Students take business plan to market

By Barbara Hein

In the last year, they’ve conducted market research, traveled to China, developed a business plan, made over 100 phone calls to different manufacturers, negotiated a loan, and established themselves as a limited liability company … all while also taking a full course load of classes.  But they wouldn’t change a thing about the past 12 months.

'They' is Benedict Builders LLC, the brain child of College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University students Molly Weyandt, Teresa Crater, Megan Zinken and Matt Logering.  Their product is a ceramic model of the Sacred Heart Chapel — a cornerstone of Saint Benedict’s Monastery and adjacent to the CSB campus.  Their goal was to create a product that represented the experiences and memories that are part of the CSB/SJU community.

“I don’t think we realized how much work this was going to be when we started it, but as we got into it, this is what we want to do and once we finally see the product and how people react to it, it will make it all worthwhile,” Matt said.

Back row: Molly Weyandt, Teresa Crater, Megan Zinken. Front Row: Matt Logering.

The four seniors, are all part of the E-scholars program, run through the Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship at SJU. As part of the program, the students design a new venture, complete a feasibility plan and begin the ventures most likely to succeed.  

E-Scholars also travel both nationally and internationally to learn from real-life entrepreneurs.

“This has been an amazing experience for me,” Megan said. “I’ve learned so much — taking an idea from start to finish and kind of making it our own project.  And now it’s our job to sell these models.  It’s been the best experience of my college career.”

The process started more than a year ago with a brainstorming session.

“Initially we didn’t know what we wanted to produce.  Maybe a board game, maybe models of campus buildings.  We conducted telephone surveys and people were really excited about the concept of the models,” Matt explained.

“We knew we had the goal of reconnecting alums with their college experience.  We just didn’t know how we were going to do it and then we landed on this concept,” Molly said.

So with concept in hand, they turned to SJU alumnus and attorney Bob Foster ‘72. With help from Foster, the students waded through the many legal facets of becoming entrepreneurs.  “We appreciate all the help Bob gave us.  It was a big process to decide … do we want to incorporate … do we have to incorporate … what do we have to do to protect ourselves … do we need to get insurance?  So having the help of Bob really got us in a good place,” Molly stated.

As part of the E-Scholars program, the students traveled to China to learn about global business and entrepreneurship. While there, they investigated several companies as options for building the model.  They also looked at companies across the United States, making more than 100 phone calls to various manufacturers.  In the end, they selected a company in Pennsylvania to develop the prototype and an artist in Long Prairie, Minn. to actually do the casting and painting for each model.

“We were surprised to pick a manufacturer so close to home after looking at places in China, but we’re really pleased with the work this artist does,” Megan explained.  “The models are hand poured and painted and very much to scale.”

The prototype of the chapel displayed with other ceramic models.

The next step is developing a marketing and advertising plan to sell the model of the Sacred Heart Chapel.  The students are working with the alumnae office at CSB to connect with alums; a model will be on display at the CSB/SJU bookstores as well as the gift shop at the Monastery; and they have set up a Web site where the model can be seen and orders placed.

As for future plans for Benedict Builders?

“We’d like to invest in another building from campus, possibly the Abbey Church or Stella Maris Chapel if we can get approval.  We’ve thought about possibly taking this business plan to other schools and introduce it there … getting a connection with their alum network,” Teresa said.

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