June 27, 2024
Published by 
Nicole Vullo on June 27, 2024
Nicole Vullo on June 27, 2024Written by the lawyers of WRW Legal, PLLC: Wendy Russell Wiener, Lauren Pettine and Hank Thompson. Over the last few years, consumers and the federal government have grown critical of “junk fees” in a variety of industries and professions. As a result, the Federal Trade Commission is promulgating new regulations designed to address junk fees. The funeral industry is wary of the FTC’s efforts here, and rightly so, which seem to go hand in hand, philosophically, with the potential revisions to the long-established Funeral Rule. Our office has been monitoring the discussion on junk fees and reviewing the proposed text of the regulations with an eye toward impact on the funeral industry. Junk fees are defined as mandatory fees which are omitted from advertised prices by businesses. All businesses will be subject to these regulations, if they become effective. The […]
June 18, 2024
Published by Nicole Vullo on June 18, 2024
Nicole Vullo on June 18, 20242024 Funeral and Cemetery Consumer Behavior Study Insights Summary DOWNLOAD NOW Tracking and predicting consumer attitudes, opinions and behaviors about the funeral and cemetery profession. The goal of our Funeral and Cemetery Consumer Behavior Study (FCCBS), now in its fifth year has been to capture the opinions, attitudes, and behaviors of consumers regarding the funeral, cemetery, and cremation business. More than 5,000 consumers participated in the 2024 study, providing insights into how perceptions of the death care profession have changed. Additionally, for the second consecutive year, we have measured the perceptions of deathcare business insiders to get a better understanding of the gaps between our perception compared to actual consumer experience. This year, more than 240 Profession members shared their feedback. Download our report today to learn how to adapt and thrive in the future of funeral service by meeting the […]
May 29, 2024
Published by Nicole Vullo on May 29, 2024
Nicole Vullo on May 29, 2024A Crisis of Misunderstood Purpose: Why Funeral Homes Must Innovate to be Relevant and Attract Talent Written by Diann Anderson, formerly of Anderson Funeral & Cremation Services Is Your Website’s “About US” Tab Serving a Purpose? The funeral profession and most funeral home businesses are steeped in a rich history. If you take the time to click on the “About Us” tab on most funeral home websites, you will be able to read all about the history of that funeral home business. What you will be told is who started the business and how it has been handed over to the succeeding generations or how the business progressed with adding to the facilities and purchasing other funeral homes. You will read of the longevity of the business, conveying the message of stability; however, a history lesson doesn’t tell a potential […]
April 28, 2024
Published by Nicole Vullo on April 28, 2024
Nicole Vullo on April 28, 2024How Seeing My Dad in His Casket Helped Me Mourn His Death Written by Diann Anderson, formerly of Anderson Funeral & Cremation Services We are continuing in our series of articles “Strategic Evolution Blueprint for Funeral Home Owners”. In previous articles I wrote about the importance of embracing change and having a “Strategic Evolution” blueprint for your funeral business. I have also covered topics like rethinking consumer needs in the funeral profession, the difference between three very different funeral home business models, and why I encourage you to think outside the funeral home box so to speak and start thinking “What’s my Mission?” as it pertains to the operation of your business. This month, I want to encourage you to reframe your thinking about ceremonies and specifically the importance of having the decedent’s physical body present for the ceremony. My […]
March 28, 2024
Published by Nicole Vullo on March 28, 2024
Nicole Vullo on March 28, 2024Are You Part of the Death Care Industry or Are You Part of the Funeral Profession or Are You Playing in the Middle of the Road? In our next installment of Ask the Owners, Diann Anderson, formerly of Anderson Funeral & Cremation Services asks you to consider what category your business model falls into. She encourages you to pick one lane and get out of the middle: What sets a business apart? What drives a consumer to choose one business over another business that operates in the same sector? When it comes to purchasing real estate most everyone agrees that the biggest determination of a property’s value is “Location… Location …Location …” Of course, there’s many more factors that must go into the decision, but most realtors agree that location is one of the most important aspects of a property. […]
February 29, 2024
Published by Nicole Vullo on February 29, 2024
Nicole Vullo on February 29, 2024In our next installment of Ask the Owners, Diann Anderson, formerly of Anderson Funeral & Cremation Services discusses the importance having the right team outside of your internal team to help you be a success: Trust is something that you do every day. To trust is to have a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. While the concept of trust seems simple on the surface — it’s about believing in someone’s reliability, integrity, and competence — it involves various layers and nuances that make it intricate. One of the greatest challenges Steve and I faced when we started digging into changing the paradigm at our funeral home was “Who can we trust?” I’m not speaking about which employees are trustworthy. I’m speaking about the importance of having the right team outside of your […]
