I want to address something that we hear all the time when we go to seminars or conventions. Everytime I attend one of these things that has to do with building your business, I keep hearing the same thing, "Do something that sets you apart from your competition!", or "Ask yourself what you do differently than your competitor". Everyone sits there like a bump on a log and barely a word is heard because honestly the vast majority of them don't know. Worse than that is the fact that the majority of them don't do anything different from their competitor and they know it.
There is a group of funeral directors who are serving their families and their communities better than their competitors. I know who they are. There's a list of them on the NFDA website. They are the recipients of the Pursuit of Excellence Award. They have shown their community as well as their peers that they are doing what it takes to set themselves apart, by providing unique programs, services to their families and developing themselves professionally. I know that if you asked any of them the standard seminar questions, they would not hesitate to answer them.
My wife and I can speak personally to what NFDA and the Pursuit of Excellence Award has done for our firm. We have received the award for the last five years. Every year I am amazed at the public awareness it generates for us. It motivates us to do more and provide even better care for our families. It has truly been a blessing for us.
You have the opportunity right now to make this the year you set yourself apart from the funeral homes that just sit in those seminars and never take action. Call NFDA 800-228-6332 or visit their website nfda.org
I can promise you two things. First, if you choose to take this next step in your funeral homes growth, I will personally help you if you have any questions or need any help. Secondly, I can promise that if you follow through with this, it will be a benefit and blessing to your firm, just as it has been for ours.
Showing posts with label Funeral Work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Funeral Work. Show all posts
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Service al fresco
We had talked about doing an outside service at our Berlin Heights location for about a year now. Today's service was for a 54 year old who had worked for one of the areas largest paving companies for over 30 years. The paving company decided to shut down today for the service. I talked to the President of the company and he actually was the one who suggested having it outside. I had a quick meeting with wifey and then the family and they thought it was a great idea. Since the weather was going to be perfect we setup chairs that night. I quickly setup our wireless mic and a couple speakers in the morning.
Things I learned from an outdoor service:
1. Even if it looks weird, figure out where the shade will be at service time and set the chairs there. We have a number of trees on our lawn.
2. Ask the minister to try to pause when semi's and bikes go past.
3. Check your lawn for holes that people could trip or twist an ankle in.
4. Check your chairs for bird crap in the morning.
5. Shut off your central air unit if it is nearby.
As far as I and wifey know we got only compliments. Tom Hinman, our 85 year old former owner made the comment that they did many services outside before air-conditioning was commonplace. Although he did point out that they had a third of the traffic back then going past the funeral home as we do now. He also does not remember it ever raining during a outdoor service.
Was it more work. Yes it was, but it was worth it. Unfortunately, we had two guys driving my hearse and limo for another funeral home, one was out sick, one was out of town, and the fifth was with visiting relatives. It was just one of those weird days like that.
Things I learned from an outdoor service:
1. Even if it looks weird, figure out where the shade will be at service time and set the chairs there. We have a number of trees on our lawn.
2. Ask the minister to try to pause when semi's and bikes go past.
3. Check your lawn for holes that people could trip or twist an ankle in.
4. Check your chairs for bird crap in the morning.
5. Shut off your central air unit if it is nearby.
As far as I and wifey know we got only compliments. Tom Hinman, our 85 year old former owner made the comment that they did many services outside before air-conditioning was commonplace. Although he did point out that they had a third of the traffic back then going past the funeral home as we do now. He also does not remember it ever raining during a outdoor service.
Was it more work. Yes it was, but it was worth it. Unfortunately, we had two guys driving my hearse and limo for another funeral home, one was out sick, one was out of town, and the fifth was with visiting relatives. It was just one of those weird days like that.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Finally made the big time
For a while now I have been toying with the idea of having a place at the funeral home where I could go and do some work while relaxing with a good cigar. I just have not been able to find a place that would not be used for anything else, or a place where wifey would never go. A few days ago I finally found it. The funeral home in Wakeman has a third floor attic space. The term attic is an understatement. It is more like a finished attic/extra bedroom. In fact, so the story goes, it was a bedroom for the original owners son. It has been empty for years and I cant believe I haven't thought of using it before. Lindsey, who is the current smoking employee, has helped me transform the room into a very nice, cozy room to hide in. Expect to see some pictures in the next day or so. I don't have enough light in here tonight to show you. I got a stereo/cd player we never use along with a computer. I need to run some speaker wire and cat 5 cable yet, but for now I am tethering with my phone. I am just absolutely tickled with my new space!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Chilly
Just got back from a house call. When it is -10 F, you dress warm, not up. I wore jeans, t-shirt flannel shirt, ski mask, gloves, and my carharts.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Fun Night
Last night (before the toxic gas spill) was our employee Christmas party. It was also a surprise for two people who received awards for their years of work at the funeral home.
