Published July 2004

Battery business designs fund-raising program

By John Wolcott
SCBJ Editor

Hundreds of today’s high-tech equipment, toys and gadgets are powered by the lowly alkaline battery. But the market that Rotarian Steve Ahmann wants to tap into is providing those compact, high-tech power supplies — the batteries.

Already successful with his Pacific Power Batteries business, the Everett businessman has created a colorful array of batteries designed to offer schools and nonprofit organizations new high-profit, high-energy, low-carb fund-raising opportunities.

That means 50 percent of all sales go to the school or nonprofit group; the batteries have dozens of high-energy uses; and their “low carb” benefit provides a healthful alternative to marketing sugar-laden merchandise, he said.

Snohomish County Business Journal/ JOHN WOLCOTT These colorful Kick-N-Power batteries are providing fund-raising opportunities for schools and nonprofit groups, a product and program developed by Steve Ahmann, president of Pacific Power Batteries.

“Most of the alkaline batteries sold in this country are used by kids for high-energy toys, computers and portable equipment. These batteries bear a colorful hibiscus design that is one of the most popular in today’s marketplace. Selling batteries for fund raising instead of food or candy provides a useful product — surveys show that America households spend an average of $100 a year on alkaline batteries,” Ahmann said.

For every $100 worth of batteries sold at competitive retail prices, nonprofit groups will pocket $50 for themselves, a profit margin that Ahmann believes will power a lot of high-energy sales efforts, too.

Four percent of all sales money is set aside by Kick-N-Power to provide prizes for the kids selling the batteries — such prizes as lighted Frisbees, battery-powered of course.

Ahmann believes door-to-door sales, street sales outside of stores and marketing to members of nonprofit groups will be successful because the batteries are a new product in a world of traditional products for fund-raising events. The batteries come in a variety of sizes, packages and even mixed bags of various-sized batteries “for those who can’t make up their minds about which ones to buy,” Ahmann said, grinning.

Ahmann also plans to launch a retail marketing campaign that will set aside 10 cents for every pack of batteries sold, which will be donated to a local Rotary club for education programs.

“That’s because there are Rotary Clubs in communities all over the world, but if there isn’t one in a community, we’ll provide the funds to Lions Clubs, Kiwanis or Soroptimists,” he said. Major retail stores could also choose their own charity, and Ahmann would send out the checks in their name.

But Ahmann isn’t just looking for his own success with his newest business venture. Primarily, he wants Scouts, Boys & Girls Clubs, school groups and nonprofit organizations to benefit, too. For now, fund-raising groups are Ahmann’s main focus.

“We’ve test marketed our Kick-N-Power batteries against major brands and people can’t tell the difference in performance and how long they last,” he said. “People always need more batteries, so we expect this product will be very successful.”

For more about Kick-N-Power fund-raising programs, go online to www.kicknpower.com.

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