HOW DID ALEX SHULTZ SAVE ISLAND INK-JET ?

[Anonymous]

HOW DID ALEX SHULTZ & ARMIN SACHSE SAVE ISLAND INK-JET ?
Island Ink-Jet Systems Inc. was a made-in-Canada success story
with over 250 franchised “Island Ink-Jet” stores at their peak of
operations.  The franchise chain has generated over 100 million in sales
and refilled over 9 million cartridges reducing the waste at our
landfills. The brand was well established as the guys with the birds.

Their
stores specialize in reducing the cost of printer consumables such as
Printer Ink and Laser toner cartridges for home and business users.

The
franchisor closed their doors on August 31, 2009 citing declining
revenues as a contributing factor.  Although the franchisor closed, the
majority of their franchisees remain open.

The franchisor’s
closing of the central support needed to operate the network caused
havoc for many store owners. They were suddenly faced with having to
find new suppliers and support mechanisms.  Many faced a variety of
issues and uncertainty relating to trademark rights, lease interests
(held by the franchisor) and perhaps much more. 

Normally when
the franchisor fails, it takes down the rest of the chain.  The quick
action of two original franchisees to replicate all of the central
support services enabled the chain to continue to operate with minimal
interruption.

The franchisees Alex Schulz and Armin Sachse were
one of the first franchisees of the system as well as the first area
developers operating under the name of “The Equipment Leasing Company
Ltd.(EQL). “When we started opening on-site retail refilling locations
in early 2001,” recalls Armin Sachse CEO EQL. “there were no other
similar chains in North America to copy. We had to build consumer
awareness from scratch and at the same time we had to build the system. 
Our go-to-market strategy was soon copied by others and the retail
on-site refill industry in North America was born.”

Within a few
years they had developed over one third of all Canadian locations in the
network.  They used this experience and in a few short months have
rescued the brand and reorganized the system into an Licensed Associate
Program.

“When we received the 2008 financial statements of the
franchisor in early 2009, “ reports Alex Schulz president EQL “we
realized the franchisor was functionally insolvent.“  When the
franchisor notified franchisees that they were closing their doors at
the end of August 2009, the Associate Program was released allowing
Island Ink-Jet franchise owners to migrate from a franchise to an
Associate based operation. 

“The final piece to the puzzle was
to resolve the concern as to who owned the intellectual property rights
and trademarks of the failed franchisor.  EQL followed through with its
legal action began in April 2009 and culminated in a December 2009 court
judgment that gave EQL legal title and exclusive rights to all the
intellectual property of Island Ink-Jet Systems Inc.”  states Sachse
working from his Courtenay, BC office.” “We were fortunate to be able to
retain the key suppliers and build the required support systems so that
the operators could continue to deliver a high quality, value-added
service in a market efficient manner at an acceptable price”. 

Many
operators are experiencing increased same-store sales and are happy
with the new Associate program in place.  They are leveraging the Island
Ink-Jet brand’s market leadership in the consumer refill market to make
significant inroads into the B2B business market.  Island Ink-Jet will
be launching a new unique user friendly e-commerce site to enable
Associates to offer the B2B market an “Easier” button to source toner
and ink supplies.

About Island Ink-Jet: Island Ink-Jet is a
specialty retail chain of Licensed Associates focused on being the
convenient provider of choice for of a great assortment of National
Brand printer and digital consumable products as well as the Island
Ink-Jet on-site refill service, which both offer exceptional value.
Island Ink-jet associates are committed to providing a level of customer
service that exceeds what is found in large superstores today.
Associates that are specialists, rather than generalists, set us apart
from the competition.

Island Licensed Associates provide the
consumer and small office/home office shopper a fast and efficient way
to locate and purchase what they need, and be on their way quickly.
Island ink-jet’s new unique user friendly e-commerce site will enable
Associates to offer the B2B market an “Easier” button to source toner
and ink supplies. By combining location, competitive price, product
selection, store merchandising, and knowledgeable customer service,
Island Ink-Jet has become the preferred provider of “green” printer
consumable products.

 For further information or to visit Island
Ink-Jet locations, please visit http://www.islandinkjet.com  or e-mail 
info@islandinkjet.com

The Equipment Leasing Company Ltd. 1855
Dundas Street East, Unit 5,  Mississauga, ON, L4X 1M1, Phone
905-629-3210 Fax 905-629-3219

[Author]

January 25, 2010 at 10:38 AM