Fall 2012 - InterstateDealers.com

POWERFUL NEWS FOR INTERSTATE BATTERIES DEALERS
®
FALL 2012
Which came first?
interstate batteries celebrates 60 years
®
®
®
Before the Beatles® graced the Ed
Sullivan Show®, Barbie® landed in
toy chests or Coca Cola® came in
a can, John Searcy loaded up his
Studebaker truck to change the
world of car batteries. In 1952,
the world was introduced to
Interstate Batteries®.
Nearly 60 years later, our
Outrageously Dependable®
service is renowned in the
industry and on its way to
becoming a household name.
From satisfied customers with
12-year-old batteries to our
newest automotive battery with
top-of-the-line performance –
we dedicate this issue to our
legacy of long life.
Which came first? Interstate
Batteries, of course.
What Year Was That?
(clockwise from the top)
Corvette® – 1953
The Moon Landing – 1969
Transistor Radios – 1953
The Twist – 1958
The Beatles – 1960
Bonanza® – 1959
Barbie – 1959
Interstate Batteries – 1952
More miles For “Chookie”
Californian Linda Hansen calls her classic 1967
Chevy Camaro “Chookie” for the “chook-chookchook” sound it made in the early years. As the
original owner, Linda’s kept Chookie well cared
for, maintaining logbooks all these years.
When Chookie’s battery retired in April 2012,
she discovered she had the Interstate battery
installed in July 2000, more than 100,000
miles ago. Chookie got a little more than Linda
bargained for.
“Twelve whole years of faithful service – you
sure can’t do better than that!” Linda emailed
Interstate Batteries.
Keep on trucking, Chookie. We’ll see you in
another 100,000.
Linda Hansen kept a detailed service record for
her Camaro “Chookie.”
Linda and Chookie have had a long-running
relationship powered by Interstate Batteries.
(Photos: Linda Hansen)
2 / FALL 2012 / CURRENT / interstatebatteries.com
BUILD TRUST AND LOYALTY
with our proven programs
For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in
Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:40
Long Life
Performance For information about how you can find Jesus’ unconditional love,
contact Interstate Chaplain Henry Rogers at [email protected].
®
Interstate Batteries
12770 Merit Drive / Suite 1000 / Dallas, TX 75251-1292
800.541.8419 / [email protected]
Know someone looking to power their career?
Refer a friend to interstatebatteries.com/careers
and the Performance
Warranty deliver the
dependability and
peace of mind your
customers want.
CURRENT | FALL 2012
Carlos Sepulveda / President & CEO
Jane Koenecke / VP of Creative Communications & Events
Alan Vuckovich / Director of Advertising
Al Hurlebaus / Director of Communications & eCommerce
Carrie Clark / Manager of Communications
James Pecht / Senior Communications Specialist
Shayla Jenkins / Communications Specialist
Julie Shultz / Communications Specialist
Youssef Sleiman / Communications Specialist
Susan Budilovsky / Copy Editor
Brenda Lyon / Art Director
Elaine Cox / Print Production Manager
Anita Bryan / Studio Artist
Jon Simkins / Photographer
Joel Ritch / Visual Specialist
Proactive
Testing Programs help you build
RD
GR
EE
®
exceeds government regulations and
delivers industry-leading best practices.
ATE BATT
ST
IES
ER
The Green Standard recycling program
INTER
trust by catching problems for your
customers before they start.
N S TA N D A
POP highlights the benefits
of our exclusive partnership with
professional installers like you.
WIN A NASCAR WEEKEND
Tell us what you think about our proven programs
by completing a brief survey on
interstatedealers.com.
You could win an all-expenses
paid NASCAR weekend for
two or one of more than
150 gift cards!
CATCH US IN THE ACT
If your Interstate Route Sales Manager or
Distributor employee does something above
and beyond, tell us! You could win a $500
gift card if your Outrageously Dependable story is chosen
for publication.
For details and to enter, go to interstatedealers.com.
