June 1, 2017
Published by 
Dan Isard on June 1, 2017
Dan Isard on June 1, 2017The fine line between donations and advertising. Dear Dan, I am embarrassed to write this letter and will be even more embarrassed if you publish it. Now I know why you have fake names at the end of each letter. I am a 120-call business in a small town, and my competitor, who is the same size, is two blocks away. Neither of us are making much of a living, but we continue to fight for each call like our fathers and grandfathers did. Every week, I get at least five requests from churches, local organizations, religious groups and schools for “advertising.” These are nominal and generally amount to between $25 and $200. Little League wants new T-shirts, the high school yearbook wants ads, the senior center needs donations, etc. While each request is not a lot, last year, […]
May 25, 2017
Published by Dan Isard on May 25, 2017
Dan Isard on May 25, 2017My objective for this article is to challenge readers to consider refreshing stale practices developed over the last few years. In addition, I challenge you to take a new view of what has become “passé” (for my fellow preppy rednecks, that means the same old thing) in many funeral home and cemetery operations. Offering keepsakes and personalization has become a staple in our business, but in some cases, the way we’re going about it is making us lazy and failing the families we serve. I wonder whether keepsakes and personalized products have the same value to the families you serve as they do to you. From a historical perspective, keepsakes to remember the dead have been around a long time. Just for reference, the Webster’s Dictionary definition of keepsake: “(noun) something given or kept as a memento.” It is interesting […]
May 14, 2017
Published by Dan Isard on May 14, 2017
Dan Isard on May 14, 2017What you need to know when negotiating contracts with casket companies. By Daniel M. Isard Dear Dan, My casket salesman was the best man at my wedding and has been my best friend for 20 years. He even let me sleep on his couch during my divorce. Last week, he presented a new contract with what he said is “the best discount anyone can get.” But the contract terms and conditions bothered me, so I’m hoping you will tell me that I’m being paranoid. I am getting ready to get married again and hope I don’t have to look for a new best man. Signed, Casket Contract Concerned in Calistoga Dear C4, Casket companies are businesses, and like any good business, they hire top-notch people at all levels to try to be profitable. Those that are publicly held […]
May 7, 2017
Published by Dan Isard on May 7, 2017
Dan Isard on May 7, 2017The Right Fit Placing personnel where they will flourish and training them for success. By Jeff Harbeson The funeral profession is facing a crisis, and it’s not cremation, it’s not foreign caskets, it’s not even online funeral providers, it’s people! Right now, there are more funeral directors leaving the business, either by retirement or simply quitting, than are entering. In my lifetime, I have been bombed, shot at and cut, so if readers get their starched boxers in a twist, so be it – I ain’t scared. The truth is that we (in the profession) are our own biggest enemy. That’s right – the king is butt-naked. In this country, each state has individual requirements to enter this profession. The regulations range from zero licensing to dual licensure with a four-year bachelor of science degree. I’ve been around […]
April 28, 2017
Published by 
Stephanie Ramsey on April 28, 2017
Stephanie Ramsey on April 28, 2017Bridging the divide How funeral homes can leverage the diverse experiences of five generations. By Stephanie Ramsey How can the information we know about the various generations help funeral service owners and managers? Let’s consider various scenarios for attracting employees for certain positions in which a specific generation might be a good fit. Baby boomers. Latchkey kids. Millennials. The Silent Generation. These terms referring to the different generations have been bandied about for years. Let’s look at their impact on the funeral service industry. It’s not news that funeral business owners have complained about not being able to find the kind of quality employee they did years ago, which points to the fact that generational issues are indeed impacting the industry. Perhaps gaining insight on these different generations will provide funeral service employers a clearer path to identifying and retaining […]