Houston Chronicle
Aug. 13, 2010
By DAVID KAPLAN
Simon Lee’s office supply company is growing rapidly. His EIS Office Solutions will take in about $6 million in revenue this year.
The company has grown with an unusual business model: Lee gives half his profits to the needy.
A native of Taiwan, he moved with his family to Houston at age 8. He has been passionate about helping the poor since he joined a Christian missionary group at the University of Texas at Austin when he was 19.
After college he worked at his father’s Houston-based wholesale office supply business while doing missionary work in Africa, South America and Asia. Six years ago he opened EIS Office Solutions, which from the start has donated half of its profits to charitable causes. Most donations go to Houston’s Aid Sudan and Star of Hope.
It has 15 employees and ships to all 50 states and Canada. It also makes local deliveries. Customers include the state of Mississippi, Houston Independent School District, the Kolache Factory and nonprofit groups.
Lee spoke with the Chronicle’s David Kaplan about his decision to fuse his business with his faith. more …
