Saving on Printer Ink for Business Expenses

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Discussion Overview

This thread explores various strategies participants use to save on printer ink while managing their business expenses related to Pampered Chef. Participants share personal experiences and methods for reducing printing costs, particularly concerning guest special flyers and other promotional materials.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, mentions streamlining business expenses and seeks ideas for saving on printer ink, particularly when printing multiple guest special flyers.
  • Another participant shares their experience of passing out fewer flyers at shows and suggests printing only a limited number for hosts and personal use.
  • Several users mention using services like Office Max and Walgreens for cheaper printing and ink refills, highlighting specific costs associated with these services.
  • One participant discusses the benefits of emailing documents to reduce printing needs and mentions using a bookings binder to keep track of specials.
  • Another participant notes the effectiveness of using visual aids during shows instead of printing multiple copies for guests.
  • Some participants express a preference for printing in black and white or using draft settings to conserve ink.
  • One participant shares a method of printing two pages per sheet to save on paper and ink costs.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the best approach to managing printing needs, with some participants advocating for fewer printed materials while others suggest alternative methods to reduce costs. No clear consensus emerges on a single best practice.

Contextual Notes

Participants share a variety of personal experiences and preferences regarding printing and ink usage, reflecting the diverse approaches within the consultant community.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants looking for cost-saving strategies related to printing and managing business materials may find the shared experiences and methods beneficial.

chefannie
chefannie
Messages
265
Hi all! I am in the process of trying to streamline my business expenses (promised my DH) and am trying to figure out how to save on printer ink. For example in my host packs I put the following: catalog, order form, drawing slip, a copy of the recipe I am making and a printout of the guest special. The problem doesn't really come into play until I have to print out 20 guest special flyers (January was a killer because it was two pages). I am going through ink like crazy. Any ideas would be appreciated. :love:
 
Just pass out one flyer and pass it at your shows! I also buy my ink on ebay for huge savings!!!
 
I go to office max and get my copies in B&W for .03 cents a copy saves me I feel a lot of money
 
I have stopped printing out guest special flyers for everyone at a show. I print out 5 for the host...1 for her and 1 for each of the 4 catalogs I give her to get outside orders. I also print out 2 for me...one for my desk and one for my bag. I talk about the guest special 2 or 3 times at the show and show them the flyer. I have found that they generally don't look at it very closely unless you point it out anyway.

Also, you can get your ink cartridges refilled at Walgreens and some other stores which is a lot cheaper.
 
If you have a walgreens near by they fill ink for $15.00 or so..... or go to office max and make copies.
 
You can also get a really good discount at Office Max if you print out the Pampered perks card form CC. I made color copies there before Christmas and they were $18 before the discount and $10 after.
 
I email my docs to Office depot online using our pampered perks and get copies for a steal!
They'll even make pads of door prize slips for you if you use a different format than what PC provides
 
If you have a walgreens near by they fill ink for $15.00 or so
Click to expand...

CVS and some Wal-Marts are doing the refills now, too. That's less than half the price of a new cartridge for my printer.
 
I use a bookings binder, that I keep one copy in sheet protectors of all the specials for the next 2 months. I pass this around at my shows. For my hosts I try to email more then anything, a lot of people in this area like that plus it saves me copy costs and postage. When I have to make copies I work at Staples so I get a discount. But if I didn't I would defiantly go to a pampered perk option.
 
OfficeMax also refills ink cartridges.But I'm in the "fewer copies and in B/W" camp. I print mine on my laser printer, which was costlier than an inkjet printer for the equipment, but I've had it 6 years with no problems. (Never had an inkjet last more than a year or 2 without giving up the ghost.) And I print 4 copies of the special for each host pack, in B/W on brightly colored paper. I laminate the one from the newsletter and pass it at my shows. Guests at shows don't read all that extra stuff, so don't even waste your money printing copies for everyone.
 
I would say no more guest specials for every guest.
Get the tri-fold 3-ring display and put it in there for all the guests to see.
 
I give the host only 1 copy of the host special (color) and on the back is the guest special (b/w). I have a copy of both in color in my reminder binder.
 
riggs62 said:
I email my docs to Office depot online using our pampered perks and get copies for a steal!
They'll even make pads of door prize slips for you if you use a different format than what PC provides
Click to expand...

Thank you. I didn't realize this.
I haven't used the flyers on CC in over a year. There are some great alternative flyers posted in the flyer forum. Someone just recently posted one with both the March and April guest and host specials. It looks great! They are a great option if you still want to put a specials flyer in each guest packet.
 
I agree with everyone else. I put 1 copy of host special and 1 copy of guest special in clear protector sheets in my host packet. Then I use the flip top chart during my show to talk about the host and guest special. I'll pass it around if the guests ask. I also use a visual at my show. If I have 1 or more of the host/guest special, I set them in a central area (middle of the table, coffee table, end table) away from all my other products. I used small plastic photo holders from Walmart and made one say "Host Special" and one say "Guest Special". This way when I'm talking about either, I can point to the area where they are and show a visual of what's on special.
 
I made 4 copies of the jan special b/c of the prices. i put them in sheet protectors. i did a show last night w/ 13-14 people and it worked great. everybody played nicely and shared.
 
I just email the host everything I can, put guest special in clear plastic to pass around.
 
