Jesus Ink(Monks serve God by selling toner.)

money.cnn.com ^ | March 3, 2006 | Christine Y. Chen

[kellynla]

SPARTA, WIS. (FORTUNE Small Business Magazine) - Like many entrepreneurs, Father Bernard McCoy loves to talk about his industry. But as a Cistercian monk, he has a time frame longer than most.

"Nine hundred years ago my brothers were making ink, making their own paper, and copying manuscripts," says McCoy. "We were the original social entrepreneurs. We were the first multinationals."

McCoy is CEO of LaserMonks.com, an Internet retailer that sells discounted printer cartridges and other office supplies. Customers include individuals and churches, along with giants such as Morgan Stanley (Research) and the U.S. Forest Service. It's a lucrative business. Sales have risen from $2,000 in 2002, the company's first full year of operation, to around $2.5 million in 2005.

[kellynla]

"Like all Roman Catholic monasteries, the abbey is responsible for its own upkeep, receiving no financial support from the Vatican. Hence LaserMonks.com. Father McCoy estimates that it costs around $150,000 to maintain the abbey and its 500 acres of grounds. The rest of the company's profits help support charities that range from a camp for kids with HIV to a Buddhist orphanage in Tibet."

[kellynla]

ping

[kellynla]

well I like the idea and it's nice to read something positive about Catholic religious for a change...
also nice that they are donating their profits to other needy folks who BTW are not even Catholic!!!

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Holy Toner?

[Clock King]

My favorite game (WH40K)! But this is pretty old news. The monks have been doing toner replacement for almost a decade or more.

[formercalifornian]

Just went to their site. The price, before shipping, was the same as I'd pay at Target. Nice idea, but I think I'll just shop locally and avoid shipping charges.

[kellynla]

" The monks have been doing toner replacement for almost a decade or more"

ya oughta know better than to come on one of my threads with misinformation. LOL

"LaserMonks is a wholly owned imaging supplies subsidiary of the Cistercian Abbey, based in Sparta, Wisconsin. Founded in 2001 by a team of enterprising monks, the company follows in the tradition of monastic business endeavors, uniquely blending philanthropy, spirituality, and enterprise to support a life of prayer and charitable service."

"http://www.parentheticalnote.com/lasermonks.htm

[dangus]

Nothing to see here. Someone translated "atonement" from Latin incorrectly.

[dangus]

The irony is fantastic... After all these years, monks are going back to the printing business. Laugh's on you, Mr. Gutenberg.

No, not him... Don't even bother posting.