2Interstate Batteries Celebrates 60 Years
3
More Miles for “Chookie”
Build Trust and Loyalty with Our Proven Programs
Creates Customer Loyalty &
4ED-18
Battery Sales
Train Your Battery Brains
5Positive Performance
6 The Green Standard
31-AGM7 For Whatever You 7
Want to Power
8High-Tech Design for High-Tech Lives
New Technology Hits One out of
9
the Park
10
The Buzz off the Track
Edwards Wins Closest Final in
NHRA History
12
Tech Talk: Battery Life in
Various Climates
13Our Batteries Beat the Climate
to Our Route Sales
14Congratulations
Managers of the Year
15Warranty Drawing Winner Announced
Morning Commute Hero
©2012 Interstate Battery System International, Inc. Printed in the USA.
Joey Logano™, #20®, The Home Depot®, Denny Hamlin®, #11®, FedEx®, Kyle
Busch®, #18® and M&M’s® licensed under authority of Joe Gibbs Racing,
Huntersville, N.C. Toyota trademarks used with permission. All other trademarks
and copyrights are property of their respective owners.
Racing photography: autostockimages.com; autoimagery.com.
No part of the CURRENT may be reproduced or duplicated in any manner without
prior express written consent. Printed in the USA.
interstatebatteries.com / CURRENT / FALL
/ FALL2012 / 2012 / 3
3
ED-18 Creates
®
Customer
Loyalty &
Battery Sales
The Interstate Batteries ED-183
battery analyzer is proving its
worth by giving consumers
peace of mind and creating
increased battery sales.
Within mere minutes, the test
determines whether a battery is
good, needs charging or needs
replacement. The printout easily
displays the test results so the
customer can make an informed
battery decision, creating
customer loyalty for you. The
The ED-183 gives customers the
information THEY NEED
for greater peace of mind.
customer will know how their
battery will hold up, giving them
the information they need.
And, if you wonder whether the
ED-183 can make a difference in
your bottom line, check out what
Interstate Batteries Distributor
Jim Kenny did to test out the
analyzers with Dealers in his
market in South Carolina. Jim
conducted a 90-day test with 27
ED-183 battery analyzers at local
Dealer shops, which didn’t have
a current preventive battery
testing program. After the test
period, he found the ED-183
had increased battery sales for
these Dealers 29.4% on average
year-over-year.
Train
Your
Battery
Brains
4 / FALL 2012 / CURRENT / interstatebatteries.com
After the test period...
the ED-183 had
increased battery sales
for these Dealers
29.4%
year-over-year.
Discover the true value of the
ED-183 battery tester for yourself. Contact your Distributor
today to find out how you can
build customer loyalty and
increase your bottom line.
Interstate’s new training course,
available online, is designed to offer
Dealers a hands-on tutorial for battery
safety, load testers, ED-183 battery
analyzer and changing a battery.
These simulations give today’s techs
a virtual experience in the basics of
batteries.
Visit interstatedealers.com
and click on the “Battery & ED-183
Training Course” banner to try it out.
For those without Internet access,
ask your Distributor to order the free
course on CD, under Part No. 800003,
from the Distribution Center.
Positive
Performance
After entering the market
earlier this year, the new
Performance Warranty
received overwhelmingly
positive responses from
Dealers across North America.
In May, Interstate Batteries
introduced the new warranty
– a free replacement period
followed by easy-to-calculate, stair-stepped discount
periods. Distributorships and
Route Sales Managers began
communicating the warranty
as early as April to prepare
Dealers for the differences.
Many of the comments
showed positive responses to
the new warranty’s benefits:
“I love the stair-stepped
discount period. And that
there are NO calculations,”
“Simple and easy to explain
to my customers,” and
“Thank you – you’ve made it
CUSTOMER FRIENDLY.”
100%
45%
Interstate Batteries of
Savannah General Manager
Corey Kessler also heard feedback from 200 Dealers, and in
general, he said, “They love
it. We’re the only one who’s
really offering a 5- or 6-year
warranty now.”
