Monroe Systems for Business is the world’s oldest, and perhaps most respected, calculator company. This year Monroe celebrates 91 years in business. Monroe’s product line consists of numerous calculator models ranging from convenience to heavy-duty desktop and programmable. The product line is complimented by a complete range of supplies and accessories. Monroe credits it longevity to the founding principles of providing superior products, exceptional customer service and value.

Monroe began in April of 1912 as Monroe Calculating Machine Company. The founder J. R. Monroe teamed with Mr. Frank Baldwin to turn Mr. Baldwin’s 1875 calculating machine design into the first commercially available calculator. The first Monroe had its first public showing at the National Business Show in New York City in 1912. By 1913, the company had moved from the rented shop in Newark, NJ to a four story office building in Orange, NJ, which remained its home until 1974. During that first year, only 10 units were made. The expansion of the Company was rapid and Monroe products found their way to more than 80 countries world wide by 1925. The Company merged with Litton Industries in 1958 and continued its growth through product line diversification, which included calculators, copies, facsimile, magnetic strip ledger card accounting machines, computers and shredders. To reflect this diversification the name of the company changed in 1980 to Monroe Systems for Business. In 1988 Monroe sold its copier, facsimile and shredder businesses to Savin Corporation, returning to its core business, calculators. In 2001, its headquarters moved to its present home in Levittown, PA.

While a fraction of the size it once was, today’s Monroe is stronger than ever. With revenues exceeding 10 million, the Company is completely focused on providing the best calculators and best customer service in the industry. Monroe’s employees are tenured and experienced, some with more than 30 years with Monroe. With very little turnover, even Monroe’s newest employees are nearing their 5 year anniversary.

Monroe’s heavy-duty product line is the beneficiary of what’s become legendary in products providing unsurpassed durability and functionality. The recent addition to the product line of the Monroe Classic is already exceeding expectations and receiving unparalleled customer response. "Such a response should not come as a surprise" states Richard Roberts, CEO, "as Monroe’s design philosophy has remained the same for 91 years…namely understand the customer’s needs and design products to specifically meet those needs". Throughout Monroe’s history, it has employed a direct sales force. These direct representatives have been face to face with millions of customers, analyzed the work performed, applied the calculator to the work and provided input directly to the planning department for future products which would employ unique features to simply the work performed. States Roberts, "no calculator performs like a Monroe heavy-duty calculator, and the new Monroe Classic significantly ups the ante". Unique features include the enclosed paper roll (designed to prolong printer life) and the new IKT, individual keyswitch technology providing the fastest and lightest key touch available in the industry. The newest addition, the Monroe 6120 is expected to become Monroe’s most popular model. It delivers an unbeatable combination…function at an unbelievable price point.

While vestiges of it world wide coverage still remain, Monroe has concentrated its geographic coverage to North and South America. For most of Monroe’s history it relied on a direct sales force to distribute products to end users. About 10 years ago Monroe embarked on expanding its distribution network though the inclusion of Dealers and Distributors. This two pronged distribution approach remains in place today. Monroe does not distribute products through Office Product Super Stores nor does it make its products available to Catalog distributors, e.g. Boise Cascade.

Monroe customers enjoy fast turnaround time. Orders received by 3:00pm Eastern Time are shipped the same day. Delivery to all points within the continental United States is normally within 2 days.

Since Monroe customers are very brand loyal and hundreds of thousands of Monroe users exist, Monroe enjoys repeat business and word of mouth referral. Currently Monroe markets through direct mail and participates in a number of industry/market specific Trade Shows. "The acquisition of Monroe by Carolina Wholesale in 2001 has been positive in every respect" states Roberts "especially providing us with extensive expertise in how to improve the support and programs we offer to the Distributor/Dealer distribution channel".

Monroe sees the calculator market as a mature market. According to Roberts, "the key to growth in the calculator business will be to take market share from competitors. This will be achieved quite simply by capturing new customers one at a time. From my direct experience with end users at trade shows and other venues, the end user is ‘fed up’ with inexpensive, throw away calculators. Customers who understand the difference between a heavy duty calculator and ‘throw away’ will consistently buy the heavy duty model. That doesn’t mean that all calculators which claim to be heavy duty are in fact heavy duty" warns Roberts. "The calculator is a great door opener. It is the one product in the office where the user claims ‘that’s my calculator’. Providing a product that users identify with so closely paves the way for the introduction of other products into the account, a great opportunity for Monroe Dealers " continues Roberts.

Monroe is proud of its past and excited about the future. It has been the recipient of numerous awards, one of the more notable being "Best in Class" Vendor of the Year to J.C. Penney.

Shortly Monroe will launch a new web site. The new site will (over time) devote considerable space to its history enabling visitors to locate historic models, instruction manuals for such models that can be downloaded and other interesting historical notes. Also included, perhaps a first, will be a calculator classroom. This section will be devoted to teaching potential users the differences between calculators and discuss many finer design points of the Monroe calculator. Monroe sees this section as being particularly valuable to its family of Distributors and Dealers, helping them better understand calculators, why and how the design and function of a calculator serves the end user.

Going forward Monroe intends to expand and strengthen its product line and improve support to the Distributor/Dealer distribution channel. It envisions some product line expansion though the introduction of other products (shredders and cash registers). "Our principal focus will remain with calculators" states Roberts. "It is the product upon which the company was founded and the product for which Monroe is best known." When asked about the future, Roberts states simply, "with the introduction of the Monroe Classic and the 6120, Monroe will continue to be the first name in calculators".