It is always fun when the ball drops in Times Square at the rise of the New Year to think about how the future will be affecting you. Thinking about what will happen in the death care industry in North America is not something that comes to everybody’s mind, but if you make your livelihood…
Yesterday we gave you a recap of the death care public companies that make up the Death Care Index and their performance in 2017. We also promised that we would bring you some ideas that we have where those companies may be headed in the year ahead. Again, please couch your thoughts with the fact…
In a year when the stock market has been tremendously rewarding to those that were invested in it, the Funeral Director Daily Death Care Index (DCI) of public companies in the industry did not fare near as well. For the year from January 1, 2017 thru December 31, 2017, if you were invested in the…
Service Corporation International and its brand, Dignity Memorial, recently announced that it will, for the 10th consecutive year, sponsor the Donate Life float that will appear in the 129th Rose parade on January 1, 2018. You can read their press release here. The Donate Life Rose Parade float helps raise awareness of the important cause…
BUSINESS
Better Place Forests to become a Non-Profit
Better Place Forests is one of those ideas whose time has come. As a 33-year funeral director who has seen the social mores of Death Care move away from the traditional options during…
Legal Issues, Buying/Selling, Consumer Attitudes, and Preneed: Great webinars lined up for May
I was always told that you have to “Learn before you Earn” and now I’m told, and I believe, that “Learning is a lifetime endeavor” — meaning that you never stop learning. …
Warren Buffett: His management tips would suit your funeral home well
In 1956 stock analyst Warren Buffett formed what he called Buffett Partnership and in 1970 acquired a textile company called Berkshire Hathaway. The company assumed that name and went on to become a diversified…
FINANCE
Matthews International 2nd QTR Report: Interesting times
Funeral Director Daily presents you the final report of our hat trick of financial reports this week. Today we bring you the results of Matthews International’s operations for the period of January thru March…
Better Place Forests to become a Non-Profit
Better Place Forests is one of those ideas whose time has come. As a 33-year funeral director who has seen the social mores of Death Care move away from the traditional options during…
Carriage Services continues “Positioning March”
I read, watch, and listen about what is happening in the Death Care business. I do that on an overall scale and I also do it with as many individual companies as possible. …
REGULATIONS
Legal Issues, Buying/Selling, Consumer Attitudes, and Preneed: Great webinars lined up for May
I was always told that you have to “Learn before you Earn” and now I’m told, and I believe, that “Learning is a lifetime endeavor” — meaning that you never stop learning. …
Trump’s first 100 Days: Any effect on funeral service?
We’ve just lived through the first 100 days of the 2nd Trump presidency. On the equity market front there has been a lot of predictions and a lot of ups and downs. .…
. . . .and the caissons go rolling along
It will have been over two years since the last horse-drawn caisson carried a United States military member to their grave at Arlington National Cemetery when the horse-drawn caissons are again given that opportunity.…
CEMETERY
Are Reinforced Soil Systems the future for cemetery safety and profits?
Geogrid Reinforced Soil Systems (RSS) have long been used by engineers to provide for stability for retaining walls and highway roadways in North America. Now there is a company that has turned that…
Better Place Forests to become a Non-Profit
Better Place Forests is one of those ideas whose time has come. As a 33-year funeral director who has seen the social mores of Death Care move away from the traditional options during…
. . . .and the caissons go rolling along
It will have been over two years since the last horse-drawn caisson carried a United States military member to their grave at Arlington National Cemetery when the horse-drawn caissons are again given that opportunity.…
CREMATION
Will Gen Z lead the way back to more traditional funerals?
I think it is a real longshot and we are a long way from proclaiming that the funeral is back in American culture. However, a couple of indicators show that Generation Z, those…
The Cremation Aftermarket: Here’s a great idea to spur interest and sales
If you read Funeral Director Daily and listen to me when I have a chance to be a guest on an industry podcast you know that I believe that there is a great,…
SCI’s “Non-funeral home” revenue is growing fast. . . What can we learn?
Service Corporation International (SCI), the largest funeral home operator in North America, has grown its “Consolidated Funeral Revenue” 20.8% from 2019 (the latest year not affected by the pandemic) through 2024. Their annual financial…
PRENEED
Legal Issues, Buying/Selling, Consumer Attitudes, and Preneed: Great webinars lined up for May
I was always told that you have to “Learn before you Earn” and now I’m told, and I believe, that “Learning is a lifetime endeavor” — meaning that you never stop learning. …
The Cremation Aftermarket: Here’s a great idea to spur interest and sales
If you read Funeral Director Daily and listen to me when I have a chance to be a guest on an industry podcast you know that I believe that there is a great,…
The Segmented Purchase Consumer: Are funeral homes ready?
There has been a lot of research in the past couple of years about who the “Consumers of Funerals” are. There’s been a lot of great data published — some of which is good…
PRODUCTS
Are Reinforced Soil Systems the future for cemetery safety and profits?
Geogrid Reinforced Soil Systems (RSS) have long been used by engineers to provide for stability for retaining walls and highway roadways in North America. Now there is a company that has turned that…
Better Place Forests to become a Non-Profit
Better Place Forests is one of those ideas whose time has come. As a 33-year funeral director who has seen the social mores of Death Care move away from the traditional options during…
The Cremation Aftermarket: Here’s a great idea to spur interest and sales
If you read Funeral Director Daily and listen to me when I have a chance to be a guest on an industry podcast you know that I believe that there is a great,…
