I read this recent article from the Wall Street Journal titled “The Hottest Club in town is. . .Run by your credit-card company?”  I’m also pretty aware of the Berkshire Hathaway owned company NetJets.

 

After I read the Wall Street Journal article (that does have a paywall, but you can listen to much of the article free) I was somewhat taken aback by learning that some people will pay a $5,000 additional fee for a Centurion, or Black Card, credit card that will give them access to certain clubs that are for members only.  And, I’m also aware of the amount of money some people will pay for private jet travel for personal trips.

 

It made me wonder that if there are people who are willing to pay these prices for those perks, are there people who are willing to pay luxury prices for funerals, too?  That led me to the Service Corporation International  (SCI) website where I knew that they had a program for high-profile, discreet funerals because Funeral Director Daily had done this article on “The Funeral Director to the Presidents” back in 2021.

 

Service Corporation International has a brand that they call LHT Consulting Group which you can learn about here.  The website states this about their services:

 

“Through our vast knowledge and experience in the profession, coupled with strict adherence to confidentiality and discretion, we have planned and directed some of the country’s largest high profile and official funerals. Our executive planning team serves as a catalyst and a resource in discussions surrounding eventual death and memorialization while providing unbiased and objective counsel that leads to purposeful memorial event plans.”

 

Simply by SCI having this division, which states that they have licensees for every state in the United States and 30 professionals dedicated to the LHT Consulting division signifies that they must have people that prefer this concierge service. . . .and will pay for it.

 

So, the families that want that white-glove treatment may not use your funeral home, but I think the knowledge that people do, at times, want luxury funeral services should tell you to make room for them on you General Price List.  What are some simple things that you could charge extra for that might interest that discriminating family? . . . . . What about “exclusive” use of the funeral home on the day of the visitation, meaning that no other visitations will be held on that day?

 

What about valet parking?  Could you charge extra for that?  What about catering options?

 

It’s an interesting discussion, but in a small or regional center community like mine, you have no choice but to be “Everything to Everybody” when it comes to funeral care and logistics.  Some families will want it as inexpensive as you can make it and some families will be willing to pay more than you thought to be able to do things in their fashion.  You should be aware of that. . . . low-cost is not everybody’s choice and you should provide some options for those discriminating families, too.

 

Over the years our funeral home has been able to handle all kinds of requests, including being entrusted to provide the services for two retired United States Senators, a Heisman Trophy winner, and members of a Fortune 400 family with vacation homes in our service area.  I can remember one of them requesting that they be the only family using our facilities that day. . . we honored that request, but I wasn’t smart enough to charge them for the service.

 

Take a hint from SCI and know that not all families want the same options. .  .and make sure that when you have concierge or discriminating services chosen, that you price them accordingly.

 

Editor’s Note:  For, as of now, an unknown reason, this article was not picked up by our email vendor for distribution this morning. . .So, we put it in the Afterntoon Edition. . . Sorry for the delay.

 

More news from the world of Death Care:

• Proposal to move Sante Fe obelisk to National Cemetery.  Video news story and print article.  KOAT Channel 7 (NM)
• China probes rampant graft in funeral homes and services.  Voice of America
• Cost of Dying:  How the death care industry is changing in Canada.  Video news story and print article.  CTV News Business (Canada)
• Resisting pressure from religious groups, law-makers in two states expand after-death options.  Americans United for Separation of Church and State

 

Enter your e-mail below to join the 3,074 others who receive Funeral Director Daily articles daily:

“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”