First up was Charlie (Charlene) who has been working at the Wakeman funeral home for over 18 years.
The main event was celebrating Tom Hinman's 60th anniversary of being a licensed funeral director and embalmer. Tom has been a true mentor to me and I would not be where I am at today without him.
To top it off the Mayor of Berlin Heights (who also works for me) had a special presentation.
First up was Charlie (Charlene) who has been working at the Wakeman funeral home for over 18 years.
The main event was celebrating Tom Hinman's 60th anniversary of being a licensed funeral director and embalmer. Tom has been a true mentor to me and I would not be where I am at today without him.
To top it off the Mayor of Berlin Heights (who also works for me) had a special presentation.
Whereas: Thomas Hinman has been a funeral director in the Village of Berlin Heights, for 60 years and has been considered one of the pillars of this community and this profession; And,
Whereas: The Hinman Funeral Home has provided a caring and devoted service to the Village of Berlin Heights, Ohio and surrounding areas for more than Tom’s 60 years; And,
Whereas: The Hinman Funeral Home continues to operate under the Hinman name as a show of respect for the service and compassion Tom and his family have displayed with their generous and devoted posture in the Village of Berlin Heights, Ohio;
Now, Therefore, I, Kelly L. Moon, Mayor of the Village of Berlin Heights, Ohio, do hereby designate November 22, 2008 as Thomas Hinman Day in the Village of Berlin Heights, Ohio.
In witness thereof, I have set my hand and caused to be affixed the seal of the Village of Berlin Heights, Ohio this 22nd day of November 2008.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Work update
Well we made it through our busy spell. I barely had time to breathe let alone blog. This morning This morning I took the kids out to breakfast and spent the rest of the morning mowing leaves up and driving the golf cart around town. Ran one errand and returned a few calls in the afternoon. ME and the boy went to McD's for dinner and then shoe shopping for him. Very relaxing day.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Slammed!
Phew! Just walked in the door. Got a call yesterday, got two more tonight.
Got a funeral tomorrow for someone who died Tuesday, I have another director covering that while I meet the families from the two deaths today. Sunday will prep day. Monday I have three visitations and one funeral (not to mention a village council meeting), and Tuesday I have two funerals.
I still look forward to going into work.
Got a funeral tomorrow for someone who died Tuesday, I have another director covering that while I meet the families from the two deaths today. Sunday will prep day. Monday I have three visitations and one funeral (not to mention a village council meeting), and Tuesday I have two funerals.
I still look forward to going into work.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Merry Christmas to ME!!
You may not totally understand this post unless you are a funeral director or you know what its like to go out at 3am to pick someone up.
I am positively gidddy! Yesterday I took delivery on a Ferno 24 Mini-Maxx Cot. It has a 1000 lb. capacity. Next to vehicles, a cot is one of the biggest equipment purchases a funeral home will make. Most cots last for years. The two I was using were approx. 30 and 50 years old respectively. If it was made as good as those were, it will be the first and last cot I will buy.
I did have a quite morbid thought in bed last night. At my age, I probably just bought the cot that I will be carried on.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Post 402: A day of Firsts
I have been up since 3:00 am. We got another call and I just stayed up.
Our morning funeral was a 19 year old boy who committed suicide. He was an excellent football player and so the family wanted to go past his school's football field. The students and players were waiting for us. The immediate family and the hearse drove in closer to the stadium and the players gathered around the hearse and sang their fight song. We let the head coach lead the procession to the field, hence my earlier post. The man who led this young man to the field of play every Friday, led him to the field one last time. Since not everyone was going to get to watch the team singing, we got permission from the family to videotape it and in my closing announcements let everyone know that the video would be placed on YouTube.