His Dealers especially like
having the price sheet available to figure warranty
adjustments. The new
Performance Warranty has
been so simple to explain to
Dealers that, as Corey said,
“it’s been a surprise, you
know. People just seem to
understand it.”
Real Stories
.
es.
Changed Liv
iamsecond.com
Trevor Bayne, 2011 Daytona 500 Winner
Whether it’s the battery under
the hood or the warranty
covering it, Interstate’s
always Powering the Things
That Make Life Better®.
25%
10%
REPLACED
REPLACED
REPLACED
REPLACED
YEARS 1–2
YEAR 3
YEAR 4
YEAR 5
Based on the Mega-Tron® II
More than 4,300 Dealers responded
to the Performance Warranty survey.
88% liked the new warranty
and they believed their customers would also.
interstatebatteries.com / CURRENT / FALL 2012 / 5
We get you
wherever
you want to go
From the golf course
MAKING LIFE BETTER
THE Green
standard
Interstate’s proprietary lead recycling program minimizes environmental and safety risks with its enhanced:
Training
Golf Car
to the water
Our certified training program surpasses federal
guidelines.
Packing
Specially designed packaging materials and our Load
Safe™ process protect spent batteries during transport.
Tracking
Detailed inspections, record-keeping and a unique identification system carefully prepare cores for transport to
approved smelters.
Marine
to the open road
FACTS:
Interstate
collects and recycles
25 million junk batteries
per year.
Commercial & Truck
Contact your local
Interstate Batteries Distributor
to order.
6 / FALL 2012 / CURRENT / interstatebatteries.com
We’re a member
of the US Trade
Advisory Committee
regarding lead.
We’re a member of
the United Nations
International Lead Zinc
No one in the world
Advisory Group.
collects and safely returns
more spent batteries than
Interstate Batteries.
Ask your Route Sales Manager how the Green Standard
gives you a leading edge in your market.
31-AGM7
for whatever you
want to power
Interstate Batteries’ new commercial battery,
the 31-AGM7, is proving its versatility as an
Outrageously Dependable battery. With cranking
and extreme cycling – even at extreme temperatures – it really delivers. And, since it is a
nonspillable AGM battery with no gassing, it can
be used in more places. Many customers now use
it for a variety of applications, such as:
• Over-the-road Commercial Trucks
• Auxiliary Power Units (APUs)
• Global Electric Motorcars (GEM cars)
The 31-AGM7 has Pure MatrixTM power, which is
a pure, non-alloy lead combined with ultra-thin
plates. With an expected service life of twice that
of a conventional alloy AGM and three times that
of a conventional flooded battery, it’s a smart
choice for many applications.
Do you know of a unique use for the 31-AGM7? If
so, we’d love to hear about it.
Share your story with your Distributor, or send it
to us at interstatedealers.com. Who knows? You
just may see it in the next issue of the Current.
• Refrigeration Units
• Straight Trucks With Two Gas Tanks
• Lift Gates
• Large Yachts and Offshore Fishing Boats
interstatebatteries.com / CURRENT / FALL 2012 / 7
TECHNOLOGY
High-tech Design
for High-tech Lives
Meet the Interstate automotive battery
designed to tackle the power needs of a high-tech
world gone portable. The MT7 AGM cranks the
vehicle’s engine and handles the cycling demands
of cellphones, backup sensors and GPS navigators.
Specially designed for the way high accessory
vehicles and plug-in accessories tax the car
battery, the MT7 AGM features Interstate’s Pure
MatrixTM power, a 99.9% pure, non-alloy lead in
ultra-thin plates.
Arriving in markets this fall, the new battery
outperforms conventional batteries, delivering twice the life of most absorbed glass-mat
batteries and three times the life of flooded
batteries. And, as an AGM battery, the MT7 has
all the typical AGM benefits: leak-proof, vibrationresistant, maintenance-free and installable at
any angle (except upside-down). The MT7 AGM
delivers 400 cycles at 80% depth of discharge,
THE NEW MT7 AGM
AUTOMOTIVE BATTERY
ARRIVES THIS FALL.
