Until recently, third-party players had focused on offering do-it-yourself refill solutions, compatible ink tanks, or modified inkjet cartridges with click-in or station-type solutions. A new trend has now emerged where users take their cartridges into a shop to be refilled while they wait.

One company in the thick of this trend is Cartridge World, Europe’s largest refilling chain with over 500 locations worldwide. InfoTrends/CAP Ventures new white paper entitled The Success of Europe's While-You-Wait Inkjet Refilling Business  focusses on the organisation, earning structure, business concept, expansion strategy, and future potential of Cartridge World. The report also discusses emerging competitors, including Smart Cartridge, Colorfant, and Cartridge City.

Cartridge World’s primary business is refilling empty printer cartridges for inkjet printers, but the company can refill toner cartridges as well. The mission of the franchised operation is to offer a while-you-wait inkjet cartridge refilling service that is completed within 20 minutes of a customer entering the shop. InfoTrends/CAP Ventures’ research estimates that between 100 and 200 people visit a Cartridge World store per week.

“It remains to be seen whether refilling shops will add another level of competition to OEMs or primarily attract users of third-party solutions,” commented Catherine Cresswell, Director at InfoTrends/CAP Ventures. “Nevertheless, it is important to note that refilling stores tend to be quite successful once they have become established in a community, as they provide a cheaper alternative to consumers.”

This white paper is available immediately to clients of InfoTrends/CAP Ventures’ European Communication Supplies Consulting Service. For more information about the report or to make a purchase, please contact Jason Russell at + or via e-mail at  .

InfoTrends/CAP Ventures is the leading worldwide market research and strategic consulting firm for the digital imaging and document solutions industry. We provide research, analysis, forecasts, and advice to help clients understand market trends, identify opportunities, and develop strategies to grow their businesses. Additional information about InfoTrends/CAP Ventures is available on the Web at www.infotrendsresearch.com.