Monks' once-flourishing business ends

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via KansasCityStar ^ | Nov. 23, 2011 | ANNYSA JOHNSON

[Daffynition]

They were dubbed the Millionaire Monks, a small monastic community in rural Wisconsin feted around the world for its wildly successful Internet business selling laser printer inks and toners.

As recently as 2009, the Cistercian Abbey of Our Lady of Spring Bank was projecting annual sales of $3.5 million for its for-profit business, LaserMonks Inc. And their prior and chief executive officer, Father Bernard McCoy, was talking expansion - of both the company and the abbey.

Today, the monks' 15,000-square-foot home on 500 acres in Sparta, Wis., is all but empty. They sold off their belongings - everything from furniture and farm equipment to religious artifacts - at an auction last month. And they have put much of their land and buildings up for sale.

[Daffynition]

Their business model that proved to be unsuccessful:

• A unique business model and message. No other ink and toner retailer donates its profits to people in need. Customers get the products they need and feel good about helping others,
• Quality product. The good feelings would soon go away if LaserMonks did not provide the best quality product. They do, both in the brand name area and in remanufactured and refilled cartridges.
• Superior customer service. LaserMonks goes way beyond the standards of good service. Their customers are often amazed at what the company will do from replacing products to refunds to enclosing freebies as a thank you in orders. They also train their workers, who also feel that they are a part of the LaserMonks ethos and participate actively in the charitable activities.
• Competitive pricing. LaserMonks does not aim to be the lowest-cost provider but it does stay competitive within the industry. LaserMonks does not engage in pricing wars.
• Change as the market changes. The organization takes planning and research very seriously. They are on top of new products, new web enhancements and new approaches to inventory management.
• Creative approaches to marketing. From the beginning LaserMonks has engaged in grassroots marketing approaches and handle it all in house.
• Honesty and integrity. By always acting in line with the Cistercian code of open dealings, customers, suppliers and partners not only know that they will be handled well but they also reciprocate in their own actions.

[Apollo5600]

Not to attack or debate, but can you share with me the scriptures you are referencing? I cannot think of them, which is probably my fault since I have not gone through the entire NT for quite awhile.

[Daffynition]

[SpringtoLiberty]

Look ya’ll, i’m not saying these guys are evil. I just do not understand the monastic life, its participants, its business model, or its purposes. I’ve read the other posts and still don’t get it.

Not trying to be a “bigot”. Besides that’s the wrong term.

[JoeProBono]

[bajabaja]

SpringtoLiberty and I learned something from that passage. Thanks.

[Daffynition]

Obviously, you have not been *called*. Perhaps your religious upbringing, education, or reading of the classics has not exposed you to people who have dedicated their lives to vows of asceticism, celibacy, poverty or moral perfection...The seeming fact that you are unwilling to read links that were posted, shows you lack some intellectual curiosity, and prefer to troll and ignore history. Good luck with that.

From the very beginning of the Church men and women have responded to this call, imitating Christ more closely and following him with greater liberty, through lives of committed poverty, chastity and obedience.

Saying ‘yes’ to the Father’s call and to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, they choose this way of life to devote themselves to Christ with an undivided heart. Like the Apostles, they leave everything to be with Christ, and to put themselves at the service of God and of their brothers and sisters.

Usually they live together in community, supporting each other in a shared way of life, in prayer, and in dedication to a particular service or ministry in the Church.

Religious life is a gift of God for the individuals who are called, and for the whole Church.

[TBP]

There is an old joke about a monastery that needed money, so it went into the fish and chips business.

Their fish and chips were excellent and became very successful. People would come to the monastery just to get them.

One day, a man knocked on the door and a monk answered.

“Do I have the privilege of talking to the fish friar?,” the man asked.

“Oh, no, sir,” came the answer. “I am the chip monk.”

[SpringtoLiberty]

Cmon man. You and I disagree. Big deal. You haven’t convinced me. Sorry. I am willing, did read the links and it still baffles me. I am so so sorry if you are personally offened. I’m not sure why this article was posted if not to spur debate and converstation.

An argument does not always resolve with both parties in agreement.

[Daffynition]

S2L didn't learn anything from that post.

[Daffynition]

If you want to discuss the methods of logic as defined by the laws of reality...be my guest.

[SpringtoLiberty]

Not worth it.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Wisconsin Politics/General Interest Ping List Ping!

[ladyjane]

So Catholicism is a cult?

All other religions except yours are cults?

Mighty tolerant of you. LOL

[ken5050]

The monks took all the profits and bet AGAINST the Packers...

[Hunton Peck]

Did somebody say "Laser monks"?

"

[little jeremiah]

Thank you for the history lesson, much appreciated.

[Daffynition]

Halleluiah

[afraidfortherepublic]

2009 Religion & Ethics -- PBS interviw from happier days explaining their mission

One aspect of their life that hasn't been mentioned was their ongoing cartoon strip featuring the Monestery Hounds -- Ludvig and ??? They were a Doberman and a Pharoh Hound. Father Robert drew the cartoons featuring the rivalry between the 2 dogs. It was hilarious and used to be accessed from their web page. One of the dogs has died; I think it was Ludwig.

[Hunton Peck]

Is that how you Earthlings say “May the Force be with you”?