have paved the way for another banner year for the nation's largest and fastest-growing battery and light bulb franchise.

Closing out 2014 with a 74 percent increase in overall light bulb sales, including a 138 percent increase in LED lighting sales, Batteries Plus Bulbs is continuing its reign as the undisputed leader in the marketplace, serving the battery and lighting needs of consumers as well as major entities such as hospitals, hotel chains, police and fire departments and colleges and universities. The prolific franchise opened another 42 new stores this past year, bringing its total number of units to over 640, with plans to open 50 more in 2015. Due to continued store growth, the company expanded its corporate headcount by 10 percent in 2014, for a total of over 550 employees, and will continue hiring for a variety of corporate positions to support franchise location growth in 2015.

"We've continued to strengthen our market share over the past year among both retail and business customers by keeping a close watch on the industry and staying ahead of trends," said John Twist, Vice President of Franchise and Business Development at Batteries Plus Bulbs, when commenting on the company's system sales increase of nearly 8.5 percent in 2014. "We've incorporated new products and services into our business model, including smartphone and tablet repairs, that have helped keep our brand relevant and will help set up our franchisees for longstanding growth."

In addition, Batteries Plus Bulbs launched the California Development Incentive Program to encourage franchise growth in California. The initiative helps new franchise owners quickly ramp up sales and manage cash flow by providing rent subsidies and covering a significant share of their grand opening advertising and marketing costs. As a result, Batteries Plus Bulbs plans to open eight new stores in California in 2015 and continues to nurture upcoming deals throughout the state.

Also contributing to growth was the introduction of device repair services, now available at over 620 locations nationwide. With on-site repairs for Apple^® and most Samsung^® devices, the franchise provides a wide array of services, including battery replacements, cracked screen, charge port, button and antenna repair, among others.

The company is continuing to target rapid expansion in 2015 with the goal of executing franchise agreements to open 55 future stores. Batteries Plus Bulbs has open franchise territories nationwide and is focusing its development efforts in Southern California, New York and the Mid-Atlantic. Among its many accolades in 2014, Batteries Plus Bulbs was named as the #4 best franchise in America by Forbes^® magazine in its mid-range investment category and was featured in Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500^® list for the twentieth consecutive year.