The merry, merry month of May

Jason Murphy,
Director of Family Services,
Sunset Memorial Park

The month of May is a busy time of year for any cemetery manager. Mother's Day and Memorial Day bring more foot traffic to your cemetery than any other time of the year. It presents a huge opportunity to showcase your cemetery's unique qualities and increase sales. But, how do we make sure we are getting the most out of these opportunities?

The answer is simple: be prepared. You should already be brainstorming promotions that can be implemented during this time to encourage visitors to purchase property. If you don't think visitors are thinking about buying, keep in mind that if someone is visiting a loved one in your park, there is a good chance they will want to be with their family down the road.

Another thing to keep in mind during the May holidays is your staff. They are the individuals who spend their holidays with the families that you serve, instead of their own. Consider a bonus program to keep them motivated and to show your appreciation.

May is quickly approaching, but it is not too late. There is plenty of time to make a plan to enhance the experiences of both your visitors and staff during Mother's Day and Memorial Day.


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.

What do your taxes teach you?

Beth VadeBonCoeur,
Accountant

With April 15 now in our rear view mirror, we can all take a sigh of relief. So many of us dread tax time and tend to just sign our returns and file our paperwork.

When you get your return, do you take a minute to look it over? If you don't, you should. This is the ideal time to analyze your financial situation and your tax returns can have some helpful information.

• When comparing your income from year to year, is it growing or staying steady?
• Use your year-end statements to track your return on investments, the balance of your mortgage and the contributions to your retirement plan.
• Are you withholding too much? A large tax refund is always nice, but receiving the money in your paycheck might be better for your budget.
• On the other side, no one wants to pay a large balance every year. Are quarterly estimates needed to avoid a large due balance?

Your tax returns can provide you with so much information about your financial well-being. So, don't look at it as an evil document, but as a tool to help you track your financial progress. 

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.

Why do we educate our families?

Drew Edwards,
General Manager,
Sunset Funeral Homes

Recently, I received a newspaper clipping from a fellow funeral director in Illinois. The article was written by a man who had lost his wife and didn't feel supported by the small community in which he lived. The gentleman was upset with his hometown for not sharing in his grief.

A few days prior to this article, her obituary was submitted and clearly stated that she was to be cremated and a public service was not going to be held. I had to wonder if his feelings would have been different if he would have had a public service and allowed the community to share in his grief.

As funeral professionals, it is our job to educate the community on why families hold funerals and why we create for our loved ones. Whether the ceremony is big or small, or their memorial is traditional or full of color, their story is worth being told.

If you would like us to help you create your next unique memorial, give Customer Service a call at 800.798.4900.

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.

Trigard showcases new product at ICCFA Expo

Want to grow? Trigard invites you to come see our new products and learn how we can help you grow your business at the ICCFA Convention and Expo booth 631.

Attendees will get to see our newest products in action, including the new 12" x 12" Cremation Memorial, which allows for in-ground interment in a footprint much smaller than traditional Cremation Memorials - and at a price much lower than you may be paying now. Our companion design includes one chamber for both sets of cremated remains, making it a true companion component. Let us show you how to expand your cremation options while putting hundreds of dollars into your pocket.



Our booth will also feature memorial rocks, pet memorialization products, bronze memorials, as well as the popular Healing Tree® burial vault. And all booth attendees can receive a free flash drive with Trigard's new infographics, designed to help you educate families about the importance of attending a funeral, reasons to visit a cemetery and more.

If you can't make the expo, call our Customer Service team at 800.798.4900 for more information.


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.