![\"GP_Logo](\"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/GP_Logo-Copy-300x141.png\"){kind=logo}
It only seems like yesterday when Green Project, Inc. emerged on the scene providing an alternative to OEM imaging supplies. In this instance, \u201conly yesterday\u201d was about 8\u00bd years ago, but my, oh my how things have changed for Green Project since then.<\/p>\n
The company has been enjoying consistent growth, driven in large part by the relationships it has established with some of the document imaging industry\u2019s leading wholesalers as well as expanding into private label relationships and bonding with some of the leading Big Box stores.<\/p>\n
The company is considered a leader in recycled Epson inkjet cartridges, but also specializes in Brother, Canon, Hewlett Packard, Dell, Lexmark, Samsung, and many other brands.<\/p>\n
After the formation of the company, Green Project launched its flagship brand, Ink for Dummies, which has since become a staple in the Big Box arena and with online retailers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was amazing to break into the Big Box space where no other toner company was currently in,\u201d recalls Joseph Wu, Green Project\u2019s president.<\/p>\n
![\"Joseph](\"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Joseph-Wu-Copy-300x225.jpg\")
Joseph Wu, president of Green Project<\/p><\/div>\n
Customer Satisfaction<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s no secret why Green Project has been so successful and why customers keep calling.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have competitive pricing, but what keeps customers coming back is quality product and good service,\u201d states Wu. \u201cThose are the customers we typically want to deal with. We don\u2019t have as many customers that are just price oriented because those [types of] customers don\u2019t stay with us very long.\u201d<\/p>\n Most customers who rely on Green Project for ink and toner have been buying from them since the beginning. Those customers are scattered around the globe, from North America to Mexico and Latin America, to Europe and Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cThis last year has been amazing for our company in terms of growth,\u201d observes Wu.<\/p>\n Offering a wide range of consumables with an uncanny ability to quickly meet customers\u2019 needs have also impacted growth. Green Project carries more than 2,000 SKUs and typically has two to three months of inventory on hand at any one time.<\/p>\n \u201cWe try to carry the most popular items to the most obscure,\u201d says Wu.<\/p>\n Fast order fulfillment is another asset that makes a difference for its customers. Orders placed by 3 p.m. on the West Coast and by noon on the East Coast ship the same day. Green Project\u2019s Jessup, MD warehouse stocks about 90 percent of the products found in its Hacienda Heights, CA warehouse.<\/p>\n More importantly, customers appreciate the margins they can achieve on Green Project products.<\/p>\n \u201cAny of our distributors that sell the Ink for Dummies line will tell you the margins are great,\u201d says Wu. \u201cIf you can provide good margins and good quality product then customers will continue to come back.\u201d<\/p>\n Green Project’s company headquarters.<\/p><\/div>\n The Green in Green Project<\/strong><\/p>\n Ever since it opened its doors Green Project has maintained a strong emphasis on recycling and taken its environmental responsibility seriously.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we first started, our industry didn\u2019t put as much focus on the environmental side,\u201d says Wu. \u201cThe name \u2018Green Project\u2019 tells customers that we are a green industry in the sense that we\u2019re recycling and reusing discarded ink and toner cartridges. That\u2019s something we share with the public. We\u2019re not just an aftermarket ink and toner company. We\u2019re not here just to sell ink and toner; we\u2019re here to sell environmentally friendly ink and toner. That\u2019s an important message that other companies in the industry sometimes forget to promote.\u201d<\/p>\n Green Project takes quality cartridges and puts them through an extensive cleaning process with the end result a high-quality finished repaired cartridge. Products are extensively developed by the best engineers while meeting ISO 9001 quality management standards. It\u2019s no surprise then that the company\u2019s strength is product development. Wu points out that the company\u2019s repair process is different from that of many other recyclers, allowing for an even higher quality cartridge with a lower defect rate.<\/p>\n Manufacturing facilities are based both outside the United States and in California. By leveraging the strengths of each location, Green Project can offer the highest quality products.<\/p>\n The company also includes prepaid mailing bags with its products so end users can ship their used cartridges back to the company. Green Project even assists its wholesalers in developing their own recycling programs.<\/p>\n Submitted for Your Reconsideration<\/strong><\/p>\n When asked what customers or prospective customers might be surprised to hear about Green Project, Wu focuses on prospects who haven\u2019t done business with the company yet or those who may have done business with Green Project early on, but are no longer customers.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the past few years we have transformed our business to truly focus around the quality aspect of our product,\u201d emphasizes Wu. \u201cWhen we started we were focused on price, growth, and selling more cartridges. We listened to our customers and put our focus on quality. Our quality control standards are now the highest they\u2019ve ever been and our defect rate as of today is the lowest it has ever been in the history of our company. Current customers who buy from us know it and are happy. At the end of the day, to survive and grow in this industry it\u2019s all about product quality and has less to do with price. Price only gets the customer through the door.