8 / FALL 2012 / CURRENT / interstatebatteries.com
while recharging faster and self-discharging
slower than typical AGM batteries.
The MT7 AGM also sports Interstate’s longest
free-replacement warranty: 48 months. There are
other long life advantages, too.
While some batteries serve up
more starts and others deliver
deep-cycling performance, the MT7
AGM does both. This goes beyond
“dual purpose.” Available this year
in Group Sizes 34, 65 and 78, this
battery is built for high-end luxury
cars, minivans with automatic door
openers and SUVs with plug-ins
or emergency vehicles. Ever seen
a DVD player, back-up camera and
satellite radio all embedded in the
dash? That’s the kind of powerhungry vehicle the MT7 AGM
comes ready to serve.
As the new “best” in Interstate’s
lineup, the MT7 AGM is featured
prominently in the 2013 Interstate
Battery Application Guide as well
as point-of-purchase materials like
the automotive poster, the automotive banner, the automotive line
counter mat and the automotive
battery display sign, all available
from your local Interstate Batteries
Distributor.
2X
New Technology
hits one out of the park
Baseball fans may
have noticed something new when
checking the score.
In a partnership
with Major League Baseball
Advanced Media, Interstate
Batteries is sponsoring a web
series of “Interstate Batteries
Outrageously Dependable
Moments,” short videos
capturing spectacular performances at the plate.
These videos and other advertisements during pregame
shows are working to drive
new users to our improved
Dealer Locator.
By entering a location, battery
seekers can easily find a list
of Outrageously Dependable
Dealers, like you. Information
includes the Dealer location,
hours and contact numbers,
so buyers can easily reach out
to the nearest Dealer.
Got a customer worried about
being stranded on the go?
Our new mobile-friendly site
allows them to easily locate
the nearest
Dealer
and even
offers tips
regarding
seasonal
battery
care.
Interstate
Batteries
drives
customers
to you,
no matter
where the road takes them.
THE LIFE OF
CONVENTIONAL
AGM BATTERIES
interstatebatteries.com / CURRENT / FALL 2012 / 9
RACING
the BUZZ OFF THE TRACK
About midway through the
NASCAR season, a high-profile
driver makes an announcement.
Next year, he’ll drive for someone
else, likely taking on a new
number, a new make and a new
primary sponsor. But for the rest
of this season, he’ll stay put and
contend for the championship.
Welcome to NASCAR’s “Silly
Season,” a time when loyalties
are tested, rumors abound and
back-office executives can create
as many headlines as their
star drivers.
“Silly Season traditionally
describes the second half of a
racing season when drivers,
crew chiefs and sponsors change
teams,” said Jay Adamczyk,
founder of popular NASCAR
news and rumors site jayski.com.
He first heard the term in the
1970s to describe the wheeling
and dealing happening behind
the scenes in the IndyCar series.
Although IndyCar’s Silly Season
happened toward the end of the
regular season, “Silly Season
seems to have expanded into
a yearlong, unending event in
NASCAR,” Jay said.
Every professional sport has
its rumor mills. Baseball has
its “Hot Stove League” in the
offseason, and football and
basketball rumors heat up as
soon as the championship
trophy is awarded. But
NASCAR operates differently.
EDWARDS WINS CLOSEST FINAL IN NHRA HISTORY
When you race down a straightaway at more than 200 mph, you
expect a few close finishes.
But “close” doesn’t begin to
describe the finish of the June 17
NHRA Pro Stock Final at Bristol
Motor Speedway between Allen
Johnson and Team Interstate’s
Mike Edwards. In what officials
call the closest finish in NHRA
finals history, Edwards beat
10 / FALL 2012 / CURRENT / interstatebatteries.com
Johnson by less than one tenthousandth of a second.
In fact, with an official margin of
0.0000 seconds, the finish was
too close for the clock to determine. A photograph revealed
that Edwards crossed the line
by a fraction of an inch before
Johnson.
“I don’t even know how you can
describe something like [the
final] in words,” Edwards said.