The afternoon service was a man I knew. He was a retired Cleveland Firefighter, Air Force vet, and former Village Administrator in our town. The Cleveland Firefighters came out to pay their last respects along with our local firefighters and the American Legion. They folded the flag while a fire bell was rang and then Taps was played. After the flag was presented, the Fire Chief had the County set off the fire pagers that the honor guard were wearing to serve as the Last Alarm for the deceased. That set me off and I had to choke back the tears when I dismissed the crowd.
The firsts today:
First time I didn't lead a procession I was director of.
First time I videotaped a service. (I will be putting it on YouTube)
First time I got choked up while trying to do my job.
First time my wife drove in a funeral procession. Isn't that weird, but she always stays back.
A lot of milestones for Post 402. I guess it shows that the set milestones don't mean as much as what it took in between to get there.
Side Notes: While I was driving in the morning funeral procession, a friend called and offered me a 10th row floor seat to see the Who in Michigan. I think I will take him up on it.
When I was leaving church today I fell and twisted me ankle. I might still go to the ER tonight.
Our morning funeral was a 19 year old boy who committed suicide. He was an excellent football player and so the family wanted to go past his school's football field. The students and players were waiting for us. The immediate family and the hearse drove in closer to the stadium and the players gathered around the hearse and sang their fight song. We let the head coach lead the procession to the field, hence my earlier post. The man who led this young man to the field of play every Friday, led him to the field one last time. Since not everyone was going to get to watch the team singing, we got permission from the family to videotape it and in my closing announcements let everyone know that the video would be placed on YouTube.
The afternoon service was a man I knew. He was a retired Cleveland Firefighter, Air Force vet, and former Village Administrator in our town. The Cleveland Firefighters came out to pay their last respects along with our local firefighters and the American Legion. They folded the flag while a fire bell was rang and then Taps was played. After the flag was presented, the Fire Chief had the County set off the fire pagers that the honor guard were wearing to serve as the Last Alarm for the deceased. That set me off and I had to choke back the tears when I dismissed the crowd.
The firsts today:
First time I didn't lead a procession I was director of.
First time I videotaped a service. (I will be putting it on YouTube)
First time I got choked up while trying to do my job.
First time my wife drove in a funeral procession. Isn't that weird, but she always stays back.
A lot of milestones for Post 402. I guess it shows that the set milestones don't mean as much as what it took in between to get there.
Side Notes: While I was driving in the morning funeral procession, a friend called and offered me a 10th row floor seat to see the Who in Michigan. I think I will take him up on it.
When I was leaving church today I fell and twisted me ankle. I might still go to the ER tonight.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Post 400
I was already to click out a quick post for you when I stopped dead in my tracks. I was ready to hit the New Post button when I realized this would be my 400th post. I had nothing profound to write about. I hesitated for a few minutes and considered waiting to post and then finally decided "F*** it"
We had approx. 360 people go through the Berlin Heights funeral home in 3 hours and the line did not go more than 20 feet past the front porch. That's not good. Its a friggin miracle!
I have a visitation at each location today, two funerals tomorrow, one Tuesday, and a disinterment Wednesday. On the fifth day, hopefully I will rest.
We had approx. 360 people go through the Berlin Heights funeral home in 3 hours and the line did not go more than 20 feet past the front porch. That's not good. Its a friggin miracle!
I have a visitation at each location today, two funerals tomorrow, one Tuesday, and a disinterment Wednesday. On the fifth day, hopefully I will rest.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Working in "The Heights" from the heights
Remember last week I fired a guy? Well he was supposed to paint the front of the funeral home in Berlin Heights. So guess who did it? Yep, me.
I rented a cherrypicker and we got it done in two days working dawn to dusk. The first pic is the view from the top and the rest are one of my guys doing the final coat.
The cherrypicker is fun to use but when you have it extended all the way to the max and it sways around a bit, it can be a bit nervewracking.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Good times
Well I have some sort of sinus infection. I feel awful. We had funeral today with two hours of visitation prior. I had the guys start the visitation and I stayed at home in bed until before the service started, and once I got back from the cemetery, got back into bed.