I email as much as I can too. I put the guest special from CN into a clear plastic sheet and will pass that around now. I used to print out a guest special for every guest but they don't seem to even see it anyway... or care what's on the sheet anyway.
 
I use my own order forms that I got from this site and update them monthly with the correct Guest Special. That way it's listed on the bottom of the form and each guest will see it when they complete their order. I also mention it at the show too! Also, you can download Outside Order Forms from Consultant's Corner and use these as your order forms, but you will be printing out a sales receipt for each customer then!

You can also print two sheets to a page (side by side) by going to the area marked "zoom" on your print page. (I have MicroSoft Word) And clicking the drop down menu and selecting 2 pages per print, then printing as usual. I didn't know this even existed until one of my downline explained it to me!

Sometimes we overlook what our computers can do for us because we are creatures of habit!

One more suggestion, make sure you are printing on the "draft" preference instead of "normal" quality print. It saves a ton of ink!
 
chefannie said:
Hi all! I am in the process of trying to streamline my business expenses (promised my DH) and am trying to figure out how to save on printer ink. For example in my host packs I put the following: catalog, order form, drawing slip, a copy of the recipe I am making and a printout of the guest special. The problem doesn't really come into play until I have to print out 20 guest special flyers (January was a killer because it was two pages). I am going through ink like crazy. Any ideas would be appreciated. :love:
Click to expand...

Instead of printing out the recipe offer to email it to the guests, or better yet post a copy of it on your website.. or if it's in the Season's Best offer it to them for only $1 ! Joke with them that it costs you more than $1 to print a copy, so why not have a whole book of recipes!

Good Luck !
 
Jess_K said:
Instead of printing out the recipe offer to email it to the guests, or better yet post a copy of it on your website.. or if it's in the Season's Best offer it to them for only $1 ! Joke with them that it costs you more than $1 to print a copy, so why not have a whole book of recipes!

Good Luck !
Click to expand...

I like that idea! I have been trying to stick with the SB this season, just to make it easier on me picking out recipes.

I usually go to Office Max and make copies. I only give the host 1 host/guest special sheet for her pass around and I have one that I pass around in my binder. I used to make the monthly OOF's too, but someone posted a generic one that you can use month to month. I was making those monthly copies and not even using them. What a waste!! I found that customers weren't really looking at the guest special on the order form either.

I didn't know that Office Depot will make some door prize slips! I may have to do that, I don't really like the new ones that PC came out with. I liked having the Yes/No/Maybe boxes on them.
 
Also - Office Max will give you $3 back for each printer cartridge you return for recycling......so that is a way to save a few $$ on your cartridges.


QUESTION: How many times can you refill a cartridge?
 
These are all some really great tips! I am using alot of ink! I have folders that I pass out at all my shows. Included in them are Monthly Guest/Host Specials(in clear page protector back to back), a catalog that I have attached in the folder so no-one leaves with a catalog that cost about .45 a piece. Then in the pocket I put a OOF, Name Sticker (very helpful in a large crowd), door prize/question slip and anything pertaining to a game if we are playing one. It saves money on the catalogs but hits you hard with the fliers.

Does anyone find that the flier's have helped them to sell more or book more or do you find they are useless?
 
PamperedPrincess02 said:
These are all some really great tips! I am using alot of ink! I have folders that I pass out at all my shows. Included in them are Monthly Guest/Host Specials(in clear page protector back to back), a catalog that I have attached in the folder so no-one leaves with a catalog that cost about .45 a piece. Then in the pocket I put a OOF, Name Sticker (very helpful in a large crowd), door prize/question slip and anything pertaining to a game if we are playing one. It saves money on the catalogs but hits you hard with the fliers.

Does anyone find that the flier's have helped them to sell more or book more or do you find they are useless?
Click to expand...

The flier's have not helped me. Just point out during your shows what the guest special is - especially the "Spend $60, Get ________ Free" and most of the time, if they are spending $40+, they will go ahead and get more to get that free item. I always point out too the host specials too.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some effective ways to save on printer ink for my direct sales business?

To save on printer ink, consider using draft mode for less important documents, printing in black and white instead of color when possible, and utilizing double-sided printing to reduce paper usage. Additionally, you can explore third-party ink cartridges or refilling services, which are often more cost-effective than brand-name cartridges.

Is it worth investing in a high-yield ink cartridge for my printer?

Yes, high-yield ink cartridges can be a great investment for your business. They typically offer a lower cost per page compared to standard cartridges, meaning you can print more pages before needing to replace them. This can lead to significant savings over time, especially if you print frequently.

Can I use printer ink savings as a tax deduction for my direct sales business?

Yes, printer ink and other office supplies can typically be deducted as business expenses on your taxes. Be sure to keep accurate records of your purchases and consult with a tax professional to ensure you are following all applicable tax laws and maximizing your deductions.

Are there any subscription services that can help me save on printer ink?

Yes, many printer manufacturers offer subscription services that provide ink delivery based on your printing habits. These services often come with a discount on ink prices and can help ensure you never run out of ink, making them a convenient option for your direct sales business.

What type of printer is best for minimizing ink costs in a direct sales business?

Inkjet printers are generally more cost-effective for low-volume printing, while laser printers are better for high-volume printing due to their lower cost per page. If your business involves printing a lot of documents, a monochrome laser printer might be the best option for minimizing ink costs.

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