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.