“Four zeros for the margin of
victory. I just can’t believe it.”
The victory was his fourth
straight at Bristol and his second
of the 2012 season.
The stats show that Johnson
had the faster car, but Edwards
had a quicker reaction time at
the start of the race, and that
made all the difference.
“This is a sport where all the drivers are independent
contractors,” said Bob Pockrass, NASCAR reporter for
sportingnews.com with 10 years covering the sport. “You
don’t have scheduled free agency like with other sports.
One guy can be with one team one week and with another
team by the next week.”
Larger teams, such as Joe Gibbs Racing , often sign
drivers to multi-year contracts. But drivers can sign those
contracts months in advance, so they may have a new one
lined up long before the old one is set to expire.
®
When that happens, a driver can send shock waves
through a fan base known for intense loyalty to sponsors
and manufacturers. For example, he may drive a Ford this
season but announce that he’s switching to a Toyota team
the next year.
“You want to know how silly it is? There’s a guy who
signed a deal in April 2010 saying where he’d drive in
2012,” Bob said.
That driver was with a Ford team at the time, and his
new team would be with Chevrolet. But because he had
no deal for 2011, he had to sign a one-year contract with a
third team to avoid missing a season. And that team drove
Toyotas.
With all the moving parts, it’s no surprise that jayski.com,
which launched in 1996, found a such a large audience.
“Team members, friends, family and even some sponsors
sometimes let the cat out of the bag and leak information” before they make an official announcement, Jay said,
although teams have made more of an effort in recent
years to keep a lid on such information.
“Fans want to know if they need to buy new hats,
die-cast cars and clothes that represent their drivers,” Jay
said. “A player leaving a football team doesn’t have the
same effect.”
More online: Hear more from our interview
with Bob Pockrass of sportingnews.com.
Scan the code with your smartphone or visit
interstateracing.com/sillyseason.
SERIOUS
BRAND POWER
SERIOUS
OPPORTUNITY
Regardless of market conditions, our
on-the-go society continues to need batteries.
With more than 16,000 battery solutions,
Interstate All Battery Center® offers an unmatched
business opportunity. Consider this:
• $86 billion industry¹
• 60-year-old respected brand
• $1,137,400 average sales²
Learn more about our
B2B/B2C retail franchise model at:
allbatteryfranchise.com/brand
800.730.7868
This ad does not constitute a franchise offering, which may be made by Interstate All Battery
Center® only after your receipt of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), which is filed
with certain states. A copy of the FDD may be obtained through Kevin Hogan at Interstate
All Battery Center Franchising, 7935 B Wright Road, Houston, TX, 77041, 800.730.7868. ¹The
Freedonia Group, Inc. ²The average sales total of $1,137,416 represents operating results for
our 30 franchised full centers open 24+ months. Of the 30 centers, 16 centers or 54% achieved
gross sales exceeding the average. See our FDD for details. Your business’ gross sales may
differ and there is no assurance that your business will attain the average sales shown here.
RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK: This advertisement is not an offering, which can only be made
by a prospectus filed first with the Department of Law in the State of New York. Such filing
does not constitute approval by the New York Department of Law. MN Franchise Registration
Number: F 5119.
RESIDENTS OF CALIFORNIA: THESE FRANCHISES HAVE BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT LAW OF
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. SUCH REGISTRATION DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE APPROVAL, RECOMMENDATION OR ENDORSEMENT
BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORPORATIONS NOR A FINDING BY
THE COMMISSIONER THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREIN
IS TRUE, COMPLETE AND NOT MISLEADING.
interstatebatteries.com / CURRENT / FALL 2012 / 11
TECHNOLOGY
Battery Life in
Various Climates
®
You know, getting the longest
battery life can depend on how
you balance three factors: the
vehicle, the battery and the
climate. Fortunately, there’s
technical information that
guides us to offer customers the
right battery.
For example, we know that
Minneapolis, Minn., experiences a lot of daily temperatures
below 0° F (-17.8° C) between
November and March each
year. Miami doesn’t normally
fall below 50° F (10° C) during
winter months.
