For more than three decades, Bernie Perryman worked in the beer industry. A distributor for Anheuser-Busch, she enjoyed success with the American-based brewing company, but after some restructuring in 2016, Perryman sought new opportunities. That’s when she discovered Batteries Plus. By Jessica Jones

For more than three decades, Bernie Perryman worked in the beer industry. A distributor for Anheuser-Busch, she enjoyed success with the American-based brewing company, but after some restructuring in 2016, Perryman sought new opportunities. That’s when she discovered Batteries Plus.

“I fell in love with this company right away,” Perryman noted, describing her discovery day process during which she formed a strong connection with the brand. “From day one, I could see just how involved and dedicated this company was.”

Referred by friends who were retiring from the company and suggested she take over their Minnesota stores, Perryman says her past professional experiences prepared her for this role.

“In a way, Anheuser-Busch was sort of like a franchise – they were my parent company and helped guide me – so I really feel my decades with that company prepared me to work with Batteries Plus,” Perryman said. “Today, I run a company with great team members and have the support of this wonderful corporation. With Batteries Plus, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. They provide you with everything from products to advertising – you just have to conduct your model accordingly.”

Batteries Plus, the nation’s largest and fastest-growing battery, light bulb, and smartphone/tablet repair franchise with a nationwide network of stores, offers access to more than 60,000 types of batteries, light bulbs, and accessories. Since launching in 1988, the business has grown rapidly over the past 30 years, thanks to an increased demand for specialty and replacement batteries and a staff of employees who can recommend and locate the right products.

“My team here is everything,” Perryman said. “Our stores are always in the top 10, and it’s because of their dedication.”

And while that dedication was tested by the recent global pandemic, Perryman said her team persevered.

“We were deemed an essential business from the start, so we immediately pivoted and adapted,” Perryman said. “We followed all of the rules for masks and social distancing, installed the plexiglass, even developed a model for curbside service. Since we are a smaller boutique store, I think customers felt more comfortable coming to us rather than the big box corporations. We had the product and the support, so we just kept going.”

Perryman’s St. Cloud store, which has been in business for 27 years, is consistently among the company’s top 10 performers, a stat which the franchise owner credits to the unwavering support she receives from corporate.

“When something good happens in the store, you get a personal call or an email from Scott Williams,” Perryman said, detailing her interactions with the company CEO. “That’s uplifting. And our store, which is 27 years old and in need of a facelift, is currently slated to get one, courtesy of Batteries Plus. If I owned my own small independent battery store, that would not be possible.”

Perryman, who also owns a store across town in Sauk Rapids, is assisted in her franchise’s daily operations by her husband, Keith Ulrick.

“We are a one-two punch,” she said. “Keith’s the one who takes my team on fishing trips to celebrate a personal or professional milestone.”

And Perryman says it’s that camaraderie that makes her franchises a success.

“I know I’m responsible for all of these individuals – not only for their salaries and living expenses, but for their families too,” Perryman said. “So we’ve built a culture here that connects us beyond the store. We celebrate the birthdays, engagements, and new babies – all of those milestone moments, both good and bad.”

The support is a two-way street. When Perryman was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, her staff stepped in to help throughout her treatment. They even wore specially designed bracelets with “Bernie Strong” embroidered in Batteries Plus colors during the nine months of her chemotherapy.

“We are family,” Perryman concluded. “We support one another and genuinely enjoy coming into work. That’s the philosophy that we have built here, and I think that’s why this franchise is such a success.”

For more information regarding franchise opportunities with Batteries Plus, visit batteriesplusfranchise.com.

– Jessica Jones