Trigard Memorials

How pet memorial garden stakes are lasting

Tue, 25 Apr 2017 15:00:00 +0000

By Linda Darby-Dowers

Our pets are our people too! We bring them into our families and before we know it, they steal our hearts, our couches, and sometimes even our pillows! So, why wouldn’t we want to honor them with some form of memorialization?

I love the idea of the Pet Memorial Garden Stake by TrigardMemorials, because if you move, you can always take it with you. Our CherishedCompanion section in our cemetery is quickly filling up, because people are beginning to understand that if they bury their pets in the yard and move away… they can’t take their beloved pets with them.

Today, there are more and more options available to honor your pets than ever before. Please consider what options make the most sense for you.

Cassandra Meek receives Trigard scholarship

Tue, 07 Mar 2017 17:31:00 +0000

Trigard Memorials proudly awarded a scholarship to Cassandra Meek, a student at Carl Sandburg College’s Mortuary Science Program in Galesburg, IL.

Meek received the scholarship because she demonstrates a strong academic performance and a commitment to helping grieving families remember, celebrate and heal.

“We are happy to invest in Cassandra’s education,” said Trigard Project Manager Blake Swinford. “We are confident that she will be a caring leader in the next generation of funeral directors.”

Meek was awarded a $250 scholarship to help complete her studies. It is one of many scholarships awarded by Trigard each year.

Meek was received her scholarship while her class toured Trigard Vaults, Trigard Memorials and Sunset Funeral Home in Danville, IL. They also heard Trigard Chief Executive Officer Linda Darby talk about the changing face of the death care profession.

Improved wall display for your showroom

Wed, 18 Jan 2017 22:40:00 +0000

Trigard Memorials has redesigned its selection room and showroom display to help families have more peace of mind in their decision-making. Our innovative wall mount carefully leads families through our most popular choices in fonts, colors, backgrounds and borders.

Our showroom displays are flat and easy to install. They are made of durable PVC and printed with UV inks, giving it a modern matte finish that makes the bronze samples pop right off the board. This new option is sized 42 inches x 60 inches, but we can customize displays to fit any location.

Samples also allow families to feel the quality of a Trigard Memorial. We have made the samples smaller, allowing for more choices to be displayed in the same area.

PRODUCT DETAILS

To order your new selection room display, call 800-798-4900.

Trigard Memorials' product list grows

Mon, 09 Jan 2017 18:28:00 +0000

Trigard Memorial is pleased to announce that it's list of direct-to-metal bronze and aluminum products continues to grow. These exclusive, one-of-a-kind masterpieces are ideal for any purpose or occasion.

Memorials
Pet Memorials: Trigard Memorials offers beautiful, customized markers and urns - the perfect way to preserve the memory of a unique life and to celebrate its contribution to this world.
Bench & Tree Marker
Portrait Plaques: Our portrait plaques and memorials are ideal for the those who have one favorite photograph of a loved one that they would like preserved.
Cemetery Markers
Military & Patriotic Plaques
Historical Markers

Classique: Trigard Memorials most popular style

Tue, 03 Jan 2017 18:18:00 +0000

TRIGARD MEMORIALS
If you haven't given a look at Trigard's Classique bronze memorials, it's time you do! Oxide finished frames and intricate corner accents on a background of Old World Brown combine to create lasting tributes. Plus, you can choose emblems (which reflect hobbies and passions,) words of endearment, a colorful, personal photograph and a vase to add a layer of personalization. Get started today and download the Classique order form.

TRIGARD URNS
Most people recognize Trigard's Classique memorials, but did you know that this same beautiful look is available on bronze cremation urns too? Ideal for mantles at home or niches at the cemetery, this bronze urn is a lasting tribute to a life well-lived. For more information, call 800-798-4900.

Trigard introduces micro-columbarium for small cemeteries

Wed, 28 Dec 2016 18:07:00 +0000

Trigard Burial Vaults has created a columbarium no larger than the size of a traditional upright, granite memorial. Designed to accommodate the budget and space needs of smaller cemeteries, the Trigard Monu-Niche holds 12 cremation units, yet has the footprint of only 48-inches wide. Each unit can be used as a companion unit, so that the Monu-Niche can accommodate 24 loved ones. This unique cremation solution can be marketed to multiple families or as a private estate.

“It is an easy and affordable way for church and privately-owned cemeteries to meet cremation needs,” said Trigard Project Manager Blake Swinford. “The risk and commitment are minimal. Once cemeterians find success with a Monu-Niche, they can simply add more.”

Sitting on a solid granite base, the Monu-Niche is designed to blend into the classical beauty in many cemeteries. It is also available in a 64-inch width and comes with personalized bronze cover plates. Built-in flower vases are optional. To learn more about Trigard, call 800-637-1992 or visit www.trigrad.com.