\u201d<\/p>\n Equally notable is Green Project\u2019s focus on patents. Its Green Project green gear for HP and Canon toners, which is customs approved, is described by Wu as the best alternative to the OEM gear.<\/p>\n \u201cIn this day and age for our industry, we know that intellectual property is an important aspect of this industry,\u201d affirms Wu. \u201cCurrently many factories utilize our gear and it is one of the hottest selling gears on the market. We were prestigiously awarded the \u2018Patent Innovation\u2019 award for 2015 at the RT Imaging summit.\u201d<\/p>\n What started 8\u00bd years ago with toner and ink cartridges expanded into filaments for 3D printers about three years ago as Green Project became one of the first companies in the ink and toner space to truly market a full offering of 3D printer filaments. Those filaments were developed by the company\u2019s engineers and passed through the same rigorous quality control systems as its inks and toners prior to hitting the market. That has since led to the creation of a subsidiary, GP3D, to further expand Green Project\u2019s footprint in the 3D printing space with the production of its own line of 3D printers. The first 3D devices, the Root 3D and Root Plus 3D printers, were introduced during the fourth quarter of 2015.<\/p>\n An example of the 3D filaments available from Green Project an GP3D.<\/p><\/div>\n Customers asked for a 3D printer and GP3D took the initiative to develop a product and bring it to market. Instrumental in bringing the first two products to market was a Kickstarter campaign launched in early 2015. The campaign was fully funded within just a few months and backers began receiving their 3D printers in October. That was quite an achievement.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re proud we can fulfill all of our backers because one of the biggest issues with Kickstarter, especially in the 3D space, is that a lot of the successful projects backed never came to fruition,\u201d observes Wu. \u201cWe were able to get our 3D printer manufactured and to the customers within six months.\u201d<\/p>\n The same reasons why customers rely on Green Project for ink and toner are the same reasons they count on the company for 3D filaments\u2014service and quality. Wu expects that to remain true for the 3D printers as well.<\/p>\n \u201cWe build a quality product,\u201d emphasizes Wu. \u201cWe\u2019re not out to just make a 3D printer and sell it and not support it.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the new 3D printers from GP3D funded by a Kickstarter campaign.<\/p><\/div>\n The early returns on the quality of GP3D\u2019s 3D printers have been positive.<\/p>\n \u201cOur Kickstarter backers are happy with their 3D printers,\u201d reports Wu. \u201cThe quality has been very stable and we are now selling them through some of our retail partners. That\u2019s been a huge step for us.\u201d<\/p>\n The company is in discussion with its wholesaler partners to take on the products as well. Wu is optimistic and expects wholesalers to embrace the 3D products as they gain a deeper understanding of the product category.<\/p>\n \u201cThe benefit of our 3D printer is that the price points are fair\u2014$549 and $649\u2014placing them within reach of small businesses and consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n Without a doubt the introduction of its 3D printers was the highlight of the past year for the company.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re making a big push to gain a larger footprint in that industry,\u201d notes Wu. \u201c3D printing is only going to grow; it will change and evolve and as it changes and evolves we want to be there.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n GP3D 3D printer<\/p><\/div>\n A Bright Future<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n If past history and recent events are any indicators, then Green Project has a bright future. Currently, Wu is excited about a few projects on the ink and toner side of the business that the company will be rolling out in the Ink for Dummies line and its private label business, as well as a dongle gear alternative that will be an industry changer for HP and Canon toners. And, as he alluded to earlier, he\u2019s especially optimistic about 3D printing.<\/p>\n Anyway you look at it there\u2019s no place for Green Project and GP3D to go but up.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re still in our infancy and expect to grow,\u201d says Wu. \u201cWe are doing a big push at CES. We have a great booth location in the 3D printing section. We feel with CES we\u2019ll be able to bring on more dealers. 2016 should be a year that helps define who Green Project is. We\u2019re almost to our 10-year anniversary and 2016 will be a big year for us.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It only seems like yesterday when Green Project, Inc. emerged on the scene providing an alternative to OEM imaging supplies. In this instance, \u201conly yesterday\u201d was about 8\u00bd years ago, but my, oh my how things have changed for Green Project since then. The company has been enjoying consistent growth, driven in large part by the relationships it has established with some of the document imaging industry\u2019s leading wholesalers as well as expanding into private label relationships and bonding with some of the leading Big Box stores. The company is considered a leader in recycled Epson inkjet cartridges, but also specializes in Brother, Canon, Hewlett Packard, Dell, Lexmark, Samsung, and many other brands. After the formation of the company, Green Project launched its flagship brand, Ink for Dummies, which has since become a staple in the Big Box arena and with online retailers. \u201cThat was amazing to break into the Big Box space where no other toner company was currently in,\u201d recalls Joseph Wu, Green Project\u2019s president. Customer Satisfaction\u00a0 It\u2019s no secret why Green Project has been so successful and why customers keep calling. \u201cWe have competitive pricing, but what keeps customers coming back is quality product and good service,\u201d states Wu. \u201cThose are the customers we typically want to deal with. We don\u2019t have as many customers that are just price oriented because those [types of] customers don\u2019t stay with us very long.