Our decades of experience in
the battery business tells us
there are certain common rules
to long battery life, such as:
•Vehicles require a higher
rated Cold Cranking Amps
(CCA) and Reserve Capacity
(RC) performance battery
in northern climates and
lower ratings in southern
climates.
•Batteries with high CCA
values require more internal
plates per cell, which
12 / FALL 2012 / CURRENT / interstatebatteries.com
results in less internal
cooling ability.
•Vehicle underhood temperatures have risen over the
last decade. High heat
causes reduced battery
life, especially in southern
climates.
•Batteries in southern
climates can suffer reduced
life when too high of a CCA
value is chosen.
Cold to moderate
Climates
When choosing the proper
battery for a vehicle, is CCA the
only consideration in the North?
No. Consider the RC rating also.
For example, if a battery has a
rating of 100 minutes based on
an 80° F (26.7° C), it will only
have an estimated 40 minutes of
reserve minutes at 0° F (-17.8° C).
Now consider that with all of the
electronic accessories, plus the
normal vehicle’s electrical loads,
a vehicle may be discharging
the battery at every stop light
and stop-and-go traffic situation.
Look for the battery with a high
CCA value and RC rating for
best performance.
Warm to moderate
Climates
If a person lives in a southern
climate where the temperature
doesn’t fall below 20° F (-6.7°
C) then CCA at 0° F (-17.8° C) is
not the biggest priority. At 20° F
(-6.7° C), a fully charged 600
(continued next page)
Gale Kimbrough, Engineering and Technical
Services Manager for Interstate Batteries
CCA-rated battery can produce
an estimated 700 amps of power
for 30 seconds.
Your Interstate Batteries
Distributor will have pre-selected
the best battery for your local
temperatures so your customers
can receive the optimal performance and service life from
our batteries.
RESERVE CAPACITY AT VARIOUS TEMPERATURES
YOUR BATTERY GUIDE IN EVERY CLIMATE
There’s more than meets the eye when it
comes to battery selection, such as where and
how your customers drive. Our 2013 Battery
Application Guide offers these color-coded
symbols.
˜ High-accessory Loads ›
Vehicles today come equipped with more power-hungry accessories. And all kinds of devices plug into cars these days, from
DVDs to GPS systems. These symbols represent vehicles that
commonly have a high-accessory load and may need an AGM.
Hot and Cold
Look for the sun and snowflake symbols indicating automotive
batteries designed to deliver the longest life performance based
on warm climates (the Mega-Tron® II battery) or cold climates
(the Mega-Tron Plus® battery.)
NOTE: Given a battery at 100% state of charge. Reserve Capacity minutes
are based on a battery’s performance at 80º F (26.7º C).
Contact your Distributor today to order our Outrageously
Dependable 2013 Battery Application Guide.
Our Batteries Beat the Climate
Sluggish oil in cold climates makes
cranking an engine harder. In hot
temperatures, the battery’s components corrode rapidly, aging the
battery fast.
That’s why we’re introducing the
new Long Life Selection process.
Our Mega-Tron series batteries have
unique strengths to overcome climate
issues. Interstate offers two options:
the Mega-Tron Plus®, designated
“high cranking” on the label, and
the Mega-Tron® II, designated “all
seasons.” All of our batteries deliver
Outrageously Dependable life with
a nationwide warranty. And with
the Long Life Selection process, your
customers can get the longest battery
life for where they drive. These
climate-based recommendations
apply to these popular Group Sizes:
24, 24F, 35, 58, 65, 75 and 78.
The new point-of-purchase – like the
automotive line counter mat and the
automotive battery display sign –
features the two Mega-Tron batteries and the strengths they
bring to give consumers the longest battery life.
When the Cold Snap
Hits, Snap Back
High Performer in High
Temperatures
The high cranking Mega-Tron Plus
comes ready for cold climate challenges. The highest cold cranking amp
(CCA) ratings are exactly what you
need when it’s cold out. The Mega-Tron
Plus is our recommendation in cold to
moderate climates.
