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"It has been a pleasure to work with Pear on a display room for our Trappist Casket business and pictorial history of our monastery. I can't tell you how many compliments we received on the design work. Everyone who enters the space marvels at the beauty of it. The people at Pear are extremely easy to work with and I felt at all times we were in competent, professional hands."
Fr. Brendan Freeman, Abbot of New Melleray Abbey
Client since 2004
CLIENT: Trappist Caskets is a work of the monks of New Melleray Abbey in Peosta, Iowa. The monks handcraft wooden caskets and urns as part of their sacred work.
CHALLENGE: The Trappist monks created a visitors center within their manufacturing facility. The large center with stark white walls needed to tell a story in a simple and understated manner that reflected their beliefs and lifestyle. The three main goals were to tell the history of the Trappist monks at New Melleray, show what daily life is like for a monk and explain the process used to craft their beautiful wooden products. Achieving these goals would increase casket sales to help the elderly monks live out their years at the monastery more comfortably and aid grieving families who lack the financial means to purchase a children's casket.
SOLUTION: Pear Advertising combed through photo and object archives, selecting images and items to be featured in the visitors center. A muted color scheme and typographical style was developed that was in keeping with the monk's understated philosophy. Pear worked in concert with the monks and Trappist Caskets management to tell the story in a way that gave the monks a voice in their story. Pear Advertising made the vendor selection for the production of the wall graphics and the agency managed the project from concept to completion.
RESULT: Trappist Caskets held a community open house in May 2009 with approximately 3,000 guests who were eager to see the visitors center unveiled.
