Cartridge refilling and recycling is a growing business around the world. USA-based Cartridge Depot boasts franchises across the United States and abroad, and is growing every day. To learn more about this industry, for interviews or information about Cartridge Depot please contact:

Media contact:
Gina Kazimir
PR Right Now
410-420-8679 office
410-459-8765 cell
gkazimir@prrightnow.com

News:

RECYCLING GETS GREENER: CARTRIDGE DEPOT TO PLANT A TREE FOR EVERY EMPTY CARTRIDGE CUSTOMERS RETURN

January 28, 2008

(Owings Mills, MD) Cartridge Depot franchises around the country will become the first national ink and toner remanufacturers to take direct action to save the environment with a new initiative that will plant one tree for each empty cartridge that is returned for refilling.

Cartridge Depot announced a new partnership with American Forest’s Global ReLeaf Fund to plant one tree for each empty cartridge customers bring in. “Every time someone recycles an ink or toner cartridge, we’re going to plant a tree. Customers are already saving money and keeping up to two and a half pounds of plastic out of a landfill by recycling with us,” explains Ken Blum, Cartridge Depot’s CEO. “That makes a big difference, but we wanted to do more.”

Cartridge Depot offers printer and fax ink and toner refilling services at franchises throughout the country. Refilling a cartridge can save up to 50% or more off the price of purchasing new ones, yet only 30% of users regularly recycle their cartridges. Remanufacturing toner cartridges has the potential to save over eleven million gallons of oil each year, a potentially massive reduction in the world’s carbon footprint. With Cartridge Depot also planting one tree for each recycled cartridge, a cleaner landscape can become a reality.

“It’s not enough to reduce trash,” says Blum. “Responsible companies need to actually improve the environment, too. Working with American Forests will help us do that.”

“We’re very proud to be partnering with Cartridge Depot through this wonderful recycling program,” says Gregory Meyer, American Forest VP Marketing and Development. “This partnership will help us pursue our mission of growing a healthier world by supporting the planting of thousands of trees to help restore forest ecosystems.”

Cartridge Depot is the ink and toner refilling source of choice for business customers, who appreciate the company’s easy, efficient cost savings. “This initiative allows our business customers to do a little bit more in their recycling efforts, and we’ve gotten great feedback,” says Blum. “Getting a discount for recycling a cartridge is nice, but actually planting a real tree to help clean the air is even better.”

For information on Cartridge Depot’s locations and products, visit www.thecartridgedepot.com or call 800-914-5828. For more information on American Forests, visit www.amfor.org.

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Today’s Entrepreneurs are Likely to be Under 30 and Environmentally Aware, and Cartridge Depot is Ready for Them

(Owings Mills, MD) Across the country students are returning to school, and to the popular question of “what do you want to be when you grow up.” For increasing numbers of young people beginning with Gen Y – those “echo boomers” who are all under age 30 – there’s a new answer for that question. They want to be their own bosses. And smart companies who understand that can benefit.

One of these companies is Cartridge Depot. The Owings Mills, Maryland, based franchisor is perfectly poised to take advantage of Gen Y’s entrepreneurial impulses.

Senior Vice President Nick Sheehan knows all about the factors that make Cartridge Depot ideal for young entrepreneurs. Sheehan, a member of Gen Y, was still a student when he helped develop the concept for the Cartridge Depot franchises. Sheehan helped get the first Cartridge Depot launched; today he advises all of the company’s franchisees on how to succeed.

“I’m proof that Cartridge Depot is a great fit for young people interested in going into business,” Sheehan explains. “Our business model allows franchisees to start small, and grow at their own rate. Recycling cartridges isn’t going away – it’s becoming increasingly important. Owning a Cartridge Depot franchise allows people to make money without ignoring their concerns about the planet, and that’s very appealing.”

Statistics show that young people now are much more interested in being their own boss than generations before them. A recent survey by the OPEN division of American Express revealed that Gen Y entrepreneurs are more likely to start businesses right out of school, like taking risks and plan to be serial entrepreneurs. These young people are interested not just in making money but in social responsibility and environmental impact. With its emphasis on green business practices and affordable costs to get started, Cartridge Depot is quickly becoming a hot buy for young entrepreneurs.

