The figures roll off Mike Primm's tongue with relish: the American household has an average of 23 battery-powered devices.

That statistic is the business model driving the success of Wichita's Interstate All Battery Centers, a 10-year-old store at 5530 E. Central and a new one that opened this week at 2130 N. Tyler.

"It's a business that's just growing exponentially," said Primm, the Wichita operations manager for Interstate franchisees John McWilliams and Jim Wilson.

"I believe there's something I read a few days ago talking about batteries becoming an $85 billion industry. We're just trying to get our piece of that."

That piece is substantial in Wichita, where the East Central store posted 16 percent sales growth in 2009, reaching $1 million in sales. It's one of 20 out of more than 330 stores Interstate stores in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic to reach $1 million.

Overall, the IABC system saw 22 percent growth in 2009. It will focus this year on business-to-business sales to expand its market share.

IABC is the 10-year-old franchise concept of Interstate Batteries, a 58-year-old company best known for its automotive batteries.

Its retail stores like the pair in Wichita offer 16,000 kinds of batteries and can custom-build batteries.

The company also has built an extensive franchising system, with a formal program to analyze sales and growth that can be implemented at any store.

According to company officials, Fredonia Research predicts significant market growth in the short term, with the primary and secondary battery markets will reach $16.8 billion in 2012.

What's the business philosophy of your Interstate stores?

"The company philosophy is to be the source for batteries for all our customers.

"We live by two promises: We either have it, will find it or will build it. And every battery for every need."

How do you fulfill those promises?

"With dependable customer service and products, so people keep telling their friends about us.

"We've reached a point in society where we're so mobile and we rely on portable power devices all the time so we believe there's going to be nothing but increasing demand."

What kind of batteries do you handle?

"Everything from cars and watches to laptops, cell phones and medical equipment. Everything that requires uninterruptable power."

What's the long-term plan your franchisees have for Wichita?

"We have intentions of two more stores within the next five years in the metro area."

What is your background with Interstate?

"I worked on the Interstate automotive side for five years before the store opened, at the battery distribution center.

"Now, our franchisees, John McWilliams and Jim Wilson, own the Interstate automotive distribution rights for south-central Kansas, and they own the franchise rights for all battery stores in the same area."

Talk about Interstate's franchise system.

"Working for yourself is a great thing, but being backed by this franchise system makes it incredible. You're backed by the 331 locations across the United States, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Canada, so when you're part of that system and support, it makes for a great business.

"We have at our disposal a number of different tools technology-wise, including the most extensive OEM cross-reference for batteries in the industry.

"It's the people, though, that make the big difference. We've got a franchise consultant who's always a phone call away if you have any questions. It's a great relationship."