OWNER OF INK-REFILLING FRANCHISED HONORED IN COLORADO

[Anonymous]

http://www.gazette.com/articles/ink_37693___article.html/owner_refilling.html
Owner of ink-refilling franchise honored
Cartridge World ranks high in sales
Amy
Scheller didn’t always have ink in her veins. With a bachelor’s degree
in accounting, she worked as a financial adviser for five years in
Colorado Springs after her husband was transferred here in 2000.But
when Scheller decided to become a business owner, she read in the Wall
Street Journal about Cartridge World, which refills and remanufactures
ink and toner cartridges for printers, copiers and fax machines. The
company says it saves money for businesses and home users who don’t
have to buy new cartridges, while reducing the number of cartridges
dumped into landfills.

Impressed with the company’s business
plan, Scheller became a franchisee and opened Cartridge World Briargate
in 2005. In May, it ranked No. 55 among 650 Cartridge World stores
nationwide in sales, and was the top Colorado franchisee, according to
Cartridge World’s corporate headquarters in California.Scheller was
named Colorado Springs’ Small Business Person of the Year on Thursday
during a luncheon sponsored by the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of
Commerce and the Small Business Development Center. About 200 people
attended the luncheon at the Antlers Hilton hotel downtown.The award
has been presented annually since 1981, and finalists are judged on
staying power, growth in number of employees, increase in sales,
innovation and community contributions, among other criteria.Scheller
organized and became chairwoman of a Cartridge World franchisee
advisory council. She also has become a Chamber of Commerce ambassador,
helping the organization retain members. Also, she participates in the
Department of Defense’s transition assistance program that prepares
military members for civilian life, and is a president of a local
chapter of Business Networking International.Scheller said her advice
for other small-business owners is to surround yourself with the best
people you can afford, and “duplicate yourself” in the business – make
certain employees know their jobs, share your commitment and have a
sense of responsibility so they work beyond quitting time or take on
duties beyond their primary roles.”Once you duplicate yourself like
that in a business, then that’s what gives you, the business owner, the
freedom to go out and be a part of the community and to give back,”
Scheller said.In addition to Scheller’s award, Trevor Dierdorff,
president of Amnet, a Springs information technology consulting firm,
won the Colorado Springs Business Journal’s Young Entrepreneur of the
Year Award.

Dierdorff was a co-recipient of the 2004 Small Business Person of the Year Award.
Chuck
Bowles, who chairs the Department of Business and Real Estate at Pikes
Peak Community College, was named the Small Business Development
Center’s Volunteer of the Year.

[Author]

July 1, 2008 at 10:57 AM