May 29, 2022
Published by 
Chris Cruger on May 29, 2022
Chris Cruger on May 29, 2022Things in your business have changed, and owners may need to refocus their plans. The last couple of years have been quite the wild ride as the world as we knew it was turned upside down. The ways we’ve done things for decades have changed and so must our thinking when it comes to reinvesting in our business. What we reinvest in our business is a combination of capital (money) and your most valuable resource, time. There is only so much of each, and the way we use them is vitally important in securing the future of our business. We have been filled with revelations about consumers and their propensity for convenience, transparency and preneed. Their wants and needs are different now, so we must adapt. We are plagued by staffing challenges and many of the same factors impacting the […]
January 26, 2022
Published by Chris Cruger on January 26, 2022
Chris Cruger on January 26, 2022Each year, American Funeral Director Magazine publishes a yearly forecast article where experts and innovators in the funeral and cemetery profession share their predictions for the year ahead. For 2022, they share their visions of the future of cremation, memorialization, technology, what a post-pandemic world looks like, and more. Chris Cruger had the honor this year to be part of this insightful article. This article originally appeared in the January 2022 issue of American Funeral Director, published by Kates-Boylston Publications, and is being shared with permission. We have included his excerpt below. You can also download the entire article Chris Cruger on his vision of 2022 I think we’re going to see quite a bit of the same in 2022 that we saw in 2021. Consumer attitudes and behaviors have changed so dramatically through COVID that it has completely shakin’ […]
December 20, 2021
Published by Chris Cruger on December 20, 2021
Chris Cruger on December 20, 2021“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”– Benjamin Franklin When we gather for the holiday this year, I suggest we take a moment to be thankful. This has been a very long, hard past couple of years. The death care profession has gained new levels of recognition in the media and society. The emergence of the profession as the “last responders” has propelled it to new heights. However, this recognition does not come without a price. Many are worn out, stressed and on their last nerve. The past couple of years have been difficult for most, but extraordinarily so for our profession. To continue to do the incredible work that you do, you must be at the top of your game. Make sure that you are taking care of your –and your staff’s – mental health. There […]
December 9, 2021
Published by Chris Cruger on December 9, 2021
Chris Cruger on December 9, 2021The Renewed Focus on Pre-Need: Giving Consumers What They Want DOWNLOAD NOW While Covid-19 has had massive effects on how consumer perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors have changed at an accelerated pace all across the board, consumer demand for pre-planning is an area that has taken front and center for the funeral and cemetery professional. While the last two years have been taxing across the globe, hitting the psyche of consumers everywhere and in almost every industry, the pandemic has taken a particular toll on funeral and cemetery last responders who have borne the brunt of helping families affected by the virus. Because there is a heightened awareness over one’s own mortality given Covid deaths, there has been a marked change in the attitudes of consumers regarding the value and importance of having pre-arrangements in place. As we discussed in the […]
November 23, 2021
Published by Chris Cruger on November 23, 2021
Chris Cruger on November 23, 2021Preparation is key when it comes to your strategic business plan for the new year. We were recently asked what steps are needed to take right now to plan for a successful year. Chris Cruger provides his insights to this important question below. Question: What do I need to be doing in order to set my funeral home up for success in 2022? Chris Cruger: First, I would suggest to take a moment to be grateful. This has been a very long, hard past couple years. The profession has gained new levels of recognition in the media and society. The emergence of the profession as the “last responders” has propelled the profession to new heights. However, this recognition does not come without a price. Many are worn out, stressed and on their last nerve. As we look towards 2022, many […]