Nancy McGill is a true relationship builder, and that strength has been key to her success as the owner of Cartridge World Lawrenceville, which recently won the Chamber’s Small Business (0-5 Employees) Award for all of Gwinnett County. “This award means so much to me. It feels so good to be recognized for the way our team works together and helps our customers,” she says.
McGill’s company serves a diverse base of local customers through printer sales and repairs, ink and toner cartridges, and secure shredding, but it’s the relationships behind these services that truly differentiate her company. “We get to know our customers and their goals. We get to know their company and the print needs of each department. Then we’re able to recommend the printing products that fit them best and help them save money,” McGill explains.
She says that her team focuses on educating customers, troubleshooting printer problems, and proactively helping them get the most from their print-related purchases. Team members pride themselves on giving customers personalized service that makes printing easy, affordable and efficient. “In this day and age when you can buy anything online for any price, it’s important for customers to know how cheap products can damage their printers,” she says. “Our customers know they can call us for help and talk with a real person. We solve real problems in real time to help our customers be more successful.”
Since founding Cartridge World Lawrenceville in 2004, McGill has seen many changes in her industry and the local community. From the rise of ecommerce and mounting environmental concerns to chip shortages and other supply chain issues, the printing landscape has changed significantly. Gwinnett County has also changed, growing from an area with a rural feel to a bustling county that’s now the state’s second most populous.
The constant for McGill is the value of long-term relationships, and she launched many of those through the Gwinnett Chamber. “I joined the Chamber a few months before opening my store. I needed to meet all the local businesses. I attended After Hours events and hosted a booth every month while getting started.”
This visibility, she says, enabled her to meet potential customers, educate them about how she could help them, and start building relationships.
As McGill’s business grew, she was able to invest in the Chairman’s Club membership, which she credits with connecting her to many business decision-makers who have been an important part of her growth. She’s so passionate about the connections that can be made through the Gwinnett Chamber that she now serves as a Board Member for the second year, leads the Chamber’s Ambassador program, and serves on the Chamber’s A List group that recruits and mentors new members. “I love to sit down and talk with new members to find out what makes their business unique and what their goals are,” says McGill. “Then we can map out how the Chamber can help them get connected to the right people and resources.”
She also gives back through other nonprofits including the Rotary Club of Lawrenceville, Women’s Leadership Council Northside Gwinnett Hospital and United Way, where she serves on the Board. McGill is also a graduate of Leadership Gwinnett and an active alumni.
“It gives me great pleasure to meet people, learn what they want to do and then connect them with other people they may need. I love hearing success stories about people I introduced and how they helped each other,” she adds. McGill is an amazing example of how to engage the Chamber to build business from start-up to finish and invites small businesses and entrepreneurs to come see what the Gwinnett Chamber can do for them.