A really nice article about Leo and Jeff Marshall, the father/son team that has owned and operated the Marshall Funeral Home in Greenville, Michigan since 1967 was published in the Daily News of Montcalm and Ionia Counties of Michigan the other day.  You can read the article here.

It is a really fine article that articulates virtually everything good about the funeral profession over the 51 year ownership of the business by the Marshalls.  It talks about hard work, congeniality among competitors, and the service provided by the family – including spouses –  for the past 51 years.  Leo is now 87 but continues to stop in every day to help where he can.

Jeff, who is now 61 and the owner since 1990 has no intentions of slowing down and continues to to serve the public 24 hours a day when called upon.  He enjoys that.  He states, “. . .I just enjoy what I’m doing, because I don’t want to work for somebody else.  I get to be my own boss.”

However, Jeff also says, “She (his daughter) did not want to go into it, so when I’m done, we’d either merge with someone or sell to someone else.”

A great article about another great family in the death care industry.  And, what has made being associated with the industry my entire life so enjoyable. . . the people.

However, at Funeral Director Daily I want to take a different look at this article and point out the opportunities it presents.  One thing I’ve learned is that operating a successful funeral home seems to get more difficult every day with revenue pressures on the price you can charge for your services and the expense pressures of facilities, staffing, marketing, and technology.

I believe that the revenue pressures and the expense pressures will probably be as difficult as they have ever been as we move through the decade of the 2020’s.  However, while there are good people like the Marshalls who will eventually exit the industry, there are also good people who want to continue and face the challenges ahead.

In my opinion, facing, and defeating, these challenges will require death care businesses to grow their volume of services conducted.  You can lower your cost per service in all the above categories (facilities, staffing, marketing, technology) and increase your margins if you grow the number of services you conduct.

If I owned a funeral home in or near Greenville, Michigan, I would, at the very least, go visit with Jeff Marshall on what his plans over the next 5-7 years are.  You need to be in tune with the plans and form a plan of your own for a possible acquisition.

I write this today only because the Marshalls were featured and mentioned that they have no offspring that will be following in the business.  However, all across America, and other parts of the world (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain) where Funeral Director Daily is read these opportunities are there and waiting for someone to seize them.  Don’t think you are too bold by visiting with a potential acquisition. . . .maybe they are a little timid in asking and just waiting for you to approach.

These opportunities are out there.  If you love the industry and want to grow there is opportunity despite what looks like challenges.  Carpe diem. . .Seize the day!!

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