The State of The Industry

1. The State of The Industry Trends in Funeral Service

2. Learning Outcomes Students will be able to: • Make the correlation between current and future end-of-life traditions and the influence of diversity. • Discuss the current trends affecting the funeral industry and its impact on future practitioners. • Develop and use critical thinking skills to plan personalized services.

3. Diversity & Inclusion • Diversity means respect for and appreciation of differences in ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, education and religion. • Cultural diversity is being respectful to other cultures besides your own. • Inclusion refers to the ability to accept the differences and live and work together cohesively.

4. Relation to Funeral Service • Funeral practitioners are to strive to accommodate the wishes of the deceased and the needs of the family to the best of his or her ability. • This includes providing: • Assistance with Social Security Benefits, Veterans benefits and Life insurance claims. • A complete line of Caskets, Burial Vaults, Urns etc. • Professionalism to work closely with all churches and cemeteries. • Traditional Funeral Services • Visitation/Funeral Services on same day • Memorial Services • Graveside Services • Direct Burials • Cremation with Visitation & Funeral Services • Cremation with Memorial Services • Green (Eco-Friendly) Services • Military Service • Immediate Burial • Willingness to serve all religious faiths

5. Trends in Funeral Service Sacramento is a diverse community. More and more families are moving away from traditional funeral services. Today's families are bringing new values, preferences and opinions that are changing the world of funeral service. They are thinking differently about how they want to honor their loved ones and have new perceptions of the funeral service profession. The following are current key funeral service trends according to the NFDA: • The Popularity of Personalization • Advance Funeral Planning • Cremation on the Rise • Meeting Consumer Needs Through Technology • Green Funerals • The New Face of the Profession

6. The Popularity of Personalization • Baby boomers see funerals as a valuable part of the grieving process and are seeking ways to make them meaningful. • Today, funeral service consumers are planning funeral services that are as unique as the person who died. • The idea of personalization has resulted in an explosion of unique services that reflect the hobbies, passions and interests of someone who has died. • Through personalization, funeral services can be more meaningful.

7. Advance Funeral Planning • Planning one's funeral in advance allows individuals to do their homework and select a funeral home that will meet the emotional and financial needs of their family. • Planning funerals in advance allows individuals to plan a memorable funeral service that reflects their wishes. • With advance planning, families today can plan celebrations of life as unique as the individual being remembered. • Funerals today include adding personal touches such as favorite music and incorporating hobbies and life's accomplishments.

8. Cremation on the Rise • As the popularity of cremations has grown, so has its acceptance among various religious faiths. • Religions that previously disagreed with cremation are now understanding its value to families and adjusting their doctrines to accommodate this choice. • Families must also be aware that cremation is one of their options to lay their loved one to rest.

9. Meeting Consumer Needs Through Technology • In order to enhance service to families and community, many funeral homes now have their own Web site. • Many funeral homes can help families create memorial videos which include photographs accompanied by music. • These videos can be shown at visitation or funeral service and are a special keepsakes to treasure forever. • Because visitation and memorial services often take place shortly after a person's death, it may be impossible for all family members and friends, especially those living far away, to attend these functions. • Some funeral homes have begun to accommodate those distant loved ones by providing a live webcast of the funeral service.

10. Green Funerals • Consumer lifestyles and values, whether environmental, spiritual, philosophical or conservation oriented, are reflected in consumer attitudes toward products and services in the market and affect decision making. This includes attitudes toward death and funerals. • Green funeral choices are expected to grow in popularity in the U.S. as this eco-consciousness grows. • A green funeral incorporates environmentally-friendly options in order to meet the needs of a family requesting a green service.

11. The New Face of the Profession • Funeral service has traditionally been a male-dominated profession. • It also has been a "family" profession, with firms being passed down from one generation to the next. • Today, 57 percent of mortuary science students in the United States are women. • Many of these women have discovered and are attracted to the skills and traits needed as a funeral director, including communication skills, compassion, a desire to comfort those coping with a death, as well as organizational and event-planning skills.

12. Group Discussion • Have you ever attended or planned a personalized funeral/memorial service ? • What made the service memorable for you? • What types of technology would you use in your firm? • HOT TOPIC: I recently read an article online where a friend of a funeral director decided to hire an event planner for a memorial service for her dad which was held on a yacht with professional caterers and an expensive media crew to display a memorial tribute. What steps can funeral directors take to market their ability to plan personalized services better?

13. Conclusion • In spite of negative perceptions that the funeral industry may have received from the public, we as industry professionals need to listen and educate the community so they can make informed decisions. • Baby Boomers are sparking the changing trends of the industry with do-it-yourself funerals and exuberant celebrations that reflect upon a life lived rather than a life to mourn. • 20 years from now, funerals will not be what they once were. • It is critical that industry professionals embrace the changes of the industry and begin “thinking out the box”!

14. References Bartsche, P. M. (2012, January). Celebrating Lives Well Lived. American Funeral Director, 60-61. Bartsche, P. M. (2012, June). Growing Technology. American Funeral Director, 20-26. Citrin Cooperman & Company LLP. (2013, January). Citrin Cooperman Survey Finds Funeral Home Owners Are Looking to Stem the Tide of Eroding Profitability. The Director, 46-62. Defort,E. J. (2013, January). State of the Profession: Cracking the consumer code. The Director, 40-44. Fertig, R. (2012, July). Green Venture: Undertaking my vocation. American Funeral Director, 18-24. Katz, D. (2012, October). Ten Tips to Market Your Business. American Funeral Director, 18. Kenevich, T. (2012, June). Webcasting: Bringing new light to death care. American Funeral Director, 14-18. Lambert, D., & Kleese, P. (2011, October). 2010 FAMIC Study Reaction: Interpreting the data to ensure success. American Funeral Director, 62-70. Nelson, P. (2012, July). Younger generations want more personalized funerals. Retrieved April 11, 2013, from http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=21339401