May 21, 2021
Published by 
Chris Cruger on May 21, 2021
Chris Cruger on May 21, 2021As we were all learning to work the ‘new normal’ into our lexicon The Foresight Companies conducted a study focused on consumer attitudes toward the funeral and cemetery profession in the post-pandemic era. The findings around the role of our profession were simply astonishing. The pandemic has altered not only how funeral homes and cemeteries serve their families today, but it also has produced a reimagined role for funeral and cemetery professionals both in perception and reality. The result is an elevated view as “last responders” in the eyes of the consumer. When a death occurs, most families arrive at funeral and cemetery facilities with unsure expectations. Emotions are high and the need for quick decisions can cause even more stress. Is it that much of a surprise that consumers feel a disconnection between the opinion of our profession and […]
March 22, 2021
Published by Chris Cruger on March 22, 2021
Chris Cruger on March 22, 2021The pandemic has presented overwhelming negatives, but there have also been some positives for the profession’s future. I remember sitting down with our staff one last time for a team lunch before we sent everybody home to work remotely. We didn’t know much about this crazy virus and certainly couldn’t have imagined that we’d still be dealing with it one year later. I was one of the naysayers and thought it was being overblown, but I still told people to be prepared to be working remotely until after July 4. It sounded silly then (to all of us). Now, I would take July 4, 2021, as a target date for that return to normal. I imagine most of us would. The past 12 months have been like none other in our lifetime. We have been stretched to limits we never […]
February 3, 2021
Published by Chris Cruger on February 3, 2021
Chris Cruger on February 3, 2021 How COVID-19 Changed the Role of the Funeral and Cemetery Professional Whitepaper DOWNLOAD NOW Introduction One of the key findings in our recently published 2020 Foresight Funeral and Cemetery Consumer Behavior Study (FCCBS) centers around how the ongoing pandemic had generated an unforeseen impact on the role of the funeral and cemetery professional. More specifically, the pandemic has affected not only how funeral homes and cemeteries serve their families in the present reality but has also shaped a reimagined role for funeral and cemetery professionals both in perception and reality. The outcome is an elevated position and profile as “last responders” in the eyes of the consumer. Most families walk into our funeral and cemetery facilities uncertain about what to expect. Negative depictions in the media further cloud their opinion. It only takes one bad apple exposed by the […]
January 25, 2021
Published by Chris Cruger on January 25, 2021
Chris Cruger on January 25, 2021With the COVID-19 vaccine now rolling out, it is our greatest hope that the pandemic will soon be behind us. Unfortunately, the pandemic has already proven to have permanent implications on our profession as we repeatedly highlighted from our Funeral and Cemetery Consumer Behavior Study. Our profession has historically been behind the times in terms of embracing technology and new ways of doing things, but the pandemic changed that in the blink of an eye. Everything from the buying and shopping process, the necessity of physical attending services, and the influence of technology has had in all aspects of our profession. It is obvious that the consumers are talking, and we need to listen. I want to summarize a several critical points: Funeral homes need to adapt and evolve. Now is the time to embrace new ways of doing things. […]
December 22, 2020
Published by Chris Cruger on December 22, 2020
Chris Cruger on December 22, 2020 Simply put, succession planning is the strategy of passing on leadership roles, and often ownership of a company, to an employee or group of employees. Sounds simple, right? So why is this so difficult to do? – Its because there often isn’t the depth of leadership or skills within a small, often family-run funeral or cemetery business. It is also because many of us have problems letting go! Not long ago, the NFDA and Foundation Partners Group published a study called “2020 Funeral Business Planning Survey” about the state of Succession Planning in the Funeral and Cemetery Industry. The study showed that more than 50% of Owners plan to retire within the next five years (25% within the next 24 months) and more than 50% of those have little or no plan! In a profession where we preach preparedness and […]
November 23, 2020
Published by Chris Cruger on November 23, 2020
Chris Cruger on November 23, 2020One of the greatest mistakes that funeral home and cemetery owners and management make when putting together a strategic plan is confusing it with other types of planning. A strategic plan is a tool that provides a framework to accomplish a mission with efficiency and impact. If it is to be effective and useful, it must clearly define the goals, the action steps, and the resources to accomplish them. Typically, the Strategic Plan covers a timeframe of three to five years but must be constantly monitored and adjusted into clear annual operating plans. No matter what you call it, the key is that you have a plan. What is an operations plan? In short, it lays out who, what, when and how of your daily operations for the next year. It is meant to define how human, financial, and physical […]
October 26, 2020
Published by Chris Cruger on October 26, 2020
