News from EntrePaducah

Q&A with Pam Harrison

Owner of "the cartridge shoppe"

What is your business?

The Cartridge Shoppe is a locally owned and operated business; we carry a full line of remanufactured laser and inkjet printer cartridges. Many of these cartridges are done in-house, others are outsourced.

Our retail store is located at 3485 Park Ave., Paducah, KY 42001. We are across the street from Paducah Ford.

What services do you offer?

Our toner cartridges are produced in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, utilizing the most stringent quality control and test procedures. Every cartridge is disassembled and each component is cleaned and/or replaced. Once the cartridge is filled and reassembled, it undergoes a comprehensive testing procedure prior to delivery. Our suppliers are the world's premier toner remanufacturing companies and have been in the industry for many years. They focus on quality and innovation which allows them to produce cartridges that meet the performance of OEM cartridges from HP, Lexmark, Dell, IBM, Canon, Sharp, Xerox and others. They boast a 1-2% defective rate, lower than some of the OEM's.

Our inkjet cartridges go through a multi step process. We inspect the cartridge for any visible damage to the print head or circuits and then steam clean/ultrasonic clean the cartridge. We remove any old ink and residue, then fill with the world's best inks that are specific to your cartridges, change the chip (if a chipped cartridge) and test them - and you save at least 25%. We always fill to capacity (unlike many new cartridges).

We offer free delivery to local businesses and free shipping on all orders over $50 to customers outside of the delivery area. Customers can come into the store, call or fax in orders, or order online at www.thecartridgeshoppe.com.

What made you decide to start a business?

I was looking for a business to start in Paducah, and after researching many different businesses, this opportunity rose to the top. We are helping our customers save money on their printing costs, and we are doing something good for the environment. Each cartridge remanufactured saves space in our landfills. Recycling empty cartridges is easy and environmentally beneficial. It helps reduce solid waste, conserves raw materials and the energy needed to produce a new product.

How do you think you were prepared to start a business?

My husband and I prayed a lot before we started this business to make sure it was the right decision for us. I did as much research about this type of business as I could, I talked with several other stores in different parts of the country to get a good feel for this type of business, and of course, we did a business plan. I am an entrepreneur at heart; I have owned businesses in the past, so I know what it takes to run a business.

Who supported you in the beginning?

My husband, Dan, is my biggest support. He has more than 30 years experience in retail management, so even though he is not in the store every day, he is an integral part of our business.

What are your future plans for yourself and your business?

We are still a new business; our 2 year anniversary is April, so we are still growing. We would like to double our business this year; a lofty goal, I know. But that would enable my husband to work in the business full time as well, which is our ultimate goal.