Business

Re-visiting Recompose

By Funeral Director Daily / March 7, 2022 /

I’ve been an entrepreneur and started new companies so I know the drive and dedication behind one who does so.  And, to invent a new industry, which in some cases may include legislative law changes, to start the company in that environment is an even tougher hill to climb.  That’s why I’m such a fan…

Helping families, then losing their connections: Do you make a difference?

By Funeral Director Daily / February 28, 2022 /

If you have been on the front lines of funeral service for any time period you probably have some of the same thoughts that I do.  When I would serve a family there was period of about 7 days from my first connection to the family after the death through a few days after the…

Finding those employees when you need them

By Funeral Director Daily / February 23, 2022 /

We are now two years into this pandemic.  I remember late February and March of 2020 very well.  In February of that year Angie and I flew home from a couple of weeks in the Hawaiian Islands, and while there were no masks present on our trans-pacific flight, we did take the precaution to “wipe”…

Employment and Death Care

By Funeral Director Daily / February 22, 2022 /

Writing this blog I hear from all kinds of people.  Lately I’ve heard from funeral home owners/employers who tell me it is difficult to find qualified funeral directors to work for them in this day and age.  I also hear from employed funeral directors who are down on the profession, or simply their current owner,…

Where’s the best place to market your funeral home? Everywhere.

By Funeral Director Daily / February 21, 2022 /

I recently read an article from the Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion newspaper and it reminded me of how we marketed our funeral home in the days prior to internet and digital marketing.  We always looked for anywhere where we would have a chance to visit with people — especially on a one-on-one basis —…

The Lincoln funeral train. . . Did that ceremony lead to American funeral homes?

By Funeral Director Daily / February 17, 2022 /

Next Monday residents of the United States will celebrate President’s Day.  Just so you know, when I was young, and until changed by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971, this day was known as Washington’s Birthday holiday since 1879 and celebrated on President George Washington’s birthday, February 22.  When I was young, many states…

Funeral costs drop in research poll for first time since 2004 inception

By Funeral Director Daily / February 14, 2022 /

Since I started this blog in 2017 and continuously look for interesting topics for the readers, I’ve come to anticipate the annual research paper from Sun Life entitled the Sun Life Cost of Dying Report.  While it comes out of Great Britain it is a great resource for me and what I have come to…

The case for raising full-service charges

By Funeral Director Daily / February 10, 2022 /

In the last couple of issues of NFDA’s Memorial Business Journal, author and editor Edward Defort, has introduced us to funeral director, owner, and entrepreneur David Hernandez.  Hernandez has funeral service operations in New Jersey, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.  And, he’s a man after my own heart because he understands that a successful funeral “business”…

Is there something to learn from other industries

By Funeral Director Daily / February 9, 2022 /

There is no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic has greatly influenced and impacted the death care industry over the past two years.  In general, there has been more deaths and less public services of such deaths.  One might argue, especially in larger markets, that the increased number of deaths has more than made up in…

New Hampshire “Sustainable Funeral” group working to change state’s embalming law

By Funeral Director Daily / February 7, 2022 /

If you follow the trends in death care you will notice that not only increased cremation continues to happen, but so does interest in alkaline hydrolysis, recomposition, and other “green burial” practices.  According to this article, in New Hampshire 18-year old Anya Nicoll and state legislator Jerry Knirk are working towards changing a 1971 state…