Local Veteran Finds Entrepreneurial Success in Battery and Lighting Franchise Ownership

A Focus on Veteran Entrepreneurs

With Veteran’s Day upon us, it’s a great time to recognize the accomplishments of former U.S. military personnel across the country. For example, upon completing service in the military, many veterans have found success in opening their own business. In fact, they are at least 45 percent more likely to take the plunge into entrepreneurship than civilians with no active-duty military experience. Opening a store or business is one way that many veterans are able to use their discipline, organization, attention to detail, risk-tolerance, leadership and other specialized, acquired skills.

Bates Kennedy, someone in our own backyard, is one of these veterans who has leveraged his military experience for a professional advantage. Kennedy was drafted into the Army after college, in the fall of 1969, toward the end of the Vietnam War. Fortunately, with the war coming to an end around this time, he was not subjected to combat on the front lines. Instead, he conducted and planned artillery trainings as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) while stationed in Augsburg, Germany for one year.

Though he recalls not knowing what to expect when arriving in Europe, Kennedy recalls his days in Germany as some of his fondest memories. “Aside from being away for Christmas, it was an amazing experience,” he shares.

Upon leaving Germany, Kennedy was stationed in both Missouri and Oklahoma. After two years of service in the Army as a sergeant, he worked in banking for four years and textile sales for 25 years (running his own textile business for 16 of those years), before opening up his own Batteries Plus Bulbs franchise in 1996.

Kennedy considers the Army a great training program for fiscal and emotional maturity, and he attributes much of his business acumen and penchant for building relationships to his time in the service. “Being a small business owner, I use the interpersonal skills I learned in the Army every day,” he says. “In the Army, you are involved with all types of people, all over the world. It really teaches you when to talk and when to listen.”

Now Kennedy is a successful co-owner of 10 Batteries Plus Bulbs franchise locations employing four veterans in middle management. He encourages veterans to apply for jobs at all of his stores as he believes vets often make great employees and managers.

When asked what advice he would give to someone looking for a job after the service, Kennedy says, “That’s easy. Put on your shoes, socks and a clean shirt, and go after the job. Act the part and you’ll be more successful than you think. If you can be a success in the Army, you can be a success at just about anything.”

Bates Kennedy’s Batteries Plus Bulbs locations can be found throughout South Carolina, including two stores in Columbia, along with one store in Savannah, GA.

Batteries Plus Bulbs, the nation’s first, largest and fastest-growing battery and light bulb franchise, has more than 630 locations nationwide and in Puerto Rico. It continues to be one of the key franchises in supporting successful vets looking to own their own business. In fact, nearly 10% of its franchise locations are veteran-owned.  Batteries Plus Bulbs:

• Has 23 veteran franchise owners representing more than 55 stores
• Is a proud member of Vetfran, a national program created by the International Franchise Association (IFA) to help military veterans become franchise owners
• Provides qualified veterans with a $10,000 discount off their franchise fee when they purchase a franchise
• Was recently named one of the top franchises for veterans by Military Times and Entrepreneur® Magazine

For more information on Batteries Plus Bulb’s support of veterans and franchise opportunities, visit http://www.batteriesplus.com/franchising/investment.aspx