{{Multiple issues| {{Orphan|date=April 2017}} {{refimprove|date=June 2012}} }}

'''Island Ink-Jet''' was a large printer ink and laser toner supply chain store with stores in Canada and Puerto Rico. The brand was currently owned by The Equipment leasing company ltd. and based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, and locations operate under a franchising business model. The chain offered a printer ink cartridge refill service and sold several varieties of ink cartridges and toner cartridges including remanufactured cartridges.

==History== The company was founded by Carey Porcher and Rob Dixon in Courtenay, British Columbia in 1999.<ref name="courtdown">Wiens, Christiana (11 September 2009). [http://www2.canada.com/comoxvalleyecho/news/community/story.html?id=294a3e0a-f0a3-41b9-bd0e-3fce9901ef15 Island Ink-Jet out of business]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Comox Valley Echo''</ref><ref name="specretail">Dawidowska, Kasia. [http://specialtyretail.com/issue/2005/04/retailer-profiles/ink_refill_retail_franchise/ Getting Good Ink] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512175620/http://specialtyretail.com/issue/2005/04/retailer-profiles/ink_refill_retail_franchise/ |date=2012-05-12 }}, ''Specialty Retail Report'' (Spring 2005)</ref> The first major expansion came under Ontario businessman Armin Sachse, who purchased the franchise rights for Ontario and opened three initial locations under his company "The Equipment Leasing Company Ltd.

Franchises quickly spread through 2006, as locations opened across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.<ref name="franc1">Stout, Sarah (1 November 2003). [https://web.archive.org/web/20141011092711/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-111270185.html Successful branding ... without the hot poker], ''Franchising World''</ref><ref name="2003rank">(1 February 2003). [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304034534/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-129013774.html Who new? The top 50 latest additions to the world of franchising], ''Entrepreneur (magazine)'' (ranking company as #33 among companies that began franchising after 1998, as of February 2003)</ref><ref name="art1003">O'Brien, George (1 November 2004). [https://web.archive.org/web/20141029171058/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-750558001.html Ink-orporated], ''BusinessWest'' (story on expansion in Massachusetts)</ref><ref name="art1002">Alexander, Deborah (9 November 2004). [https://archive.today/20130126154859/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-124345725.html Companies that refill used inkjet cartridges fill niche in market], ''Omaha World-Herald''</ref> ranking first in category for the 2005 franchise 500 (A listing of the top franchisors globally) and opening 260 stores by 2007.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wing-Tam|first=Pui|title=Entrepreneurs Offer Cheaper Printer Ink|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB111871321693558814 |accessdate=5 July 2011|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=June 14, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ink-refill firms aim at printer giants|url=https://archive.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2006/09/11/ink_refill_firms_aim_at_printer_giants/|access-date=5 July 2011|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=September 11, 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927174738/http://articles.boston.com/2006-09-11/business/29242757_1_ink-cartridges-replacement-cartridges-cartridge-world|archive-date=27 September 2011}}</ref> As of June 2005, the chain had 222 locations—146 in Canada, 73 in the United States, and 3 in Mexico.<ref name="article1001">Weschler, Alan (22 June 2005). [https://archive.today/20130125093743/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-157897207.html Seeing green in ink refills], ''Albany Times-Union''</ref> At that point there were 1103 total stores that specialized in offering ink cartridge refill services in North America<ref>{{cite news|last=Lyra Research|title=Office-Supply Superstores and Drugstore Chains Will Dominate Ink and Toner Cartridge-Refilling Market by 2009|url=http://www.lyra.com/PressRoom.nsf/a6df7dce4a0ca65f85256d160061e4eb/bdd67b69dcb372ee8525721b004ca159?OpenDocument|accessdate=29 June 2012|newspaper=Lyra Resedarch|date=November 3, 2006|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821200617/http://www.lyra.com/PressRoom.nsf/a6df7dce4a0ca65f85256d160061e4eb/bdd67b69dcb372ee8525721b004ca159?OpenDocument|archivedate=21 August 2007}}</ref> and Island Ink-Jet had captured 20% of the in-store ink cartridge refill marketplace. It was second-largest ink-refill chain, behind only Cartridge World.<ref name="ref1004">Irwin, Stephanie (1 May 2005). [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095323/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-11943643.html Full-service fill-up for an empty printer -- Island wants to grab its share of large inkjet pie], ''Dayton Daily News''</ref> A large portion of these locations were in mall kiosks.<ref name="mall">Mearns, Dan (7 December 2004). [https://web.archive.org/web/20141011022947/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-125926333.html New kiosk sets up inkjet business at Port Charlotte, Fla., mall], ''The Sun (Port Charlotte)''</ref><ref name="mall2">DeMoss, Jeff (29 July 2004). [https://web.archive.org/web/20160409052620/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-119883218.html Ogden, Utah, mall kiosk refills printer cartridges], ''Standard-Examiner'' (article in chain's expansion in Utah)</ref>

With a general decline in the field of independent cartridge refillers, Island Ink-Jet closed their wholly owned USA company Island Ink-Jet Systems USA in 2008, which had operated 134 locations in the United States.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}

In early 2009, 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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jim|title=HOW DID ALEX SHULTZ SAVE ISLAND INK-JET|url=http://www.tonernews.com/message.aspx?vy=bb&id=22170|accessdate=5 July 2011|newspaper=TonerNews|date=January 25, 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326150328/http://www.tonernews.com/message.aspx?vy=bb&id=22170|archivedate=26 March 2012}}</ref> As the most successful franchisee within the system, having opened over 55 locations and owning 12 within their group of companies, they stepped in to take over the brand.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} 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. then filed suit 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. The Equipment Leasing Company ceased all franchising activity in 2010 and opted to create 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 into 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.<ref>{{cite web|last=Staff|first=AI|title=Retail Cartridge Refiller Island Ink-Jet Opens E-Commerce Website|url=http://www.action-intell.com/2011/03/03/retail-cartridge-refiller-island-ink-jet-opens-e-commerce-website/|work=Industry News|date=3 March 2011|publisher=Actionable Intelligence|accessdate=5 July 2011}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading== * [https://archive.today/20130131230124/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/1050804121.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+08,+2006&author=Peter+Krivel&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Ink+cartridges+Refill+or+new%3F;+Experts+debate+pros+and+cons+Cost+savings+versus+quality&pqatl=google Ink cartridges Refill or new?; Experts debate pros and cons Cost savings versus quality<!-- Bot generated title -->] * [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MPA8AAAAIBAJ&sjid=lfcFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1050,25285550&dq=island-ink-jet&hl=en The Issaquah Press – Google News Archive Search<!-- Bot generated title -->] * [http://ecotrust.ca/energy/refill-not-landfill-a-winning-slogan-island-ink-jet Ecotrust Canada - 'Refill, Not Landfill' a winning slogan for Island Ink-Jet] * [http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2006/10/02/story3.html The Business Review - Fill 'er up: Printer cartridge recyclers turn ink into income] * [http://www.sptimes.com/2004/10/11/news_pf/Technology/Cost_of_ink_cartridge.shtml St Petersburg Times - Cost of Ink Cartridges too High? Try Refills] * [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/makeitcount/2002902393_keepyourmoney02.html Seattle Times - Refill don't replace]

Category:Companies based in Mississauga