Printer cartridge refilling retailer Cartridge World is celebrating its fifth birthday in the UK in style after announcing its most successful trading year to date and is planning to open 60 further new stores in 2006. A group turnover of in excess of £40 million for 2005 has seen the high street franchise enjoy its best year yet.

The international franchise, which started in Australia in 1997, now encompasses over 1,100 stores worldwide in 28 locations including the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, USA and Canada. It anticipates reaching in excess of 1,500 stores trading by the end of this year.

"As a franchise, we have come a long way in a remarkably short time," says Duncan Berry, Cartridge World Director of European Franchising. "We are keen for ambitious, determined potential franchisees to share in our success by taking a market-leading brand into new areas and help meet the ever-increasing demands from local business and domestic users, eager to make savings on their spending levels as well as remaining environmentally aware."

A network of more than 280 stores now exists in the UK with nearly a third of existing franchisees successfully operating multiple stores. Berry is confident that the number of UK stores will soon pass the 300 mark, making it one of the UK's biggest recent retail success stories.

"There is no shortage of consumer demand when your main business principle is ensuring customers save money," he continues. "By refilling instead of buying new cartridges, people can save up to 60 per cent. With replacement cartridges costing up to £190, there are considerable savings to be made. Then there's the simple factor that because cartridge recycling is environmentally friendly, people are not only saving money but also helping to save the environment in the process."

Published: 14 June 2006

Back to news