“Young people can start a Cartridge Depot franchise without a lot of capital, even while they’re still in school,” CEO Ken Blum explains. Blum knows successful franchises – he was the brains behind the turnaround of the Rent-A-Wreck franchises in the 1990s. “The business can grow as quickly as they want it to. Cartridge Depot allows young entrepreneurs the opportunity to be their own boss, have their own business and make a difference, but with a safety net they wouldn’t have without the franchise behind them. Some of our most successful franchisees are Gen Y owners, and we’ve recently made arrangements for affordable third-party financing that makes getting started even easier.”

Cartridge Depot is in the ink and toner cartridge recycling and remanufacturing business, an industry that combines business and environmental savings. It’s an industry that does well by doing good – each cartridge that’s remanufactured and reused costs up to 50% less than a new one, and keeps two and a half pounds of plastic out of a landfill somewhere.

Matt Lucas, Co-Owner of Cartridge Depot’s Owensboro, KY, franchise is one example of the type of young person attracted to the industry. “Cost was a huge factor in choosing this business. I’m still a college student so I had to be able to finance this with private funds – being this young it’s hard to get outside funding. We went into a storefront on August 10, 2006, and we were profitable from the start of the second month. My plan is to open as many successful Cartridge Depots within a 200 mile radius as I can.”

Jeremy Ross, who owns Cartridge Depot franchises in Florida and in Maryland, is another of the franchisor’s young entrepreneurs. “I always wanted to own a business and this one is really interesting. You can start small and grow, and our products and our customers speak for themselves. It’s a profitable business…everybody needs cartridges.”

“Just getting hundreds of thousands of dollars in franchise fees, but having stores fail is not what we’re about,” explains Blum. “This business has huge potential, and we see our growth path in having prepared, protected franchisees who prosper in their markets. We’re interested in long term profits, not just up-front fees. That’s why we provide a strong on and off-site training program, offer affordable up-front costs and access to capital to finance startup costs, and use exclusive refill technology. We want repeat business customers who build relationships, not just retail purchases. I think that philosophical difference in how we approach business makes Cartridge Depot a good fit for younger entrepreneurs.”

It also helps that cartridge remanufacturing is a growth industry. Estimates are that refilled cartridges were just 5% of industry sales in 2005. But Business Week has estimated that non-OEM cartridge sales were 23% of the industry as a whole, and that the percentage could rise to 31% or more by 2009.

“Going green is the wave of the future for business, and being your own boss is going to become more and more common, and important, as a career option,” says Blum. “Cartridge Depot provides an outstanding answer to both of these needs.”

For information on Cartridge Depot’s products and franchising, visit www.thecartridgedepot.com or call 800-914-5828.

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Local Business Helps Kids who Need Computers
Cartridge Depot announces their RECYCLE COMPUTERS 4 KIDS Program

July 27, 2007

(Athens, GA) - It's no secret that there's a digital divide growing in our country. Computer use is essential today, yet many students don't have access to a computer on a regular basis. But one local business has decided to do something about it.

CARTRIDGE DEPOT, located at 25 North Main Street in Watkinsville, GA, has introduced their Recycle Computers 4 Kids program. It's a simple, easy way to connect kids with the computers they need, and you can help.

"You need a computer today to do almost anything," explains Paul Buffa, owner of the Cartridge Depot franchise. "We know that a lot of businesses and individual often upgrade their equipment, and, not knowing what else to do with it, they just throw their old computers and printers away. That's not good for the environment, and it's not helping anyone. Now people can help out a student without a computer, just by helping us to recycle their old system."

Cartridge Depot collects old computers and printers at the store. Then, they package each computer with a printer and distribute them to referred school age children in the community who don't have a home computer. In addition, Cartridge Depot furnishs a starter cartridge for each printer and provides free cartridge refills for an entire year. There is no cost to the students.

"We have a need for more systems than we have," says Buffa. "We'd love to get more donations and some volunteers to help us package the computers and printers and deliver them. This is such a worthwhile program, we'd like to see other businesses partner with us to help it grow."