Hot weather’s no sweat for the all
seasons Mega-Tron II. The Mega-Tron II’s
high electrolyte-to-lead ratio keeps the
battery cool in high underhood temperatures. In hot to moderate climates, the
Mega-Tron II outlives seething heat with
reliable strength.
interstatebatteries.com / CURRENT / FALL 2012 / 13
CONGRATULATIONS
To Our Route Sales Managers of the Year
Every year, the Route Sales Managers compete to show who’s the top RSM in sales and service. This
year, seven RSMs won the 2011 award. Meet Interstate’s RSMs of the Year!
Allen Rowbury
Interstate Batteries of Sacramento
Josh Dennhardt
Interstate Batteries of Nebraska
Chris DeGasperi
Interstate Batteries of Baltimore
2012
Graig Judge
Interstate Batteries of Connecticut
Rob Joseph
Interstate Batteries of Omaha
Larry Cowger
Interstate Batteries of Western Nevada
Daniel Gratereaux
Vento Dominicana
ROOKIES OF THE YEAR
• Mike Curry, Interstate Batteries of Kansas City
• Richard Study, Interstate Batteries of Baltimore
• Michael Bouchard, Interstate Batteries of Quebec
• Josh Ranes, Interstate Batteries of Tacoma
14 / FALL 2012 / CURRENT / interstatebatteries.com
• William VandenEng, Interstate Batteries of Green Bay
• Frank Lessley, Interstate Batteries of Arklatex
• Chris Gussman, Interstate Batteries of Victoria
Owner of Coats Auto Repair, Gary Coats, received a $10,000 check, which was presented by Interstate Batteries of Sacramento General Manager Dave
Corbridge, left, Route Sales Manager Shawn Watling, Drivers’ Helper Shawn Pugh, Business Consultant Ben Facer and Marketing Director Tyler Reeves.
Warranty Drawing Winner Announced
As the Performance Warranty
entered the automotive repair
market, we asked what you
thought – and offered a nice
prize for a randomly selected
Dealer who responded to
our survey.
More than 4,300 responded,
and the lucky Dealer won a
$10,000 check.
Congratulations to Interstate
Batteries of Sacramento’s
winning Dealer, Coats Auto
Repair! Owner Gary Coats
received $10,000 from Interstate
Batteries General Manager
Dave Corbridge and Route Sales
Manager Shawn Watling.
Thanks to everyone who helped
make the Performance Warranty
a hit with consumers.
Morning Commute Hero
Josh Ranes, Route
Sales Manager from
Interstate Batteries
of Tacoma and 2011
Rookie of the Year,
recently rescued a
commuter with a dead battery.
Stranded at a gas station,
Shannon Carson went over to
this “big, beautiful, bright green
Interstate Batteries truck” for
help. Josh tested her battery
and called the distributorship
for a fresh MT-51.
Warehouse Manager Becky
Lunday installed it and invited
Shannon to the distributorship
for a free terminal cleaning.
“Josh and Becky have reaffirmed
my faith in customer service
and have given me hope that
my employees aspire and strive
for such greatness,” Shannon’s
thank you letter stated.
interstatebatteries.com / CURRENT / FALL 2012 / 15
INTERSTATE BATTERY
SYSTEM OF AMERICA, INC.
12770 Merit Drive, Suite 1000
Dallas, Texas 75251-1292
PRSRT STD
US Postage Paid
Permit No. 1465
Kansas City, MO
MT7 AGM
16 / FALL 2012 / CURRENT / interstatebatteries.com
Meet the car battery designed to handle both engine
starting and power demands like cellphones, DVD players
and GPS navigators. With twice the battery life of conventional
absorbed glass-mat (AGM) batteries and the longest
free-replacement warranty in the Interstate Batteries®
line, the MT7 comes ready to tackle the power needs
of a high-tech world gone portable. MT7 – Go ahead. Plug in.
©2012 Interstate Battery System International, Inc.
FOR POWER
HUNGRY
VEHICLES