Funeral Director Daily

Moody’s Upgrades Hillenbrand Debt Rating

By Funeral Director Daily / July 23, 2018 /

In a release dated July 19 that you can read here, investor’s service Moody’s upgraded the debt rating of public company Hillenbrand Industries from a Ba1 to a Baa3.  They also noticed that the outlook of the company going forward is “Stable”. Hillenbrand Industries is the owner of U.S. casket manufacturer market share leader Batesville…

When Opportunity Knocks . . . .

By Funeral Director Daily / July 23, 2018 /

I noticed a couple of articles in the last couple of days about ownership at single proprietor funeral homes that are changing hands.  What struck me about the articles is that as you go through living your life, you really need to be ready to answer the door when an opportunity knocks. The first article…

Cemetery sues city for Gross Abuse

By Funeral Director Daily / July 20, 2018 /

In what is a somewhat timely item for us at Funeral Director Daily, we learned yesterday of a lawsuit filed by suburban New York City cemetery, Ferncliff Cemetery, against the City of Greenburgh.  Timely for us because this week we have highlighted zoning and location issues among the industry. The lawsuit, according to an article…

Is Your Funeral Home a Growth Industry?

By Funeral Director Daily / July 20, 2018 /

In my opinion, when I look for something to invest in, I gauge the safety of the investment as well as the possible return and then make a decision if the balance is there between the two.  I also look at two sides of an equity investment as the potential for growth (as defined by…

Location, Location, Location

By Funeral Director Daily / July 19, 2018 /

You have heard it said before that when planning a business nothing may be as important to the success of that business as the location that you place it in.  For retail businesses — a stand alone building, a strip mall, a shopping mall — all are potential locations, but the key is to figure…

More information on Toale Brothers/Dignity Memorial

By Funeral Director Daily / July 18, 2018 /

Last week we brought you a press release about the renaming of funeral homes in the Sarasota, Florida area.  The funeral homes, operated by Service Corporation International were rebranded with a derivative of the Toale family name. We also told you in our article that the press release was somewhat odd and vague and we…

Zoning, Zoning!!!

By Funeral Director Daily / July 18, 2018 /

In looking for material for a column today I came across articles on funeral home/cemetery zoning issues.  What peaked my interest was the idea that death care businesses could be on differing sides of zoning debates.  I find that somewhat interesting. The first article that you can read here is an issue that we have…

Carriage Services adds two locations in Mid-Atlantic Area

By Funeral Director Daily / July 17, 2018 /

Last week Carriage Services, a funeral service public company based in Houston, Texas, announced that they had acquired two funeral homes in the State of Virginia.  You can read the press release here. The release announces the acquisition of the Covenant Funeral Homes in Fredericksburg and Stafford, Virginia.  The release goes on to say that…

Are You Ready for the Changes?

By Funeral Director Daily / July 16, 2018 /

I read a tear jerker article yesterday in the Minneapolis Tribune that you can read here.  The article deals with the July 6 death of a 6 year old Iowa boy and how his parents are using his wishes from speaking candidly with him about what he would want for his funeral and burial preferences.…

Survive and Thrive

By Funeral Director Daily / July 13, 2018 /

Today we bring you an article from HartfordBusiness.com about a new funeral home business that just opened up in suburban Hartford, Connecticut.  The funeral home is a 5,000 square foot building in Plainville, CT and is owned and operated by a 20-year veteran funeral director Andrea Wasley, a lifelong resident of the community.  You can…