How to match existing niche and columbarium cover plates

Mon, 19 Dec 2016 18:00:00 +0000

The look of a face plate for a niche or columbarium often complements its surroundings. That’s why many cemeteries and churches find it important that new bronze plate designs blend with old ones. Trigard Memorials can help you keep a consistent look. All you need is a camera, tape measure and these few steps:

Photograph the entire plate. Take the photo straight-on. The less of an angle there is, the better.
Photograph up-close details of the images, lettering and scrolls.
Take measurements of the entire plate, scroll width and height, distance between the screws on the scroll and the height of the lettering. See the image below.
Then call Trigard Memorials at 800-798-4900. We will create a memorial that beautifully blends with your existing niche and columbarium cover plates.

Trigard awards scholarship to Mid-America College student

Tue, 13 Dec 2016 17:55:00 +0000

Danville, IL – Trigard Memorials proudly announced a $250 scholarship awarded to Luke Nolting, a student at Mid-America College of Funeral Service, a mortuary school in Jeffersonville, IN. Nolting received the scholarship because he demonstrates a strong academic performance and a commitment to helping grieving families remember, celebrate and heal.

While visiting Mid-America College to make the announcement, Trigard Chief Executive Officer Linda Darby talked with students about the changing face of the death care profession. Trigard’s Vice President of Business Development Jeff Miller also spoke to the class.

This article originally appeared in Trigard Memorials' electronic monthly newsletter featuring information for the funeral industry. Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.trigard.com/thursdays.

memorials are for remembering

Wed, 05 Oct 2016 11:08:00 +0000

By Karen Darby-Ritz, Advance Planning Manager, Camino del Sol Funeral Chapel and Cremation Center

In preparing my article I did what many of us do when faced with a task like writing an article− I Googled. I Googled memorialization. All sorts of entries popped up. Good, I thought, a bunch of information to spark some ideas! According to Memorialize.com there is little written about memorialization other than it is part of a healthy grieving process.

It made me think that we, as a society, want to remember or be remembered is a part of our very core. We record all parts of our history with stories, statues or memorials so we will not forget why an event or person is being paid tribute to. We also want to ensure that future generations have this knowledge too.

Socrates, the great ancient Greek philosopher, made reference to this idea when he spoke of education. He stated that the soul of each person on Earth is an infinite force that has roamed the earth forever and will continue to roam for eternity. Because of this, each soul knows everything there is to know. So, the job of an earthly human, according to Socrates, is to learn to remember all his or her soul ever knew. If you think about the English word remember; the prefix” re” means “again.” So to remember elicits that we always knew that person or fact.

Memorializing, then, is one of our core traditions. Throughout history memorials have been known to be quite special. It’s no secret that beauty and elegance have been keys to every memorial structure. Think of the pyramids in Egypt or the Lincoln Memorial in the US. (Even the simplest headstones or basic urns are designed to maintain their beauty through time.) These sites are visited by millions each year. Why? We want to remember. It’s that simple. As time went by, these sites not only were beautiful but began to take on a use. For instance, a library can be named after great-grandpa or a football arena is named after a family known to be generous with donations.

We must also recognize that not all memorials are for the famous or rich. Most of us are here on earth, lived a good life, and mattered mostly to those that were a part of our lives or loved us dearly. So, our loved ones aren’t apt to erect a building in our honor, yet, no one would argue that everyone has the right to be memorialized by a simple yet special grave or niche marker.

If you’ve seen new ways to memorialize, please contact us at Trigard Memorials. We love to share what we’ve learned from all of our friends.

This article originally appeared in Modern Memorialization, Trigard Memorials' weekly electronic newsletter featuring information for the funeral industry. Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.trigard.com/thursdays.

Is your pet your child?

Tue, 27 Sep 2016 15:23:00 +0000

Ross Darby,
Director of Business Development at Trigard Memorials

I recently went to the PLPA College (Pet Loss Professionals Alliance) and I gained a new appreciation for how we memorialize pets. Memorializing pets is not new to me. My wife (pictured right) is in charge of the pet division at Sunset Memorial Park. She shares stories of families who will spend the extra dollar when it comes to memorializing their pet.

First, I needed to get a better understanding of what a “pet” is. A “pet” to me it is either a dog or a cat. Boy was I wrong! My wife helped a family who established a very high budget to celebrate a beloved rabbit. There was a full service and was no expense spared on the memorial. This caused me to re-think how I view pets and the grieving needs of the humans who love them. People all over the world have different types of furry, scaled, and feathered friends, and we in the death care profession must be able to meet all of their wants when it comes to memorialization.

Until recently, my experience in the pet market has been working with bronze memorials. I learned that pet memorials tend to be the most unique. Families love that we, at Trigard Memorials, can give them a 3D-relief bronze memorial AND add color to it. To these families, that kind of marker is a no brainer.

