Last week Funeral Director Daily published this article titled “Know your customer — How’s their credit”. That article delved into the American consumer credit profiles and why, before extending credit, you needed to know the consumer you are dealing with. . . and how difficult that is in today’s market. The article…
The people behind Titan Casket are not afraid of doing things outside the ordinary as compared to how the funeral industry has done things for the past 125 years. I’m guessing that in 1906 when John Hillenbrand purchased the Batesville Coffin Company and changed the name to Batesville Casket Company his customers were the…
As I routinely check my inbox it has became apparent that the suppliers to the cremation industry have moved to a belief that “environmentally friendly” or “natural” products will be an ever-increasing choice of American consumers. In the last week I’ve received press releases from casket companies introducing new product offerings that are…
Our friends at the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) recently announced that registration is now open for the 2024 educational classes for their “Certified Cremation Specialist” designation. According to CANA, “What sets a CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist apart is the training they receive to ensure everyone is treated with the same level…
I received an unsolicited e-mail the other day about taking a course that would lead me to become a “Certified Funeral Celebrant”. I’m not interested in that but, more and more, I see greater numbers of the consumer public shedding the idea of using formal clergy in the memorialization of their loved ones.…
BUSINESS
Federal Trade Commission bans “Non-Compete” agreements
“This rule affects every segment of the American economy and in a simple 3-2 vote destroys billions of dollars in value that employers have spent in compensation for a covenant not to compete”. …
Take Ring Ring Marketing for a Test Drive
When it comes to technology I am a confessed “Novice”. And personally, with Social Media I am pretty quiet too. . . . or maybe my life is dull enough that none of…
Are funerals “Negotiable”? This guy says so
So, you have to understand my sense of humor, but every once in a while I will be at a Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) such as Taco Bell or McDonalds and let’s say…
FINANCE
Starmark acquires AMA Containers
It was announced earlier this week that Starmark, a leading manufacturer of innovative funeral products, has acquired AMA Containers. AMA was originally founded in 1991 as Airline Mortuary Associates. Starmark, according to the press…
Seeking Alpha has a recent opinion on Carriage Services
Every once in a while the writers at Seeking Alpha put out an article on one of the Death Care Index stocks — Carriage Services, Service Corporation International, Park Lawn Corporation, Security National…
Security National Financial CEO on their Memorial Segment: “Growth. . .is our goal”
It took awhile, but Security National Financial Corporation (SNFC) finally got around to posting the results of the company’s 2023 year just last week. And, there is no doubt that SNFC’s Memorial Segment was…
REGULATIONS
Federal Trade Commission bans “Non-Compete” agreements
“This rule affects every segment of the American economy and in a simple 3-2 vote destroys billions of dollars in value that employers have spent in compensation for a covenant not to compete”. …
Dignity, care, and respect. . . bringing the fallen home
On Saturday night I was at a movie, came home and turned the television on to catch the news and learned of the missile bombardment of Israel that Iran took responsibility for. Now,…
Might the Baltimore Bridge collapse cause a “funeral tax” in Maryland?
A week ago today I woke up to the news of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor. It wasn’t so long ago that I was in Baltimore…
CEMETERY
County governments seem to have lots of problems, are human remains another one?
Funeral Director Daily recently learned through this article from Public Media for Central Pennyslvania that Centre County will be building a 160-unit columbarium in Zion, Pennsylvania, to house urns that have went…
America’s military cemeteries face financial backlog for upkeep and improvements
Kansas United States Senator Jerry Moran recently testified at a United States Senate Veterans Affairs Committee meeting that “When mourning a death the last thing a grieving family needs is some bureaucratic hurdle…
Looking outside the grave for cemetery revenue
Back almost three years ago in July 2021, Funeral Director Daily brought you this story of how a renewable energy company, Verogy, had put a 7,000 panel solar energy farm inside a…
CREMATION
County governments seem to have lots of problems, are human remains another one?
Funeral Director Daily recently learned through this article from Public Media for Central Pennyslvania that Centre County will be building a 160-unit columbarium in Zion, Pennsylvania, to house urns that have went…
Well intentioned rules and regulations need to be thought through, clarified
Well-intentioned rules and regulations are put into place by organizations. Sometimes, however, like America has found out with the disastrous “de-fund the police” movement, the results are not what the organizers intended them…
Permanent Memorialization: How long is “Permanent”?
How long is “Permanent”? That is a question that has never been answered, but in many cases you will find out that “permanent” is not really “permanent”. There is an interesting…
PRENEED
Take Ring Ring Marketing for a Test Drive
When it comes to technology I am a confessed “Novice”. And personally, with Social Media I am pretty quiet too. . . . or maybe my life is dull enough that none of…
Cash is King. . . .make sure that you turn your services into cash
Last week Funeral Director Daily published this article titled “Know your customer — How’s their credit”. That article delved into the American consumer credit profiles and why, before extending credit, you needed to…
Know your customer — How’s their credit?
The American economy keeps spending, yet we hear that families are getting squeezed by the combination of high prices and high interest rates. We also hear that high interest rates don’t seem to…
PRODUCTS
County governments seem to have lots of problems, are human remains another one?
Funeral Director Daily recently learned through this article from Public Media for Central Pennyslvania that Centre County will be building a 160-unit columbarium in Zion, Pennsylvania, to house urns that have went…
Starmark acquires AMA Containers
It was announced earlier this week that Starmark, a leading manufacturer of innovative funeral products, has acquired AMA Containers. AMA was originally founded in 1991 as Airline Mortuary Associates. Starmark, according to the press…
Empathy startup raises an additional $47 million
In the recent past I served as Board Chairman for a large Senior population health and living company for three years and as Chairman for a smaller home care and hospice company…
