NEW BUSINESS SP OTLIGHT : Cartridge World
Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Business_Matters/236035/
FAYETTEVILLE — Improving the environment and saving customers money are two of the main goals of the Parkers. Greg, 46, and Amy, 42, opened Cartridge World, a franchise that refills ink and toner cartridges for printers, copiers and other machines.
“We were anxious to get into something ‘green’ and something that was a developing industry,” Greg said. The “green” movement is an effort to reduce waste and clean up the earth.
Cartridge World was on a list of franchises that fit Greg’s profile with Entrepreneurial Resources, a service that seeks to match people with franchises that suit their interests. He wanted something that was environmentally helpful and technically based. With a background in the newspaper industry, he had some knowledge of inks, but had to learn about the processes with cartridges.
Cartridge World stocks about 200 inks of varying color and viscosity. It also stocks a variety of toners.
The store can provide Cartridge World-brand supplies that work in most computer printers, photo printers, copiers, plotters for engineers and fax machines. Prices are usually 25 percent to 40 percent cheaper than buying new cartridges.
“We’re kind of proud that we can find more economic alternatives than what they have been doing,” Greg said.
Not only can the customer save money, but Cartridge World is trying to keep so many discarded cartridges out of landfills. The company estimates that its U. S. customers helped reduce carbon emissions by 1 million pounds in 2007.
There are more than 700 Cartridge World stores in the United States. The only ones in Arkansas are in Fayetteville, Fort Smith and Little Rock.
Once their business plan was under way, the Parkers studied locations with high traffic counts and ease of parking. They chose a storefront next to Cold Stone Creamery, where ice cream is a popular draw to the new strip mall.
Family members are involved with the business and 10-year-old Davis calls himself the company’s vice president. The Parkers have two employees and will add another soon.
Free delivery and pickup to qualifying businesses take up part of Greg’s time. The franchise usually focuses on businesses with fewer than 50 employees because they are less likely to be on a computer lease contract.
Schools, churches and some nonprofit organizations can collect and sell empty cartridges to Cartridge World as a fundraiser. The store refills and adds the cartridges to its stock.
Greg advises customers to seal the print head of ink cartridges to prevent damage in transport to the store. Also, ink cartridges should not be left in a hot car.
Less-common ink cartridges can be refilled for customers in about 10 minutes. Toner usually takes a little longer to refill, since the empty cartridge will be disassembled, cleaned and inspected for damage.
The business replaces the drums and rollers inside the toner cartridges. New and refilled cartridges come with a 100 percent guarantee if returned within 90 days with receipt.
DETAILS LOCATION: 160 E. Joyce Blvd., Suite 108, Fayetteville; www. cartridgeworldusa. com / store 752 PHONE: (479 ) 251-1900; fax (479 ) 251-1910 HOURS: 9 a. m. to 6 p. m. Monday-Friday, 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. Saturday OWNERS: Greg and Amy Parker PRODUCTS / SERVICES: Refill ink and toner cartridges; delivery / pickup for qualifying businesses; fundraising program for schools and churches TYPE OF BUSINESS: Ink and toner supplier START DATE: November STARTUP FUNDS: Would not disclose FUNDING: Bank loan and personal funds If you recently opened a business or know of a new business in the area, please call Sue Morris at (479 ) 770-8468 or e-mail:
smorris@arkansasonline. com