If you have a pet section in your cemetery, we offer beautiful pet markers that are attached to granite. We also create photo medallions in bronze that can be easily attached to existing granite or bronze memorials. (This is ideal for families who want to enhance what they already have.) If you have a niche unit for cremated animals, we provide fully customizable niche plates. We also offer personalized urns for the families that wish to take their beloved pet home with them.

If you do not have a pet section in your cemetery, it is usually easy to find unused space that you can turn into revenue for your business. If pet cremation is the only means of disposition that you offer, then Trigard’s urns or medallions are a nice personalized product to offer a family. Even if price is leading your families to choose cremation, we still find great value in the memorialization piece of the sale.

The pet market is relatively new to most of us, but I truly believe it is being under served and underutilized. There are opportunities everywhere! Families are beginning to realized that last visit to the vet office is not the last memory they want to have of their pet. That is where our industry needs to step in and use our expertise to provide healthy healing and closure our customers are seeking.

5 ways to improve your sales display

Wed, 14 Sep 2016 13:57:00 +0000

Whether you’re a monument company, a cemetery or a funeral home, you can benefit from a display that highlights your best products and services. In fact, research shows that displays influence customers more than price promotions. According to OgilvyAction, 24% of buying customers say they are influenced most by displays, while only 17% are persuaded by discounts.

Why do displays work so well? Three reasons. First, displays can give greater ROI than traditional advertising. Second, displays start the sales process right away, even when your sales staff is busy somewhere else. Third, consumer shopping patterns and expectations have changed. The families you serve want more, easy-to-grasp information,

No matter if you have a permanent display of bronze or a seasonal display of grave blankets, there are five things you can do to make your sales area more effective.

Make it appealing. The purpose of a display is to make people look. Don’t be afraid to use colors and engaging graphics. Once you have the customer’s attention, “bring them in” with something to touch.
Avoid jargon. Limit using industry names that customers might not recognize. Use words that show how your products and services benefit your customers.
Train your team. Make a good display a great display by teaching your staff how to use it. Make sure your team knows how your display can help identify customer needs, show value in your products and/or overcome objections.
Eliminate clutter. Don’t overwhelm people. Your displays should not be cluttered or stuffed with too many items.
Keep it clean. Nothing takes away from the value of what you offer like dust and grime. Make sure your team routinely dusts and cleans it.

Make a commitment this month to really look at your displays. Make at least one improvement to make it more beneficial for the people you serve.

This article originally appeared in Modern Memorialization, Trigard Memorials' weekly electronic newsletter featuring information for the funeral industry. Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.trigard.com/thursdays.

Attitude of gratitude

Tue, 06 Sep 2016 21:43:00 +0000

By Scott Darby, Media Manager and Certified Funeral Celebrant,
Camino del Sol Funeral Chapel & Cremation Center

A little over a year ago, I started the “practice of gratitude” in my life and it has made a world of difference in my perspective.

I used to think that the world was against me and that I had to fight for everything. I was coming from a place of self-will instead of a place of thankfulness. Not anymore! The byproducts of this new attitude are amazing. I feel a greater sense of happiness and contentment. I have stronger personal relationships. I don’t feel the need to struggle, because things come more naturally to me. I could go on and on.

To give you an example, I always get the same feeling around Labor Day. You know the feeling I’m talking about… the summer-is-officially-over blues. It feels like an internal shift from low gear to high gear.

When I was a kid, Labor Day meant the long lazy days of summer were behind me. I was back to school and all I had to look forward to was a regular schedule of homework. As an adult, BBQs turn into board meetings. In the past, this shift made me a little depressed. However, this year I’m excited for Fall and what it will bring. I feel this way because I am grateful - grateful that I came home and found my place in our profession. After all, we what we do is so important.

Wikipedia defines a memorial as “an object which serves as a focus for memory of something.”
I mention this because I want you to understand we at Trigard Memorials see our memorials as more than just handcrafted pieces of bronze or aluminum. We know our products represent lives that need to be celebrated. We are in the business of preserving memories, and we are grateful for that!

Join me in this attitude of gratitude. Never forget that what you do is amazing. Sure, it is a great responsibility, but look how you are rewarded. Every day, you get to help people memorialize those who are loved and precious to them. You get the opportunity to touch lives deeply. You get to contribute to the greater good!

This article originally appeared in Modern Memorialization, Trigard Memorials' weekly electronic newsletter featuring information for the funeral industry. Sign up for your free subscription at www.trigard.com/thursdays.

3 ways you can add revenue just by creating value

Wed, 31 Aug 2016 17:27:00 +0000

By Ethan Darby, Director of Business Development

As a manufacturer, understanding the type of business you are selling to is extremely valuable. The fact that my family owns both funeral homes and a cemetery is one of our best competitive advantages. We know that most cemeteries aren’t “cash cows.” We know that customers are becoming more informed, cremation rates are on the rise and margins are getting slimmer. We know we need to keep growing too.

