In a previous article Joe Joachim wrote called 5 Reasons Funeral Homes Fail, he points out the fact that 8 out of 10 businesses fail within the first 18 months. Some of the reasons he discussed for the failure of a firm included not providing unique value, having no interest in the customer experience or […]
Henry, who had battled cancer for the last 15 months, was ready for the conversation about his end of life wishes. He told his wife “I don’t want you or the kids to make a big deal when the time comes. Keep things simple. Just cremate me.” And when Henry did pass, his wife felt […]
“Well, their grandparents came to us, and their parents came to us, so when the need arises, they’ll come to us, too.” “Why brand ourselves or get out into the community, they know who we are and what we do. It’s just not important.” “All our marketing is word of mouth.” Any of these statements […]
When you see the word “cremation”, what thoughts come to mind? For most funeral directors I know, those thoughts are probably negative ones. But why is that? Why is it that after all of these years, “cremation” is frowned upon like a swear word, leaving an uncomfortable silence in any conversation it comes up in? […]
It’s funny, when funeralOne gave me another guest blogging assignment, I was flattered. But given the topic (we determined it was, in a way, sort of a “Rah-Rah” piece on the funeral industry), I thought it’d be a good follow-up to my previous blog post on the bleak future prospects of funeral service. After reading […]
To make a long story short, in the year 2000 I lost my father. I turned to Thomas Miller Mortuary to take care of him and my family, and to this very day I still remember the great lengths the owner, Chris Miller, took to make sure we had the best funeral service experience possible. […]
“It’s not what I wanted to hear, but what I needed to know.” – Terri Clark, country singer I imagine you’ve looked at your own financial reports and forecasts and made a grim discovery. You aren’t depending on me for the news, are you? Traditional burials are down. Direct cremations are up. Average revenue […]
I’ve had a chance to meet a lot of funeral directors throughout the country and even around the world. So when I was asked to write a blog about what makes funeral directors likeable, I really had to stop and think. It’s not that you’re not likeable. In fact, having the chance to meet and […]
Mother’s Day prompts us to think about the women in our lives who are constantly taking care of others and balancing work, family and life in general. As you think about how you are going to honor the special women in your life on Mother’s Day, take a moment to consider the women who play […]
If you’re in the funeral profession, it’s no secret that cremation and the lack of value of funeral services has made a pretty negative financial impact on most funeral homes. However, there is one aspect of funeral service that’s experienced quite the opposite financial impact. Can you guess which service that is? It’s the pet […]
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