Chris Cruger
on
With 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.
- Technology, transparency, and new ways of doing things are becoming much more common throughout the profession.
- The role of the funeral director is changing.
- If you don’t adjust to the times, your competitor will – There will likely only be one winner in the end.
While we are seeing all sorts of new consumer behaviors, these changes are presenting all sorts of new opportunities. A wise man in this profession once told me that we must listen to what the consumer wants and give them a double portion. Listen to what the consumer doesn’t want and don’t offer it anymore. The pandemic has taught us that the consumer wants more convenience, transparency, and a more modern offering.
I am excited to be on the program at the Future Funeral Summit presented by Kates-Boylston Events on March 26, 2021 in Philadelphia! I will be presenting more of our findings from the Study with some of the most progressive thinkers of our profession.
If you are not already registered to attend the event, I strongly encourage you to do so. Click the link below and enter the promo code Foresight at checkout for additional savings. I hope to see you there!