Owner of Iowa-based The Toner Place explains how business came about and how it succeeds.
DesMoinesRegister.com profiled Bambi Wagner, the owner of The Toner Place, which sells remanufactured toner to customers in Iowa.
Wagner explained that she started the business six years ago, despite having an education professional background, and runs the business with her husband, repairing “most brands and models” of printers, fax machines and copiers as well as selling remanufactured toner.
“My husband had worked in this type of business prior and wanted to be able to concentrate completely on sales,” Wagner said. “It was one of those weird evenings when you sit around and say, ‘Hey, why don’t I open a business? I’ll own and run it and you can just do your sales.’ It turns out that was the plan that best utilizes our gifts and it’s worked out well.”
In terms of customers, the company deals with a range of people, from students with home printers to large corporations, school districts and government agencies. The Toner Place also offers to drop ship its products directly to the customer or will deliver and install the product as well.
Wagner said that customers love “our high quality product, low price and great customer service”, adding that “we take care of all of our customers like they are the only customer”. She believes that customer service is what helps the company to stand out above competition, commenting that “we often get to the customers so fast that they remark on how they just hung up the phone” and explaining how they “build great relationships with our customers and many become our friends […] My philosophy has been to treat customers the way I’d want to be treated if I were the customer”.
Based in Grimes, Iowa, Wagner said the company is in “a highly competitive business”, but that she is “pleased to have the designation of Targeted Small Business in Iowa […] As such, we want to serve Iowans and provide a cost savings in toner with a high quality product”.
The environment is also seen as “very important” to Wagner and her business, and she said: “We recycle everything possible. We are pleased to be listed on the DAS Green Products Buyer’s List for the State of Iowa.”
Commenting on the change in career direction, Wagner said: “I have a master’s degree in education administration and was the director of education for Character Counts Iowa for five years and a national trainer for Character Counts for 10 years. This business allows me to utilize all of those skills in one setting. No day is ever the same as another and I love the challenges and variety.”