Sometimes we can create new revenue streams by offering new products or services, but sometimes we generate new revenue just by enhancing what we already offer. Anyone can create new added-value that your customers can get behind. Here are three ways to do that with bronze memorials:

Create scripting that upsells – I find the words “scripting” and “upsell” have negative connotations in our industry and I’m not sure why. If you believe that a “high-end” product has the most value, then you shouldn’t feel bad about upselling to drive your sales towards that product line. You also shouldn’t feel bad about creating scripts to help your customer understand the value that you see. Think about what you like about a certain product line. How are you transferring those positive feelings to your customers?
Become confident in your product – I have spent a lot of time in our manufacturing plant. I can’t even begin to quantify the value that has been created when I am making a sales presentation. I know exactly why certain product lines are more expensive than others. For example, the full color photo Collage memorial is more expensive than the Classique memorial because the Collage takes a lot of design time. It is fully customized, while the Classique is a templated design with names, dates, and emblems easily switched out. Come see us at Trigard Memorials and ask questions. We would love to help you increase your knowledge of our products.
Set goals for yourself or your sales team – Set goals that drive the behaviors you want. We all know setting goals is a good thing. Narrowing your goals to specific product lines can be an even better thing.

It really is amazing what an upsell can do to your bottom line and to your confidence. For instance, I believe that the Collage memorial is Trigard’s best product. Every time I walk through our cemetery, I believe it more and more. After all, the collage series is like a magnet that pulls you in. It tells a story about a person and will be valuable to their family for generations to come… and I tell my customers that. That’s how I create value in what we offer. How will you?

Prepare now for the dreaded winter months

Wed, 24 Aug 2016 13:08:00 +0000

By Jason Murphy,
Director of Family Services, Sunset Memorial Park

It may seem crazy, but now is the time to start preparing your sales force for the colder months of the year. In cemetery and memorial sales, we all know that the winter months can pose a challenge to have consistent sales coming in. The foot traffic through your cemetery decreases, markers can’t be installed when the ground is frozen and there is simply less people coming into your office because they are staying home where it is warm and cozy.

So, the question is, do you accept lower sales during this season or do you do something about it? We have a strong philosophy – we don’t buy into the idea that just because it’s cold out it means that sales decrease. In fact, we challenge ourselves to have our biggest sales months during this time of year. Here are some things that may help your team counter the lack of walk-in or call-in business during this period.

First, have your sales reps follow up on all the leads that they haven’t closed from the previous couple of years. Develop a list of these leads and come up with a way to contact them all during the winter. You could develop a direct mail letter touching base with these families or maybe even give them a call to check in and see how they are doing.

Finding any way that you can have contact with them during this time is critical. One of the major reasons is that the colder months mean that the holidays are near. For these families, this will be the first holiday season without their loved one. So, this is a great time to reach out and let them know that you are thinking about them. Even if you don’t turn the conversation into an appointment, you are at least strengthening your relationship with the family, so that when they are ready to choose a memorial, the process will be much smoother for everyone involved.

Another idea is to hold a lunch and learn seminar either at your facility or at a local restaurant. Everyone appreciates a warm meal on the house. This can give you an opportunity to promote the importance of permanent memorialization and discuss details of your memorials in a group setting, where everyone has a common interest. Many people become more relaxed with a group and the ideas and questions seem to flow better.

A final idea that could correlate with both of the previous thoughts would be to develop a promotion or discount for these families based around the holiday season. You could offer a certain percentage off or maybe give a free grave blanket or holiday floral arrangement with a purchase of a permanent memorial. Make sure to remind these families that if they purchase during the winter, that their memorials will be the first ones to be installed once the ground thaws in the spring. This will also help develop a sense of urgency for them to act, along with the expiration date of the discount.

The main concept is to not let yourself, or your team, begin to accept the fact of lower sales during this time of year. Stay positive and begin game planning now, so that your sales stay consistent throughout the entire year. If you plan well enough, you could even see an increase in sales during the dreaded cold months of the year.

4 steps to emotional selling

Wed, 17 Aug 2016 14:45:00 +0000

By Mary Ellen Fricke, Creative Director

Think of the last time you bought a candy bar. Did you choose that candy bar because you weighed all the facts and made a well-informed decision? “This Snickers has the highest nut-to-calorie ratio for my dollar. Wow, what a ROI!”

I didn’t think so. Whether it’s a sugary treat or a legacy memorial, people base decisions on emotions and then justify them with logic. You wanted a Snickers because it reminded you of your childhood. Or because you felt smart buying it on sale. Or maybe it’s just because Snickers satisfies.

Once you understand that we are by nature, emotional beings, you can spend less time describing details that customers don’t care about and more time helping them find memorials that speak to their hearts.

Here are four steps you can take to help families make the decisions that are best for them.

