Island Ink-Jet
Encyclopedia
Island Ink-Jet is a large printer ink and laser toner supply chain store with over 75 stores in 4 countries. The Island Ink-Jet brand is owned by The Equipment leasing company ltd. and based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Island Ink-Jet stores operate pursuant to a licensing agreement with the Licensor.
Island Ink-Jet stores offer a printer ink cartridge refill service and sell several varieties of laser toner cartridges including remanufactured cartridges
, compatible toner
and name brand cartridges as well as name brand ink cartridges and remanufactured ink cartridges.
The concept quickly spread across Canada, USA, Mexico and Puerto Rico, ranking first in category for the 2005 franchise 500 (A listing of the top franchisors globally) and opening 260 stores by 2007.
In 2008, Island Ink-Jet closed their wholly owned USA company Island Ink-Jet Systems USA, which operated 134 locations in the United States as a result of mismanagement by the owner.
In early 2009 Canadian franchisees and area developers Armin Sachse and Alex Schulz reviewed the franchisor's 2008 financial statements and realized that the franchisor was functionally insolvent and was likely to close in the near future. The two had been the most successful developers and largest franchisees within the system, having opened over 55 locations and owning 12 within their group of companies. The pair took action in order to protect the brand from the financial mismanagement of the then current owner.
The pair created an interim associate group capable of supplying stores with product should the franchisor close. In the fall of 2009 the franchisor closed its doors and stores continued to operate thanks in part to the associate group.
The Equipment Leasing Company Ltd. took legal action against the franchisor in Courtenay BC which was completed in late 2009. The company won a court order and pursuant to that court order all intellectual property relating to the Island Ink-Jet brand including and not limited to trademarks, websites, manuals, files and more were acquired by The Equipment Leasing Company Ltd.
With the supply chain intact and trademark issues resolved, The Equipment Leasing Company ceased all franchising activity in 2010 and opted to created a Licensing model whereby stores operate pursuant to a licensing agreement with the licensor. This program took over from the associate group model with the primary difference being that the licensing model ensures the integrity of the trademarks for all parties. All prior franchisees were provided the right (not requirement) to opt in to the new licensing program and the majority of stores across Canada exercised this option. Stores that did not exercise this option have been required to remove any branded signage and are no longer part of the Island Ink-Jet brand.
In 2011, Island Ink-Jet launched its online store allowing consumers to purchase directly online. The web store is unique in that customers are still dealing with a physical store location even when purchasing online.
Winners of the Barrie Chamber of Commerce Green Award -2005
Nomination for the London Chamber of Commerce Green Award -2006
Nominated Consumers Choice in Edmonton -2011
Island Ink-Jet stores offer a printer ink cartridge refill service and sell several varieties of laser toner cartridges including remanufactured cartridges
Remanufactured Toner Cartridge
Remanufactured toner cartridge is a printer consumable supplied with a laser printer. It contains the toner powder and a photo-sensitive drum that partners with the printer to produce the desired printout. It is usually produced by a third party manufacturer that recycles used original toner...
, compatible toner
Compatible Toner Cartridge
A Compatible toner cartridge is a printer consumable used on a laser printer to create various prints such as text files, images, and other materials. It is typically made by a third party printer supply maker which makes the product differently from the original equipment manufacturer supplies...
and name brand cartridges as well as name brand ink cartridges and remanufactured ink cartridges.
History
The company's first major expansion was with Ontario businessman Armin Sachse, who purchased the franchise rights for the Province of Ontario and opened three initial locations under his company "The Equipment Leasing Company Ltd."The concept quickly spread across Canada, USA, Mexico and Puerto Rico, ranking first in category for the 2005 franchise 500 (A listing of the top franchisors globally) and opening 260 stores by 2007.
In 2008, Island Ink-Jet closed their wholly owned USA company Island Ink-Jet Systems USA, which operated 134 locations in the United States as a result of mismanagement by the owner.
In early 2009 Canadian franchisees and area developers Armin Sachse and Alex Schulz reviewed the franchisor's 2008 financial statements and realized that the franchisor was functionally insolvent and was likely to close in the near future. The two had been the most successful developers and largest franchisees within the system, having opened over 55 locations and owning 12 within their group of companies. The pair took action in order to protect the brand from the financial mismanagement of the then current owner.
The pair created an interim associate group capable of supplying stores with product should the franchisor close. In the fall of 2009 the franchisor closed its doors and stores continued to operate thanks in part to the associate group.
The Equipment Leasing Company Ltd. took legal action against the franchisor in Courtenay BC which was completed in late 2009. The company won a court order and pursuant to that court order all intellectual property relating to the Island Ink-Jet brand including and not limited to trademarks, websites, manuals, files and more were acquired by The Equipment Leasing Company Ltd.
With the supply chain intact and trademark issues resolved, The Equipment Leasing Company ceased all franchising activity in 2010 and opted to created a Licensing model whereby stores operate pursuant to a licensing agreement with the licensor. This program took over from the associate group model with the primary difference being that the licensing model ensures the integrity of the trademarks for all parties. All prior franchisees were provided the right (not requirement) to opt in to the new licensing program and the majority of stores across Canada exercised this option. Stores that did not exercise this option have been required to remove any branded signage and are no longer part of the Island Ink-Jet brand.
In 2011, Island Ink-Jet launched its online store allowing consumers to purchase directly online. The web store is unique in that customers are still dealing with a physical store location even when purchasing online.
Environmental Record
Island Ink-Jet has refilled over 10 million cartridges to date.Winners of the Barrie Chamber of Commerce Green Award -2005
Nomination for the London Chamber of Commerce Green Award -2006
Nominated Consumers Choice in Edmonton -2011