Saskatchewan’s largest battery supplier is proud to be one of the community’s newest members and – with a sales team bringing more than 30 years of experience – provides a trusted range of batteries including Clarios, Optima, Energizer, and more with a personable, small-town attitude.
Saskatchewan-based SaskBattery officially opened the doors of its seventh retail location in Moose Jaw this February under the management of Dylan Kirton.
“We’re small (and) city-centric,” explained SaskBattery’s owner, Mark Carroll. “We operate… like a big city player, but our heart is in Saskatchewan (and) in small city Regina and small city Moose Jaw. That’s what we live and breathe.”
SaskBattery is primarily driven by the mission of saving people money on batteries, Carroll said.
“It’s our ultimate goal to make sure that no one in the areas we operate overpays for a battery (ever) again,” he declared.
The business covers a wide range of battery options, is strongly connected to and supportive of the local farming community, and Carroll said one of the best-selling items is the store’s 44-cent Energizer double-A and triple-A batteries. These are, in his words, “half the price of everyone else.”
Carroll himself has been in the battery distribution business since 1999 and started his career working as an employee at a similar distribution company.
“They didn’t understand Saskatchewan. They didn’t understand, you know, what drives the people (in this community),” he explained. “They looked at Regina and Moose Jaw as a micro-Toronto… -Calgary… or a micro-Indianapolis when the company changed hands.”
Much of his concern was that the undisclosed former business’ new owners did not appear willing to listen to their customers and do what it takes to form a strong, personal relationship with them.
“So, the only option was to do it myself because I understood,” Carroll said.
His company, SaskBattery, first started back in 2008 and has since grown to Manitoba, Alberta, and as of this February, Moose Jaw was added as the seventh retail location.
“You could even argue that we’re a borderline Saskatchewan success story that a lot of people haven’t heard of,” he suggested.
SaskBattery Moose Jaw’s manager, Kirton, is the driving force behind the decision to expand operations into the Notorious City. Kirton brings a decade of experience to the industry as well as a genuine interest in getting to know the customers in his own city.
Ever since the doors first opened, Kirton said a steady stream of customers have been stopping in to check out the new location and see what SaskBattery has to offer. For context, Carroll said this phenomenon of consistently welcoming shoppers is exclusive to Moose Jaw.
“We’ve had people come in and say, ‘Oh, you’re open. It’s good to see you!’ and they literally came in just to meet us – it was absolutely amazing,” Carroll said. “So, when I say ‘welcoming,’ it’s not a cliché word…”
Moose Jaw’s accommodating spirit prompted Carroll to recognize this hospitality. “Thank you for making us feel welcome, because we truly do (feel it).”
The Moose Jaw team now consists of Kane Morin, the newest member, and Kevin Whelan, who brings with him 30 years of experience from the automotive parts industry through past employment at Moose Jaw Ford.
The company’s mascot – tentatively named “Volts” by the team in Moose Jaw – still doesn’t have an official, company-wide name yet. Carroll said he’s considering a contest to help choose a name with the help of the community at some point in the near future.
“The main thing is we are Saskatchewan (residents). I’m born, bred, and going to die (here),” Carroll stated.
“We want to be part of Moose Jaw – that is absolutely who we are and what we want to do.”
SaskBattery Moose Jaw is located at 461-D Athabasca Street East and can be reached at 306-692-9844. The business is open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., and is closed Sundays.
For more information, visit SaskBattery.com.