1. Find out what families really want.
Maybe your customer is looking for peace of mind, fearing that tough decisions will fall on the family. Maybe they are looking for a sense of security, wanting to know the “right” decisions are made. Maybe they are looking for respect, desiring a memorial that reflects a loved one’s accomplishments. Listen to your customers. Find out what their heart wants, not their brain.

2. Ignore the feature. Focus on the benefit.
Now that you know what your family wants, you need to give it to them. A woman nervous that she will be forgotten by time, doesn’t really care if her bronze memorial is carved or casted, but she does care that the precision of carved lettering will last for generations. Don’t sell the feature of your products. Highlight the emotional outcome of the feature.

3. Remember you are addressing emotions, not playing on them.
You are serving families during emotionally trying times. That’s why we in the death care profession need to give special attention and understand what families are really feeling and care about. You want your customers to feel good about their decisions and share that good feelings with their friends and neighbors.

4. Practice, practice, practice!
This approach to serving families may feel awkward at first. It may feel time consuming, too. After all, it’s easy to give a family a catalog or quickly show them your “go to” choices. With every solution you find for a family, you will become more and more comfortable and confident with the process.

My advice to you? Sit down with your favorite candy bar in one hand and a product catalog in the other. Choose one feature and think about how it can fulfill an emotional need. By the time you’re done with your candy bar, you’ll have at least one new benefit for your customers. Now that’s a real treat!

Don’t limit your customers’ colorful legacies

Mon, 08 Aug 2016 20:50:00 +0000

By Drew Edwards, General Manager, Sunset Funeral Homes

Recently, a gentleman stopped in our funeral home and ask if he could talk to someone about a columbarium. I happened to be in the foyer, so I introduced myself and offered to answer any questions.

At first, I thought he was a client looking to purchase a niche in our cemetery located across the street. Upon further conversation, I learned that he was actually a board member for a nearby cemetery. He wanted to build a columbarium to drive new revenue to his cemetery. With the rise in cremations, he realized that even in his small town, the number of burials was decreasing each year. The cemetery was losing customers with every family that chose cremation.

Before entering our funeral home, this gentleman drove through our cemetery and found a columbarium that he liked. It was one of our basic units. Each niche has a simple bronze nameplate on front.

It’s a nice columbarium, but I asked him if he had time to look at other options. After all, we have new choices that appeal to today’s families. He was hesitant. Without question, he was sold on the basic niche. But after a little discussion, he agreed to take a second look.

I showed him our “Storybook” glass front niche unit. This columbarium has bronze plates with photo-realistic portraits of the deceased, in brilliant full color. Each niche tells a unique story. It didn’t take long before this gentleman realized how many members of our community are looking for more than just the “basic bronze” nameplate.

The moral of the story is simple.

Each of us is unique and we like to memorialize our loved ones in different ways. Every life creates a wonderful legacy and we should never limit the consumer to a “basic” legacy. Give your families all the options, educate them and then support them in their decision. We were all given the precious gift of life. The question is, how do you want to be remembered? Basic or full of color?

This article originally appeared in Modern Memorialization, Trigard Memorials' weekly electronic newsletter featuring information for the funeral industry. Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.trigard.com/thursdays.

Our new mission puts new focus on you

Wed, 03 Aug 2016 16:06:00 +0000

By Blake Swinford, Project Manager

We are more than half way through 2016. Where are you with your New Year resolutions? Have you kept all of them? Half of them? None of them? We often make pledges that we don't keep.

At Trigard Memorials, we have recently made a commitment that we know is here for the long haul - a new mission, vision and set of key values. Best of all, they include you!

Mission: Our mission is based solely upon you. We will be the best partner to our clients, employees, vendors and community.

Vision: Our vision is to be the clear choice; a strong, viable, innovative leader.

Values:

Passion
Integrity
Innovation
Leadership
Family
Stewardship

While you may have not kept the goals you set at the beginning of the year, it’s never too late to start something good. If your company has an outdated Mission or no Vision or Values, now is the time to get started. Need inspiration? We are here to help. Just pick up the phone and call 800-637-1992.

This article originally appeared in Modern Memorialization, Trigard Memorials' weekly electronic newsletter featuring information for the funeral industry. Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.trigard.com/thursdays.

You’re in the memorial business… now go be memorable!

Mon, 25 Jul 2016 21:18:00 +0000

Sheryl Baumeister,
Human Resources

We’re in the business of helping others share their memories of loved ones, but what about us? Are we making memories? Are we memorable?

We all want to be remembered for something. That’s what makes us stand out. That’s what keeps our legacy alive. But how do you set out to become unforgettable? It’s easier than you think. Be a “doer,” not a “watcher.” Live life. Don’t watch it pass by. Creating experiences in our personal lives not only impacts our quality of living, but those around us as well.