Chris Cruger on October 26, 2020 Embracing Transparency to Drive Profitability Whitepaper DOWNLOAD NOW Introduction It is fundamentally accepted that new technologies have transformed the way we do business in almost every sector over the past 25 years. It is equally true that the pandemic has opened the floodgates in terms of how consumers look at, look for, and consume information at the convenience and touch of their fingertips. This has especially increased the competition among service-based businesses and companies. For example, large grocery chains have been offering curbside services for several years. However, a consumer now has the ability to hire a personal shopper via a mobile app to accomplish this task of grocery shopping for him/her and have the groceries delivered right to his/her door. Or in our case for the funeral and cemetery profession, the pandemic has forever changed how the presentation, […]
October 26, 2020
Published by Chris Cruger on October 26, 2020
Chris Cruger on October 26, 2020Five Ways Technology is Transforming the Profession Whitepaper DOWNLOAD NOW Introduction Our recently published 2020 Foresight Funeral and Cemetery Consumer Behavior Study (FCCBS) outlined how Covid-19 has driven technology to forever alter the funeral and cemetery profession. The impact of this change has affected not only how funeral homes and cemeteries present their services and offerings to the general public, but has also influenced how mourners actually participate in the burial and grieving processes. There are three main ways in which technology is changing our profession. The first is the clear consumer preference for the availability of pricing information online. 75% of consumers now state they want access to pricing online, and over half (52%) say they will only do business in the future with companies that provide online pricing, per 2020 FCCBS. The second is the use of virtual […]
April 28, 2020
Published by Chris Cruger on April 28, 2020
Chris Cruger on April 28, 2020In these totally uncharted waters we are all facing, it is imperative that we all plan for our future. It essentially boils down to three simple rules – Accept the things we cannot change Change the things we can Create a plan that maximizes your opportunity for success Accept the things we cannot change As we are all adjusting to the “new normal”, it is absolutely beyond our control what restrictions the federal, state or local governments are going to impose around our ability to serve families. Social distancing and other restrictions being imposed are having everything from minimal to extreme impact on our business. Recently the Governor of New Jersey imposed a mandate that all deceased be handled as a direct burial or direct cremation. Now, we don’t have to totally accept that lying down but it does have […]
April 24, 2020
Published by Chris Cruger on April 24, 2020
Chris Cruger on April 24, 2020$370 billion to replenish SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program Congress moved quickly to pass legislation that appropriates an additional $484 million to continue to finance the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL), along with several other initiatives aimed to mitigate the economic hardships caused by Covid-19. Following the Senate’s approval Tuesday, the House passed the bill last night and President Trump is expected to sign it into law today. The new legislation provides an additional $310 billion in new funding for the PPP and $60 billion for the EIDL. It also allocates $75 billion for hospitals and health care providers, and $25 billion for the development and expansion of coronavirus testing, The $310 billion for the PPP includes $30 billion reserved for community-based lenders, small […]
April 2, 2020
Published by Chris Cruger on April 2, 2020
Chris Cruger on April 2, 2020On Friday, March 26th the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), one of the key stimulus provisions of the COVID-19 economic recovery initiative was signed into law. The SBA has further clarified details of the program. PPP is still a key program that we believe will work well for your funeral homes and cemeteries. We recommend you contact your current banking relationship immediately. Links have been provided at the bottom of this document for the SBA Paycheck Protection Program Application Form as well as the Paycheck Protection Program Information Sheet: Borrowers. Application Timeline Starting Friday, April 3rd – small businesses and sole proprietorships can apply Starting Friday April 10th – independent contractors and self-employed individuals can apply The loan application process will remain open until June 3oth, but it will be on a first-come-first-served basis Where Should I Apply You can apply […]
March 25, 2020
Published by Chris Cruger on March 25, 2020
Chris Cruger on March 25, 2020The Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) issued official guidance on March 18, 2020, that some income tax payments can be delayed for 90 days until July 15, 2020, with some limitations, due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, taxpayers still need to file either their income tax return or extension request with the IRS for the 2019 tax year by April 15, 2020. The guidance clarifies Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin’s earlier announcement on March 17, 2020, that businesses and individuals would be able to delay some tax payments, which led to confusion about the April 15 tax return filing date. If you have questions about this or other aspects to the recent efforts to curb the economic effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, please feel free to contact me directly. These things are developing rapidly and we’ll endeavor to keep […]