\u201d Most customers who rely on Green Project for ink and toner have been buying from them since the beginning. Those customers are scattered around the globe, from North America to Mexico and Latin America, to Europe and Australia. \u201cThis last year has been amazing for our company in terms of growth,\u201d observes Wu. Offering a wide range of consumables with an uncanny ability to quickly meet customers\u2019 needs have also impacted growth. Green Project carries more than 2,000 SKUs and typically has two to three months of inventory on hand at any one time. \u201cWe try to carry the most popular items to the most obscure,\u201d says Wu. Fast order fulfillment is another asset that makes a difference for its customers. Orders placed by 3 p.m. on the West Coast and by noon on the East Coast ship the same day. Green Project\u2019s Jessup, MD warehouse stocks about 90 percent of the products found in its Hacienda Heights, CA warehouse. More importantly, customers appreciate the margins they can achieve on Green Project products. \u201cAny of our distributors that sell the Ink for Dummies line will tell you the margins are great,\u201d says Wu. \u201cIf you can provide good margins and good quality product then customers will continue to come back.\u201d The Green in Green Project Ever since it opened its doors Green Project has maintained a strong emphasis on recycling and taken its environmental responsibility seriously. \u201cWhen we first started, our industry didn\u2019t put as much focus on the environmental side,\u201d says Wu. \u201cThe name \u2018Green Project\u2019 tells customers that we are a green industry in the sense that we\u2019re recycling and reusing discarded ink and toner cartridges. That\u2019s something we share with the public. We\u2019re not just an aftermarket ink and toner company. We\u2019re not here just to sell ink and toner; we\u2019re here to sell environmentally friendly ink and toner. That\u2019s an important message that other companies in the industry sometimes forget to promote.\u201d Green Project takes quality cartridges and puts them through an extensive cleaning process with the end result a high-quality finished repaired cartridge. Products are extensively developed by the best engineers while meeting ISO 9001 quality management standards. It\u2019s no surprise then that the company\u2019s strength is product development. Wu points out that the company\u2019s repair process is different from that of many other recyclers, allowing for an even higher quality cartridge with a lower defect rate. Manufacturing facilities are based both outside the United States and in California. By leveraging the strengths of each location, Green Project can offer the highest quality products. The company also includes prepaid mailing bags with its products so end users can ship their used cartridges back to the company. Green Project even assists its wholesalers in developing their own recycling programs. Submitted for Your Reconsideration When asked what customers or prospective customers might be surprised to hear about Green Project, Wu focuses on prospects who haven\u2019t done business with the company yet or those who may have done business with Green Project early on, but are no longer customers. \u201cIn the past few years we have transformed our business to truly focus around the quality aspect of our product,\u201d emphasizes Wu. \u201cWhen we started we were focused on price, growth, and selling more cartridges. We listened to our customers and put our focus on quality. Our quality control standards are now the highest they\u2019ve ever been and our defect rate as of today is the lowest it has ever been in the history of our company. Current customers who buy from us know it and are happy. At the end of the day, to survive and grow in this industry it\u2019s all about product quality and has less to do with price. Price only gets the customer through the door.\u201d Equally notable is Green Project\u2019s focus on patents. Its Green Project green gear for HP and Canon toners, which is customs approved, is described by Wu as the best alternative to the OEM gear. \u201cIn this day and age for our industry, we know that intellectual property is an important aspect of this industry,\u201d affirms Wu. \u201cCurrently many factories utilize our gear and it is one of the hottest selling gears on the market. We were prestigiously awarded the \u2018Patent Innovation\u2019 award for 2015 at the RT Imaging summit.\u201d From Green Project to GP3D What started 8\u00bd years ago with toner and ink cartridges expanded into filaments for 3D printers about three years ago as Green Project became one of the first companies in the ink and toner space to truly market a full […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1640],"tags":[94,2578,2383,2382],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15660"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15660"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15660\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15670,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15660\/revisions\/15670"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15660"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15660"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Green](\"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/gp-door-Copy-300x225.jpg\")
![\"gp3d](\"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/gp3d-1280x720-Copy-300x169.jpg\")
From Green Project to GP3D<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"An](\"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Filaments-225x300.jpg\")
![\"One](\"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/GP3D-printer-206x300.png\")
![\"GP3D](\"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/GP3D-3D-printer-200x300.png\")