DO THE UNUSUAL
While you are out there “doing,” make it something unusual. Many of us have similar lifestyles. We work, have a family, a home, a car, clothes… you get the picture. We like to think we are special, but we’re all pretty much the same and similar isn’t memorable. So, try something different. Push your experiences beyond your comfort zone. Push beyond other people’s comfort zones too!

DO FUN
Remember when you were young and didn’t know the definition of “stupid idea.” You followed the mission through, no matter how pointless or inconvenient… because it was fun. The more pointless it was, the more fun you had. Why? Sometimes your goal isn’t to accomplish something worthwhile; your goal is to collect experiences. That is what makes your life richer and more interesting.

DO GOOD
Care about people and do good things. When you stand for something, you stand apart. Others will see your good works and remember them. Surprisingly, in many case, the less you say, the more people remember.

DO TRY
Stop being so hard on yourself. It’s okay to fail. Run the race even though you might lose. Sing even though you can’t carry a tune in a bucket. Dance even though you have two left feet. You don’t have to be all-knowing, all-achieving. Accept your faults, make mistakes and be gracious about it. You will be remembered because you were willing to fail. After all, people who display grace and humility in the face of defeat are rare.

What are you waiting for? Go be memorable!

This article originally appeared in Modern Memorialization, Trigard Memorials' weekly electronic newsletter featuring information for the funeral industry. Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.trigard.com/thursdays.

Are pictures really worth a thousand words?

Wed, 20 Jul 2016 14:18:00 +0000

Erin Brodbeck, LCSW, CT,

Director of Grief Services,

Sunset Funeral Home

There is a saying, “A picture’s worth a thousand words,” and I would most definitely agree. Whether you are posting a photo on Instagram, sharing photos of your kids on Facebook or even printing a photo to put in a frame, you are using photos to share your thoughts and stories.

My daughter is turning one-year-old at the end of this month. While I was digging through the hundreds of pictures we’ve taken throughout the last year, I began thinking about how important pictures are when memorializing a loved one.

Displaying family photos at a visitation, making a photo collage or creating a bronze memorial with your loved ones' pictures are all great ways to reflect on their life and keep their legacy alive. Those pictures are some of the only visual mementos that you have left of your loved one, so why not make them center stage while you celebrate their life? I would encourage the families that you serve to pull out those family photos and search their online albums for pictures that can tell their story. The story of a life that will never be forgotten.

Looking for some more ideas on how to use pictures in memorialization? Email me at erinb@sunsetfuneralhome.com.

What is your “wow factor?”

Tue, 12 Jul 2016 21:13:00 +0000

Ross Darby,
Director of Business
Development

Have you ever heard a family say, “Wow, that was really special,” or “Wow, I have never seen that before?” If you have, then the product or service they were referring to is your “wow factor.” It's what sets you apart from your competition.

For instance, at Trigard Memorials, one of our "wow factors" is the precise detailing from our direct-to-metal machining process that results in exact replications of photographs. Another "wow factor" is the option to add Brilliant Impressions® full color that turns a loved one’s memorial into a work of art.

What is your “wow factor?” What makes you special? What makes you stand out in the marketplace?

Your “wow factor” is how the families you serve will remember you. Look beyond industry standards. Look beyond the same products that others have. Look beyond your pricing structure and puts more focus on the services that impact families the most.

A “wow factor” in your company is key to success because people will remember you, and you have a way to stand out from the competition. When you find your “wow factor,” make it the focal point of your business. Your marketing, sales, and supporting literature should revolve around this amazing competitive advantage. This is the easiest way to answer the question: “Why should I choose you over the competition?”

Five things to remember when revising your regulations

Wed, 29 Jun 2016 15:52:00 +0000

Salting, spraying and gravel – oh my! A few months ago, we worked with the Sunset Memorial Park Grounds Superintendent on a new regulations sign.

Many parts of the existing sign were still important, such as always allowing cut flowers and the restrictions we have in place during mowing season. But there were many new issues that we hadn’t even imagined. Some visitors are coming to the memorial park and salting, spraying weed killer and even adding gravel around their loved ones’ memorials. Others insist on leaving statuary next to a memorial, but don’t want it moved when the section is mowed and maintained.

It didn’t take long for the wish list of items for the new sign to grow far too long for any one sign to hold. So how did we whittle down the list without sacrificing information?

