Funeral Director Daily

Client Retention: Back to the Future

By Funeral Director Daily / September 29, 2022 /

The Tuesday article of Funeral Director Daily entitled  “We Live in a Different World” and dealing with the idea that much of death care, including how we acquire and retain our customers through marketing had barely published when I saw a presentation about some “old school” ideas that are trending back in the hopes of…

The only thing harder to find in Malibu than a hotel room is a grave. . .

By Funeral Director Daily / September 28, 2022 /

Malibu, California was incorporated into a city in 1991 and that led to a moratorium on new development that included, among other things, hotels.  So, Malibu has famously become known as a very tough place to get a hotel room. Back in 2015, however, a group known as Green Acres, LLC, began a push to…

We live in a different world

By Funeral Director Daily / September 27, 2022 /

Recently Apple was named the sponsor of this year’s Super Bowl halftime show.  They will be replacing Pepsi, who has been the sponsor for several years.  It occurred to me, and it was not surprising, that this is the business of new “information technology” replacing the old standardized American “product innovation, manufacturing, distribution” business of…

How does your firm view Preneed?

By Funeral Director Daily / September 26, 2022 /

I have a son that works in the automotive industry and we’ve discussed their lines of revenue quite often.  For instance the average dealership has about six primary lines of revenue – new car sales, used car sales, the service or repair center, a collision repair center, a leasing center, and a financing center.  At…

Service Corporation International opinion from Seeking Alpha

By Funeral Director Daily / September 23, 2022 /

Last week the Valkyrie Trading Society wrote an article for Seeking Alpha entitled “Service Corporation International:  Feeling minimal pressures”.  You can access the article here. Here are three take-aways from that article: The themes are that COVID-19 pulled forward mortality, making 2020 and 2021 strong years for Service Corporation International. There is also commentary around…

Newsom signs Human Composting bill, California becomes 5th state to legalize

By Funeral Director Daily / September 23, 2022 /

Earlier this week California Governor Gavin Newsom quietly signed a bill that now becomes law which includes disposition of the dead human body via “human composting”.  According to this article from KABC Television of Los Angeles supporters say it’s an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional end-of-life options. The law does not go into effect until 2027. …

Wilbert publishes new “Cremation Choices Catalog”

By Funeral Director Daily / September 22, 2022 /

Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc., (WFSI) the leading provider of burial vaults and cremation-related products and services in North America, is pleased to announce the launch of their new Cremation Choices Catalog on October 1st. Wilbert Merchandising Manager, Mike Devaney stated, “We are excited about the new expanded catalog. We are adding 80 new urns and…

Uvalde funeral directors say “They’ll never be the same”

By Funeral Director Daily / September 22, 2022 /

Back when I was in mortuary school I read a book entitled something like “Who takes care of the Caretaker“.  While there are other books with titles similar to that published later than the 1970’s I cannot locate the book I read, nor do I remember the author of it. Quite frankly, that’s not real…

FDLIC acquires American Life and Annuity Company

By Funeral Director Daily / September 21, 2022 /

We learned late last week in this press release that Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company (FDLIC) of Abilene, Texas, acquired the American Life and Annuity Company (ALAC) of Hot Springs, Arkansas.  According to the press release “effective immediately, FDLIC will work to support existing ALAC policyholders and Arkansas funeral homes”.  Again, according to the press…

Propel Funeral Partners shows growth with 2022 Annual Report

By Funeral Director Daily / September 20, 2022 /

Propel Funeral Partners, the public company that owns and operates funeral homes, cremation facilities, cemeteries, and related infrastructure in Australia and New Zealand, announced their Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) results in late August, and did so by showing growth all across their reporting numbers. The company that began in 2012 with 278 funeral services reported…