Mors 200 Arts Final - Funeral Service Merchandising- Chapters 14-16 Part 4

More common to urban areas.

Funeral home overhead is reduced because there is no need to invest in supply stock, inventory, or physical facilities needed for casket display. Reduced funeral home overhead may translate to either reduced consumer expense or increased funeral home profit.

Whether the funeral home provides transportation or the customer travels via his own means- may be an inconvience to consumer Funeral home must wait for product delivery or arrange for the casket to be picked up from showroom- some products require immediate availability Funeral home may have little say over types of product offerings Some busy show rooms may require the funeral home to make an appointment

Overhead reduced; consumer may enjoy reduced costs, funeral home may increase profits Some apprehensive consumers find a catalog easier to choose from, may not emotionally be able to handle a room full of caskets Useful tool if arranging or prearranging in consumer's home or other non funeral home sites May allow the funeral home to offer a greater range of merchandise than might be possible if the selection of merchandise were limited to whatever space the funeral home has available.

Consumers find it difficult to discern value via a photograph and prefer to select from a range of tangible merchandise. Additional pressure is put on the arranging director to give extra attention to a careful and thorough product presentation. Catalogs with less-than-professional appearance may reflect negatively on the funeral home/arranger and result in less-than-target sale. Delivery and availability may present a problem.

Selecting funeral merchandise from a computer display is less "threatening" to some consumers Reduced funeral home overhead (if sole means) results in consumer savings/increased funeral home profit. Depending on the system software, inventory checks and product orderings may be performed instantly.

Some consumers (particularly eldery) may not be comfortable and may prefer something tangible Initial investment in hardware and software may be substantial. (still less so than traditional selection room). Product delivery/availability may be an issue. The funeral director must be careful to deliver a thorough product presentation.

Square footage Merchandise arrangement Display equipment Lighting Aesthetic considerations These are all considerations to contribute to some measure to the success of: Provide the consumer with a positive buying experience Generate the target amount of funeral home profit.

Recommended size is 40 to 60 square feet per casket. Average adult casket takes up 18 square feet 20 caskets would consume anywhere from 800 to 1200 square feet

Artificial produces two forms- direct and indirect Basic fixture varieties include fluorescent and incandescent lighting It is the quality of lighting that most concerns the funeral director

Refers to illumination directly shining on an object. Used to accent color, form, and shadow.

Refers to the reflected illumination of an object. Provides a general feeling of illumination.

This is the measurement for the brightness of light or illumination. The amount of illumination produced by a source of one candle at a distance of one foot. 90 to 100 measured at the level of the casket pillow is the recommended standard for casket selection rooms.

An indirect form of lighting, the illumination produced by a tubular electric discharge lamp or the florescence of phosphors coating the inside of the tube. Very cost effective Objects can appear flat and lifeless unless the tubes are of a "daylight" or "color-corrected" spectrum.

The illumination resulting from the glowing of a heated element. (direct lighting) Has a warm quality and slightly yellow color temperature that allows more accurate color interpretation as compared to flourescent lighting. Varying degrees of operating efficiency Most do not approach the value of fluorescent tubes.

A relatively new addition to selection room lighting options. Produces a very clean, bright, white light that closely approoximates natural daylight; extremely good color rendering ability. Initial investment can be costly, but operating costs are slightly less than traditional incandescent bulbs.

Clean and bright Light and neutral colors for walls (open feelng and emphasize, not detract from, merchandise on display) Carpeting should complement merchandise and not be distracting Focal points- small statues, flower arrangements, furniture groupings- soften and visually break up the room

Bier Church Truck Casket Rack Placards

The stand or support on which the casket rests. Ideal viewng height is 26-30 inches above the floor

A wheeled collapsible support for the casket, used in the funeral home, church, or home.

A device upon which caskets are placed, one on top of the other, for display or storage. non obstructive and not distract the consumer's attention from the casket itself

Clearly identifies the name and price and can be easily be cross-referenced on the casket price list Include the casket's name, basic material, type of lining fabric, and particular features

Consecutive method World approach Good-better-best approach

Placing caskets for selection in their order of increasing or decreasing value, in a sort of stair-step approach.

Grouping caskets on the basis of materials.

Caskets are displayed in groups according to their relative positions within the value/price progression.

The use of portions of caskets (1/2, 1/4, 1/8) in the selection room rather than full sized caskets.