Laser Monks? What the heck is that, you ask? It's a great group of smart monks, yes, actual monks, that have an amazing online printer ink business, with customers typically saving 30-50% off traditional ink prices. (www.lasermonk.com) The monks describe their work as "commerce with compassion," as all profit goes either directly to numerous charities or back into their monastery.
One of the monks describes his brain storm: "All I wanted was a little black dust for one of our monastery printers. In my search for a toner cartridge, I was struck by how expensive this black dust is. The mark up on ink is sinfully high, sometimes as much as 1000% or even 2000%. I also 
discovered the some companies manufacture or re-manufacture cartridges at a fraction of the cost of the big name brands. My mind raced....imagine the money we could save schools, churches, and organizations if we could negotiate a deal with these companies and cut out the middleman. " And thus LaserMonks was born.
The Sparta, Wisconsin monastery is part of a 900-year old Cistercian order, with the Abbey the monks live in built about 75 years ago. Monasteries are fully self-sustaining, and so monks need to find a way to support themselves. Some monasteries sell fruitcake or candy, others grow vegetables or bake bread. Printing supplies has turned out to be an enormous business for these monks, who estimate they saved their customers over $200,000 last year alone. Small and large businesses order all their toner supplies and save a bundle off Staples prices. And all of Laser Monks products are U.S. made
A wide range of charities benefit. Some include Dismas Ministry, which provides spiritual assistance to inmates; Solidarity Bridge, whose mission is bringing medical aid to impoverished Bolivians; Human Life International, a pro-life organization; Doctors without Borders; Cancer Wellness Center; Haley House, a mission to the poor in Boston through housing, a soup kitchen, bakery employment and more; Women's Bean Project, which provides job training and life skills to women in need; and Camp Sunshine, a camp in Maine for kids with terminal illness.
In addition to copier and fax ink and toner, LaserMonks now offers soy bean toner. About 15 years ago, soy inks were introduced in commerical applications, such as magazine and newspaper production. Today, accordign to the United Soy Bean Board, about 90% of the nation's daily newspapers use soy ink the production process. The benefits? No crude oil is used to produce soy ink; it yields an average 10% more pages; and it has a lower rate of rub-off.
Monks...they sell more than fruitcake these days..jpeg)
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