Think Ink !
This franchisee is making his mark with a
printer cartridgeS
A store selling ink cartridges and refills may not seem like a favorite
shopping destination, but as the world becomes more dependent on technology, a
printer cartridge shop is becoming the place to be. Not only are customers
attracted to the idea of recycling ink cartridges to save the environment, but
they also like cutting costs.
For Cartridge World franchisee Al Steigerwalt, the opportunity to participate
in this industry has been a golden one–and one he has been excited about ever
since purchasing his franchise in October 2003. “We’re catching the beginning of
the trend,” he explains. “I see people continuing to print for a long time, and,
as printing changes, how we help to refill cartridges will also evolve.”
But Steigerwalt, 53, does more than just meet a demand. This former CFO has
made his Columbus, Ohio location appealing by creating a friendly atmosphere.
Two 3-foot-high bobble-heads, one of the Ohio State University (OSU) mascot,
Brutus Buckeye, and the other of football legend Woody Hayes, stand in the
entrance, making OSU fans feel right at home. And customers with sweet tooths
can find a jar of lollipops at the counter, a tradition Steigerwalt adopted
during his training at the original store in Adelaide, Australia.
In July 2004, Steigerwalt opened his second store and projects 2005 combined
sales to reach between $400,000 and $500,000. These days, both Steigerwalt and
his customers leave the store happy. “It’s given me a lot of satisfaction,” he
says. “And I’m having a blast doing it.”