The current economic recession is good for at least one industry.
Sparks fly as a technician rebuilds an 18–volt power pack at the Interstate All Battery Center.
According to the owner, the battery repair business is growing 8–to–12–percent each month over the last year at this Peoria store.
The juice in business is being powered by a growing number of customers like Marvin Smith. Smith is paying to have two cordless drill batteries refurbished for the same price as a single brand new replacement.
"Everybody is trying to save a dollar here and there and I used these a lot around the house. For me saving 100–dollars is 100–dollars," said Smith.
This store is creating another customer service position because of the growing demand. Car batteries are also a hot seller.
On top of the cold snap we've endured this winter, which has increased sales, consumers are holding onto their old cars and not buying new. Eventually the car battery needs to be replaced.
"There are a lot of auto parts places and places like us that are really benefiting from people wanting to keep things longer. They (customer) want to actually replace, re–build, or re–fix what they've got instead of buying new," said Jake Hagerdoven, Manager of Interstate All Battery Center.
This Peoria store has more than 13–thousand batteries in stock, including cell phone replacement batteries for models discontinued years ago.
The average household relies on 23 batteries each and every day to function. So even when the economy turns around, the battery business looks like it will hold onto its' growing charge.
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