First, we gathered the most comprehensive, specific list we could. We included everything that we could possibly want families who visit the memorial park to know. Then we got to work doing some strong editing. Here are the top 5 things we kept in mind when streamlining your park signage:

Your audience is made up of families who trust you to take care of their loved one. It’s easy to get focused on problematic visitors or times that someone violated your regulations. But keep in mind that your regulations sign is probably the first thing most people see when they enter your cemetery or memorial park. What kind of a mood does it set? Is it welcoming or does it sound like a lot of rules for a classroom of misbehaving children? Never forget that your sign is being read by families who are trusting you to take care of their loved one. They want a place to share their most precious memories, and your regulations sign should honor that responsibility.
A sign can’t (and shouldn’t) replace an in-person conversation. It’s certainly a good idea to have your regulations posted clearly, but no sign can ever replace personal interaction. If you see someone violating your regulations, don’t expect the sign to take care of it. Instead, practice exactly what you and your staff will say to them to help them understand why the regulations are in place. It may be as simple as explaining the rules and where to find them.
Focus on the typical visitor to your cemetery or memorial park, not those that stand out. Just because one person dug holes to plant mums around their loved one’s ground memorial, it doesn’t mean that everyone who comes to your cemetery will do the same thing. When it comes to signs, be sure you’re focusing on the 80 or 90% of well-behaved, well-intentioned visitors. Then, address the outliers one by one. It’s like a classroom.
Build trust by focusing on what is allowed versus what is forbidden. Which would you rather read? Option A: No shepherd’s hooks allowed from March 1 to October 1. Option B: Shepherd’s hooks are welcome October 1 to March 1 when we are not mowing.
Keep the wording simple and inclusive. When the internet was still young, malicious companies would buy domain names like www.jackspizzastinks.com and then offer to sell them to Jack’s Pizza for a ridiculous amount of money. The problem was the nearly limitless number of potential domain names, so you could never buy them all to keep one from being posted online. In the same vein, you can waste a lot of words on a sign trying to list out all of the items that are allowed or not allowed in your memorial park. Instead, find categories that are self-explanatory. It’s much easier to read “only cut flowers are welcome” instead of “potted plants, hanging baskets, silk flowers, wreaths, statuary, solar lights and stuffed animals are not allowed.”

How are you showing your appreciation?

Tue, 28 Jun 2016 16:35:00 +0000


Donna Darby-Walthall, Chief Financial Officer

As a family-owned and operated business, we understand the importance of family, which means every person working for any of our companies are part of that family. We care about our employees and we appreciate their hard work. Our organization wouldn't be where it is today if it wasn't for them. They are the ones in the trenches every day making things happen.

One way the Darby family shows their appreciation is by hosting a quarterly luncheon for the entire manufacturing division. We serve lunch, play games that give employees the opportunity to win money or prizes, and we enjoy each others company. It is a great opportunity for us to connect with everyone on a different level and have some fun.

Our manufacturing employees aren’t the only ones receiving our good praises. We also enjoy showing our appreciation by offering an incentive program to our funeral home staff at Sunset Funeral Home called the “Anything’s Possible Award.” Each employee is encouraged to nominate a fellow co-worker when they see them performing a task above and beyond their normal duties. If the person nominated wins, they not only get a monetary award, but they also get recognized by their fellow co-workers. I love when our employees see and recognize the efforts of their co-workers. It benefits us all.

How do you show your appreciation to your staff? I would love to hear some of your ideas. You can email me at DonnaW@trigard.com.

Are you letting your fears get the best of you?

Wed, 22 Jun 2016 14:48:00 +0000

Linda Darby,
Chief Executive Officer

Do you remember when you were a kid and life’s possibilities were endless? There wasn’t anything you couldn’t do. Do you remember wanting to be a singer, a dancer, a pilot, a teacher, or possibly a funeral director? What happened to those big dreams that you once had? Maybe you stumbled a few times while working towards your goal. Maybe you made a wrong turn and failed, and instead of facing your fear of failure, you just quit.

I can relate. I remember a time when I was just starting my career in the funeral and memorialization industry. I remember how passionate I was about being a motivational speaker. I wanted it so bad, but I was afraid. I was afraid I wouldn’t be any good and no one would want to listen to me. Until my dad, James “Big Jim” Darby, gave me some really great advice. He said, “Linda, you have to face your fears. You have to do the things you fear the most repeatedly in order get over that fear.” And, you know what? He was right!

I faced my fear. I started small and spoke to small groups and organizations. Today, I speak at national conventions. Some might say you can’t shut me up! (My siblings will attest to that.)

What do you want to accomplish? What was something you were passionate about while growing up, but are too afraid to try now as a grown up? I encourage you to fight against that fear and embrace it. The people we serve in our communities deserve the best that we can give them. Find your inner child and embrace that passion you once had.

This is a digital world. Are you embracing it?

Tue, 14 Jun 2016 21:05:00 +0000

This article originally appeared in the April issue of Catholic Cemetery magazine.

What was the last visit to your doctor’s office like? If you remember your medical records being kept in a big, manila folder and your physician carrying a clipboard, then it’s safe to say it’s been a while. Thanks to the advancements in technology, things have changed dramatically in the past few years. Your doctor can easily review your entire electronic medical record from their computer instead of sifting through papers in a folder. You can schedule appointments and review lab results online. In some parts of the country, you can even have a virtual doctor’s visit from home.