Yesterday, I had to fire someone for the first time. It wasn't an employee but someone I had paid 1/2 down in June to paint the Berlin Heights funeral home. He managed to get the paint chipped off and that was it. So after spending all summer calling him, him working 30 minutes a week, and having folks keep asking me when it would be done, I had had enough. Funny things is our hairdresser showed up today and painted everything she could reach with a 10' stepladder and got more done in a day than he did all summer.
Yesterday, I had to fire someone for the first time. It wasn't an employee but someone I had paid 1/2 down in June to paint the Berlin Heights funeral home. He managed to get the paint chipped off and that was it. So after spending all summer calling him, him working 30 minutes a week, and having folks keep asking me when it would be done, I had had enough. Funny things is our hairdresser showed up today and painted everything she could reach with a 10' stepladder and got more done in a day than he did all summer.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
News!!
I just got notified that I have won the National Funeral Directors Association's Pursuit of Excellence Award for the fourth year in a row!!
In other NFDA news, I was selected to serve on the Pursuit of Excellence Committee for next year.
Check out www.wakemanbusiness.com to see what I did last weekend.
In other NFDA news, I was selected to serve on the Pursuit of Excellence Committee for next year.
Check out www.wakemanbusiness.com to see what I did last weekend.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Don't tell Wifey
1. I am home drinking a "Cold one"
2. I bought tix to see WWE in Canton in August (She already let me buy tix to see them this month). These are on the floor as well but even closer!!
Anyways.... just finished up my last funeral. Yep, had a Sunday service. My feet hurt so bad I can hardly walk straight. I would rate the pain in my heels a 7 out of 10. All I am asking for is 5 days of no deaths, then it can start up again.
I am taking tomorrow off and working around the house. Got Village Council in the evening.
2. I bought tix to see WWE in Canton in August (She already let me buy tix to see them this month). These are on the floor as well but even closer!!
Anyways.... just finished up my last funeral. Yep, had a Sunday service. My feet hurt so bad I can hardly walk straight. I would rate the pain in my heels a 7 out of 10. All I am asking for is 5 days of no deaths, then it can start up again.
I am taking tomorrow off and working around the house. Got Village Council in the evening.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Yet another weekend
Well I am working another weekend. Funerals tomorrow and Sunday. I can not wait for vacation.
One of my employees has been wearing "The Shirt" out and about and its received rave reviews.
I am getting way too many complaints about the A/C at the funeral home in Wakeman. Time to upgrade I guess.
Time to go home and rest up for tomorrow.
One of my employees has been wearing "The Shirt" out and about and its received rave reviews.
I am getting way too many complaints about the A/C at the funeral home in Wakeman. Time to upgrade I guess.
Time to go home and rest up for tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Busy Busy Busy
Well it hasn't slowed down yet. We have three calls this week so far. Maybe this means we will be quiet while I am on vacation. Yeah sure that's what that means.
Got one order via the blog for The Shirt. Offer wont last long.
Got a new portable scanner for Tabby. So far so good. I will post pics later this week.
Got one order via the blog for The Shirt. Offer wont last long.
Got a new portable scanner for Tabby. So far so good. I will post pics later this week.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Land of the Free, because of the Brave
Well, I have all my monuments set and all my engravings done. We have a funeral today (eighth Saturday in a row) but I have someone covering it for me. I actually woke up this morning for the first time in two weeks without worrying or panicking about being able to get everything done. I'll be cruising around town today on the golf cart enjoying the Buschur Racing Car Show. Tomorrow for my birthday I will be out at the track for the racing portion of the show.
Monday is our town's Memorial Day service. It starts at 7 AM!! I complained to a few vets that maybe it is a bit early and I got the normal response "We have always did it that way" Well I talked to my Dad who is a Vietnam Vet and got malaria and a Purple Heart while he was there. He told me he wouldn't even get up for a 7 am service so he excused me.
So now that the Memorial Day rush is over I can get back to regular posting duties.
Monday is our town's Memorial Day service. It starts at 7 AM!! I complained to a few vets that maybe it is a bit early and I got the normal response "We have always did it that way" Well I talked to my Dad who is a Vietnam Vet and got malaria and a Purple Heart while he was there. He told me he wouldn't even get up for a 7 am service so he excused me.
So now that the Memorial Day rush is over I can get back to regular posting duties.
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