Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Creating a Lasting Memorial for the Families You Serve

     After the funeral, memorial service, or life celebration, many families wish to have something permanent as a reminder of the person that they loved through life and recently lost.  It may help you as a director to think about what was important to the person through the loved ones' eyes.  What did they value?  What made them smile?  Perhaps by beginning there, the appropriate memorial gift will present itself.  Consider these memorial gifts to help families you serve remember their loved ones:

Give a personalized memorial ornament to the families.  The holidays can be the hardest times to get through without a loved one, but a personalized memorial ornament will gladly be displayed in your clients' homes as a reminder of the loved one they miss during those special times.

- Give a tree in their memory.  Tree seedlings can be labeled with your funeral home's name, message, or logo directly on the packaging at funeralhomepromos.com/funeral-home-supply.html.  Simply type "trees" or "plants" as your search category in the category field, and you'll find over 100 options including potted plants, seedlings, and potted herb gardens or flowers.  Each can be customized with your message of comfort, and the low prices allow these to be purchased for every family you've directed a service with for their loved one.


- Have your love one's photo placed on a custom-designed cremation urn.  Cremation urns can be personalized through a photo imprint process called sublimation, where a full color photograph is permanently printed into the urn.  Product options can be discussed with Keystone Specialties' representatives by calling 800-240-8639 Monday thru Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM Eastern Standard Time.  See colorful cultured marble cremation urns to start your selection.  
  
- Donate a memorial bench to a park.  if they loved surfing, for example, a bench made in the shape of a wakeboard could be placed at a public beach with the loved one's story on a plaque mounted to the front.  You may also consider purchasing a plaque or a brick in their name to help fund a community project.  Discuss these options with Keystone Specialties' representatives by phone (800-240-8639 Monday thru Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM Eastern Standard Time) or email through our website.

- Give a stepping stone or rock with their name on it for displaying in a special section of their garden. Suggest that each year your clients share flowers from that section of the garden with their family and friends of the parted loved one.  Contact Keystone Specialties for advice on affordable options.  (800-240-8639 Monday thru Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM Eastern Standard Time) or email through our website.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Growing Your Business

As with any business, there is an old adage "If your business isn't growing, it's dying!"  Business growth does take effort, planning and ACTION.  We are here to help with planning and implementation, but you must supply the effort and action.  Check out our growing list of products that will help your business be remembered.

As you look through our Online Store, you will see products that are available for imprinting with your business name and message.  Advertising!  It works and we are also going to show you how it can pay for itself.  Read our testimonials page to see how other funeral directors have used these products successfully.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Building Client Loyalty

We understand how daunting your schedule can be as a funeral director:  Families to meet with, materials to buy, graveside services, embalming, comforting those who have lost their loved ones, and the list could go on and on.  Right?

When do you have time to work on building your business and image in your market?

If your answer is like that of most directors we talk to, this important piece of your business gets put off or delayed.  You know you need to do something personal to stand out against the others in your industry ... there just doesn't seem to be enough time to get it done.  Keystone Specialties, Inc. has created a way that can help you make a lasting impression for those you serve, while still keeping your already busy schedule on track.

We offer a memorial ornament program that is being used in aftercare programs across the country.  These ornaments are given as a memorial gift to a family member of the deceased in honor of their loved one.   Since 2002, these memorial ornaments have proven to be popular, as many recipients request additional pieces for other family members & friends.  The good will established by funeral directors who give this beautiful gift has brought a renewed sense of loyalty to their client relationships.  There's nothing as valuable as client trust in the funeral industry, and this is a program that anchors trust with a simple gift of thoughtfulness.