January 30, 2024
Published by Nicole Vullo on January 30, 2024
Nicole Vullo on January 30, 2024In our next installment of Ask the Owners, Stephen and Diann Anderson, formerly of Anderson Funeral & Cremation Services discuss the importance of funeral home owners and cemetery operators having a strong understanding of what their consumers wants and needs are: Ask the Owners: Rethinking Consumer Needs in the Funeral Profession As we continue to look at Strategic Evolution it’s my hope that there will be something you read that will ignite or reignite within you a desire to challenge or go beyond the established norms, traditions, or practices within the funeral profession. As I mentioned in last month’s article “Developing a Mission of Legacy” we are going to start thinking about the importance of understanding your customer’s needs and challenges. Let’s begin with a critical issue-the gap in what the funeral profession offers. Challenging Consumer Desires Henry Ford’s famous […]
December 28, 2023
Published by Nicole Vullo on December 28, 2023
Nicole Vullo on December 28, 2023In our next installment of Ask the Owners, Stephen and Diann Anderson, formerly of Anderson Funeral & Cremation Services discuss strategies funeral home owners and cemetery operators must take in order to create a lasting impact and legacy: Forging a Lasting Impact: Crafting Your Enduring Legacy Through Your Mission “I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floatin’ around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it’s both. Maybe both is happenin’ at the same time.” Forest Gump It started very subtly, the first sign happened when I visited my hairdresser, and she asked me if I wanted to put a few highlights in my hair to help cover the gray hair that was starting to grow instead of my natural color. And it continued; one day I noticed when I tried to […]
November 28, 2023
Published by Nicole Vullo on November 28, 2023
Nicole Vullo on November 28, 2023The Strategic Evolution Blueprint for Funeral Home Owners In our next installment of Ask the Owners, Stephen and Diann Anderson, formerly of Anderson Funeral & Cremation Services discuss strategies funeral home owners and cemetery operators must take in order to elevate their businesses: Embarking on Strategic Evolution We are continuing in our series of articles; we hope that last month’s insights prompted you to have meaningful reflection. We laid the groundwork, urging you, as a business owner, to embrace the transformative journey of strategic evolution. We explored the historical backdrop of our profession, the pitfalls of resisting change, and current funeral industry trends. Introducing the concept of Purpose Beyond Profit, we encouraged you to ponder the profound impact of your work. In this installment, we delve deeper into Strategic Evolution, emphasizing its pivotal role for your company. We’ll also underscore the […]
October 26, 2023
Published by Nicole Vullo on October 26, 2023
Nicole Vullo on October 26, 2023In our next installment of Ask the Owners, Stephen and Diann Anderson, formerly of Anderson Funeral & Cremation Services discuss the changes taking place within the funeral and cemetery profession and provide firsthand insights on how to adapt and evolve to meet these changes: Dear Friends, It’s been a month since we last connected, and we’ve been on a reflective journey. We’ve found ourselves pondering the true impact of the Funeral Profession not just for those who have chosen the calling to own a funeral home or to be a Funeral Director, but also for the families and communities we serve. We’ve asked ourselves a question that might resonate with you: Have you ever felt like your “Give a Damn” spirit has broken? If so, let’s embark on a transformative journey together, one that will help us better serve those […]
September 28, 2023
Published by Nicole Vullo on September 28, 2023
Nicole Vullo on September 28, 2023The Foresight team is excited to announce that we are introducing a new blog column! When we first started our Ask the Experts and Ask the Analysts columns it was our goal to use these blogs to answer the most important questions funeral and cemetery professionals had about their businesses. With this is mind, we wanted to bring a new perspective to these vital questions: the viewpoint of owners and operators. We are honored to introduce you to Stephen and Diann Anderson, formerly of Anderson Funeral & Cremation Services. Each month Stephen and Diann will provide insightful information to help you improve how to operate your businesses. To start our column, please allow us to introduce you to Stephen and Diann as they tell us their goals for the “Ask the Owner” blog column: To the Funeral and Cemetery Profession, […]
September 26, 2023
Published by Nicole Vullo on September 26, 2023
Nicole Vullo on September 26, 2023Having a succession plan in place for your funeral home or cemetery business is vital in today’s business environment. While there are many elements that go into your succession plan, one that is of high importance is who to choose as your successor. In our latest Ask the Analyst blog, Sierra Heil shares the key consideration when deciding who the successor of your business will be. Question: I am in the process of deciding who to succeed me in my funeral business. What are the important things to consider when selecting my successor? Sierra Heil: For all funeral home owners the decision to choose a successor to sell your business to is a significant and deeply personal one. Your business holds a special place in your heart, as you have helped families during their most challenging times and built up a […]