Technology continues to make our lives easier, in the doctor’s office and in the cemetery office. Today, families have come to expect companies to be current with the digital trends and don’t make exceptions for certain industries to have old fashioned practices. Even the post office has caught up by offering enhanced online tracking for your shipments. If you aren’t embracing technology in your cemetery, it’s time.

What do you use to explain memorial options in your cemetery? Are you still flipping through binders with line drawings? Are the sales sheets crisp and colorful or are they fraying at the edges? This binder may have worked well for you in the past, but is it really still the best tool we have?

We should be using graphic wall displays, video slideshows and digital images instead of old fashioned binders that offer families an unrealistic view of the different options of memorials we offer. The families that design memorials today are not the same as the people who designed them twenty, ten or even five years ago. They are living in a digital world where they are surrounded by strong graphics and images daily. They have become accustomed to simplified choices with more options, and it is time our memorial presentations reflect their preferences.

Technology can help you beyond the memorial selection. Cemeteries around the country are using online project management software to communicate with staff about upcoming burials and services and keep track of work orders. New apps help families locate their loved ones’ graves after-hours or on the weekends instead of having to rely on cemetery office hours. Lot cards have gone digital thanks to software that does an even better job of tracking information.

Technology has also revolutionized the manufacturing process for upright and bronze memorials. Instead of hand lettering, we can incorporate full-color photographs with an incredible amount of detail. You can even design a memorial online and approve a digital proof with the family instantly.

Technology has enhanced the way we reach the families we serve as well. Do you remember all of those direct mail campaigns and newspaper ads you did trying to communicate with your communities? We use to rely on the hope that people would buy the newspaper or save our postcards. Now, thanks to smartphones, we can be right in our customers’ pockets. Through social media and email, we can send invitations to events happening at our cemetery, share promotions and even celebrate a holiday. Technology can help us build better relationships with the families we serve.

Are you ready to take the leap and embrace more technology? I know change can be hard. We are creatures of habit. We take comfort in doing things the same way over and over again. We have seen our way work in the past, which makes it harder to believe there’s any reason to change it. But just like your doctor’s office has found new tools and systems to serve you better, there are new ideas and resources that can help you serve families even better.

Is memorialization losing its importance?

Tue, 07 Jun 2016 14:59:00 +0000

Stuart McDaniels,
Materials Manager

I love how the internet has changed how we interact with the world, especially when it comes to the interactions we have with others and the sharing of ideas and opinions. It used to be that there were very few outlets for opinions and ideas beyond three major news outlets, your local newspaper, and your neighbors and co-workers.

Sometimes, I feel our industry is still stuck in this old paradigm of limited thinking and information flow. That’s why I was extremely encouraged by an article I recently stumbled across online that discussed how a particular cemetery in Australia was being conceived to utilize GPS to mark grave sites. There would be no markers anywhere. The headline asked, “Could this be the end of gravestones?” The article spoke of how this “new technology” would challenge what a cemetery could be, and stated that “there is a huge gap between what people want nowadays and what has traditionally been made available.” The director of the landscape company who is partnered with the architects designing the site is quoted as saying, “This project is about changing how we celebrate death.”

Wow. Sounds a little scary if you are in the memorialization business doesn’t it? Well, not so fast. Remember earlier when I talked about the open flow of ideas across the internet? It just so happens that this publication has a comment section below each article that encourages readers to comment on the story they just read. I love reading these as they provide insight as to what the “average Joe” is thinking. Some commenters are there just to troll or have an agenda, but for the most part, there are usually some good responses.

What encouraged me so much about this article were a series of comments from various readers disagreeing with the substance of the article. Commenter after commenter talked about how the marker was more than just a way to mark the burial site. The most popular comment in the thread said “Then that place will be empty. The whole point of a cemetery is to have a tangible point of remembrance and GPS coordinates on your smartphone just don't cut it.” Another great comment read, “I think this misses the point. Most people like some marker, some memorial to say to the world, 'This person existed! They were here!'. At least, that's how I look at markers. I don't only visit those of my family, but others. Walking through an old graveyard is a wonderful and sobering experience.”

Remembrance and memorialization are the key ideas here. What they really are saying is memorialization is important. As an industry, we must not allow ourselves to believe any other way. I believe, when people are prompted to consider mortality and memorialization, most would concede that what they want for themselves may not take into consideration their loved ones needs to have something, somewhere, physical and tangible that enables them to remember or reflect on that person’s passing or a life well lived. This concept is important to our industry and is especially important to the fabric of our culture and society.

All of us in this industry have a unique opportunity, and a profound responsibility, to facilitate a discussion to educate everyone we come into contact with regarding just how critically important memorialization is. We must do all we can to get people to think about it and to consider the implications of a loved one's passing without memorialization.