Don't miss out because you're stuck in your ways

Rich Darby,
Chief Operating Officer

How do you know you have a good product? How do you know you are making a difference? I knew when I heard this powerful story.

A family wanted to honor their loved one with a personalized bronze memorial filled with colorful photos. However, the cemetery they chose only offered traditional memorials with emblems and borders. Instead of settling for something that wasn’t exactly what they wanted, they got online and found Trigard Memorials. We connected them with a dealer, and the family designed a beautiful, unique, modern memorial that tells the story of their loved one’s life. They brought it back to the cemetery, and it is now a special place for the family to share memories.

But that’s not the end of the story. It gets even better.

A woman was walking in that same cemetery and the Collage memorial caught her eye. She was so impressed with it that she called the cemetery office to order a similar design for her loved one. The cemetery told her that they didn’t offer that type of memorial and sent her on her way.

The woman was so intent on getting her loved one a personalized bronze memorial that she wrote a message on a post-it note, stuck it on the bronze memorial in the cemetery and hoped the other family saw it. The note asked the family to please give her the name of the company that they purchased the memorial from so she could order one for her loved one as well. And they absolutely did.

WOW! By insisting on only offering traditional memorials, this cemetery lost out on two memorial sales. And not just any sales. These families were so passionate about honoring their loved ones in just the right way that they were willing to do a lot of legwork.

Are you letting your old ways prevent you from giving families what they are asking for? In all my years of manufacturing, I have never heard such a powerful story. It makes me proud to be part of a company that produces a product that folks will go the extra mile to order.

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.

To memorialize, or not to memorialize?

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

To memorialize, or not memorialize; that is the question. I'm taking some liberty with a quote from Shakespeare, but this question is definitely on many people’s minds.

I’m located in Arizona, where our projected cremation rate is nearly 67 percent this year. When I’m out in our community, people often ask me, “Why does memorialization matter?” Instead of being discouraged, I light up. I know that memorialization matters, and now I have an opportunity to share my passion and educate.

So what do I say?

First, memorialization gives us an opportunity to share our legacy. It’s important for future generations to know each of us existed. We have a rich history, and a cemetery or memorial park is where our history is permanently and publicly recorded.

Second, memorialization will help your family heal. When you give your family and friends a place to visit, share stories and acknowledge special dates and holidays, their healing process can continue in a healthy way.

Also, there are so many modern memorialization options. Your permanent memorial can be traditional or include color photographs that capture milestones from your life. It can be a in the ground or up on a niche tower; on a memorial rock or as part of a private estate monument.

Lastly, you matter! Deep down inside we all want to feel as if we had an impact on the world; if not the world at large, OUR world. We want to feel as though we’ve made a difference in someone’s life. Permanent memorialization is a way to leave your mark and remember that you mattered to so many special people.

So, to memorialize, or not to memorialize? There’s no question in my mind. The answer is a resounding, "YES!"

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 preparation really paying off?

Jason Murphy,
Director of Family Services,
Sunset Memorial Park

When your cemetery staff gets ready for a meeting with a family, how do they prepare? Do they just gather all of the necessary materials and paperwork to complete a sale? Or do they go a step further and do their research?

Instead of robotically presenting your entire memorial design collection to a family and letting them decide which is right for them, teach your team how to research the family coming in to design a memorial. Even before the appointment, how much can they learn about the person's passions, hobbies or interests? If they were a piano teacher, flag the music-related emblems in our emblem catalog. If they spent every summer at the beach, flag the ocean Collage background.

Instead of asking the family to decipher all of the options, train your staff to think creatively and guide the family toward their best options. When you are able to bring a families attention to their true passions in life, they tend to focus less on the price and more on the value of the memorial.

The key is to make sure you are putting in the time and effort that it takes to be fully prepared. It can truly pay off for both your cemetery staff and the families 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.

Quality comes with a higher price tag

Rich Darby,
Chief Operations Officer

After negotiating a contract with one of our suppliers, I gained a great deal of respect for the way they do business. Their representative didn't give us a deal, a coupon or budge on the price and I respect that; because quality comes with a higher price tag.

When I refer to quality, I don't just mean quality products. I am also referring to the company manufacturing the products. A quality company will employ people who will go out of their way to explain the details and introduce some of their business tools; and that brings more value to Trigard than a few dollars off.

What are you gaining from your suppliers? Are they giving you low ball prices? Or are they giving you something much more valuable? In my time as a business owner, I have found that quality products come from quality manufacturers; because they give more than a product, they build relationships.

As a resolution for the upcoming year, make it a goal to build relationships with your suppliers and increase the value of the products you are buying.  In the long run, the relationships you build will bring more value to your company; more value means more buying power and more buying power means lower prices for your customers.

Here is to a happy and prosperous new year! Happy New Year!

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.


Enhance your showroom for 2014

Trigard Memorials' 180 system wall displays work with any wall type and are available in two versions. The basic display features miniature bronze samples in a smaller wall footprint, and the premier display (shown above) features full size 24" x 14" memorials with smaller bronze companion memorials. 

Both wall displays are organized into three tiers - a proven good/better/best system - and can be customized for your unique business.

Call Customer Service at 800.798.4900 or download our order form to begin designing your 180 system. Be sure to ask about our new SimuMetal samples that can help dramatically lower the cost of your display without sacrificing quality.

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.


Design tip of the week

If you are sending your logo to be included on your customized Memorial Security plate, be sure to send vector art as an *.EPS file. That file format ensures that your logo will look pristine and clear.

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.

Collaboration is key

Jeff Miller,
Vice President of Business
Development

The holidays are here. Are you as busy as you were during the summer? Most of us aren't, which makes this the perfect time to connect and network. Extend an invitation to have lunch with a potential customer you have been talking with for a while; invite them to tour your facility and meet your staff. Show your long-time customers how much you appreciate your partnership; visit their facility or bring lunch for their employees.

Why does this matter? Why should you spend time networking with funeral homes? Did you know 98 percent of all families use a funeral home for assistance following the death of a loved one? Families see funeral homes as the first resource; therefore, collaboration is vital. While I was a practicing funeral director, I was often asked for recommendations on cemeteries, monuments and memorial providers in the area. It's a clear example of the importance of funeral homes knowing you and the services you offer.

Let's make it a goal for 2014 to put aside any past concerns about partnerships and reach out. Do you need help strategizing a networking plan? Call me at 419.290.7707 or email me at jeffm@trigard.com. 
 
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.
 
 
Product highlight: Collage memorials

Allow families to use their own photos to tell the story of their loved one's life with our Collage memorial.  They can submit one special photograph or provide us with a series of pictures and our designers will work with them to create a memorial as unique as the life it celebrates.

Call Customer Service at 800.798.4900 for pricing and details.
 
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.
 
 
Design tip of the week

If you do not completely fill out your order form, this will delay the process of getting a design. Please fill out all areas of the order form so we know exactly what you need. 
 
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.