Anyones wishing to recycle their equipment is asked to erase all personal information form hard drives and to include all drivers, power cords and cables. Equipment must be in good working order to be accepted. The program is ongoing.

For more information or to volunteer or make a donation, please contact Paul Buffa at Cartridge Depot, 25 North Main Street, Watkinsvile, GA, 706-769-1010, athens@TheCartridgeDepot.com.

Cartridge Depot Celebrates First Anniversary with a Party and Prizes Enter to Win Free Ink Cartridge Refills, Gift Certificates and More on Friday, August 10, 2007

July 25, 2007

(Owensboro, KY) - Celebrating one year of outstanding success, Cartridge Depot is throwing a part on Friday, August 10th, and everyone is invited! From 11 am to 2 pm the store will be offering hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and sodas to all customers and visitors. Plus, all guests are invited to enter the drawing for FREE ink cartridge refills, gift certificates and more.

"We've had such great success here that we just wanted to give something back to the community," explains co-owner Matt Payne. "Everyone loves a party, so please come and celebrate with us! It's our way of saying thanks for making us a success."

Cartridge Depot offers remanufactured ink and toner cartridges for printers and fax machines at a fraction of the cost of buying new ones. Customers can turn in their old cartridges to be cleaned and refilled, or just pick up one that's ready to go. Cartridge Depot also offers pick-up and drop-off services for business customers. With Cartridge Depot's cartridges costing as much as 50% less than new, it's a great way to save money and the environment, too.

"Cartridge recycling keeps a lot of waste out of the landfills," explains co-owner Matt Lucas. "In the US more than two-thirds of all cartridges are just thrown away. Recycling those ink and toner cartridges could keep 120 million tons of waste out of landfills each year. It's an easy way to do your part to help the environment, and your budget."

To join the party or to find out more about Cartridge Depot, visit the store at 1020 Halifax Drive, Suite 104 in Owensboro, or contact them at 270-685-1411, Owensboro@thecartridgedepot.com.

Cartridge Depot Opens First Cartridge Refilling Franchise in West Virginia

July 1, 2007 - page(s): 195
OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Cartridge Depot is saving businesses in West Virginia money and making it easier to recycle.

The international ink and toner cartridge refill and remanufacturing franchisor announced that West Virginia's first dedicated cartridge refilling franchise is open in the Morgantown area, allowing businesses to save up to 50 percent on ink and toner needs while making a positive impact on the environment.

"We're very excited to expand into the West Virginia market," said Kenneth Blum, Cartridge Depot's CEO. "West Virginia is an area that understands the value of recycling and reuse, and we're glad that Cartridge Depot will be able to help people save money and do something positive for the environment with our new franchise."

Cartridge Depot refills and remanufactures ink and toner cartridges with their exclusive process for a fraction of the cost - often up to 50 percent less - of buying new ones. The newly refurbished cartridges are then packed into boxes made with post-consumer recycled materials, adding more environmental savings to the products. The company picks up and delivers ink, toner and fax cartridges for business customers, providing convenience, cost savings and guaranteed quality performance.

The West Virginia Cartridge Depot is currently serving business customers only, but will be available for retail customers in September when they open their storefront. The location is currently being negotiated. "Because we offer outstanding business-to-business services, we can serve the community even before we open the doors to our storefront location," said Cathy Batt, who is managing the West Virginia Cartridge Depot franchise. "Area businesses can save money and make a difference in their local environment right now, and we're excited that so many companies have already signed up to take advantage of our quality refilled cartridge products."

"I was very impressed with how the businesses in the Morgantown area responded to Cathy and to Cartridge Depot when we were doing training with her in the area," said Nick Sheehan, senior vice president sales for Cartridge Depot. "Cathy does an outstanding job communicating the benefits of refilling printer cartridges, and the quality of Cartridge Depot's products, and the business community was very enthusiastic about it. We're excited to see how this franchise grows."

Cartridge Depot has franchises in four countries and seven states. The company offers franchisees protected sales areas and a lower cost of entry compared to other printer cartridge recycling franchisors.

http://www.rechargermag.com/articles/48672/

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