The Art of Non-Conformity: Printer Toner and Contemplative Prayer: Interview with LaserMonks.com (HT: Danny Gamache)
Monasteries all over the world have been self-supporting for centuries, and the practice of monks running a small business is nothing new. Most of them, however, don’t end up experiencing 700% annual sales growth, selling 30,000 products, and competing with Fortune 500 companies.
Instead of baking fruitcakes for the occasional visitor, the monks from Our Lady of Spring Bank Cistercian Abbey sell laser toner and business supplies throughout the United States. They’ve creatively branded themselves as LaserMonks, but they offer more than just a great story. They also help businesses save an average of 40% off printer ink and toner, and in turn, the monks donate all of their profits to charity.
There is nothing conventional about the LaserMonks web site. Next to “fax supplies” and “inkjet cartridges” is a link to send in prayer requests. The content is devoted equally to product details and information about the monastery. In addition to business supplies, they also offer fun monastery items like “Benevelent Blends Coffee” and “Holy Hot Chocolate.”
The LaserMonks operation offers a genuine third model between profit and non-profit businesses, and I have been intrigued with their operation ever since first learning about it in a business magazine a year ago.
I recently caught up with Fr. Bernard McCoy, the CEO of LaserMonks who also uses the title “Steward of Temporal Affairs.” In the interview below, Fr. Bernard answered my questions about the toner business and the monastery. ...
Great quote here:
It’s also important to understand that monks are required by our monastic Rule (The Rule of St. Benedict) to be self supporting. Work is not separated from our life as a whole. Much like Adam and Eve, we tend and cultivate our garden to produce fruits for our table and many others that we support. It’s a labor of love and creativity that is part of the balance needed in any human life – meaningful work that is self-supporting, helps others, and develops our own gifts and talents.
The Benedictines played a crucial role in the economic and technological development of Europe and the Western world. Looks like they're still about their "business."
Nice post. Kind of interesting how you deliver this talk about printer toners. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Brother toner | Nov 07, 2011 at 10:44 PM