Afleveringen
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In this episode, we tease a new column by Steve Lang set to debut in the Feb. 6 FSI, and address the recent reporting on Indiana’s state issues. We also talk about a recent crematory approval in Illinois over NIMBY concerns and look at a scandal in Maryland that is being very, very, very well covered.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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In this episode of Funeral Service Insider, we speak with Jim Luff from Aurora Payments about the complexities of the Credit Card Competition Act and its implications for the funeral industry. Empowering Merchants: "This gives merchants a choice in the fees that they pay, something that's never been offered in the past … every time a merchant accepts a Visa or Mastercard for payment, approximately 2% to 3-and-a-half percent is charged to the merchant and effectively erodes their profitability."
Funeral Industry Dilemma: “If you’re in a small community and there’s a total of three funeral homes and the other two don’t (charge a credit card fee) and you're the only one doing it, well, that's not going to look good. On the flip side, if you get together with those other two and you say, “Hey, we’re all going to do this so we quit giving away our profit. Now you have what's known as collusion, and that is a federal offense.”
Retail Revolution: “The act has gained the support of over 200 state and regional business associations, as well as the International Franchise Association, the National Association of Convenience Stores, National Association of Theater Owners, Grocers, Restaurant Association, National Retail Federation. Currently, more than 2,000 retailers, platforms, and small businesses have signed a petition urging lawmakers to continue with the bill and keep it intact and not let modifications take place.”
Government Oversight on Credit Card Processing: “The fact is in 2012, the Durbin Act passed, and that is what gave us the ability to do surcharging and cash-discounting now. So there’s more evolution coming on this, as we continue to see the government encroach on monitoring credit card processing operations, which I don't think is a bad thing. I just don't want to see consumers who place great value in a particular card … (to see) the terms of that change.”
Click here for complete show notes.
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In this episode, we consider proposed tariffs on caskets from China, Mexico, and Canada, a critical legal battle in the 7th Circuit Court over regulations in Indiana. We’ll also explore Utah’s move toward natural organic reduction and those implications and discuss the latest in the proxy fight between Matthews and Barington.
There’s also a ton going on at Kates-Boylston, including a Jan. 30 webinar and a number of events you would do well to catch.
Click here for complete show notes.
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Katie Hill of Mortuary Lift Company, an inaugural Kates-Boylston advisory board member, shares her company origin story and her hope for the future of death care.
Click here for complete show notes.
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In this episode, we consider accusations of fraud and misconduct in South Carolina, Indiana's two front battle against the future, a restructuring in Pennsylvania and some positive listener feedback.
Show Notes:
https://www.kates-boylston.com/fraud-in-south-carolina-fights-in-indiana-and-a-restructuring-in-pennsylvania/article_ed2a463e-d47a-11ef-be30-8f21708dd4bf.html
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In this episode, we continue our conversation between American Cemetery & Cremation editor Tom Nondorf and Funeral Service Insider editor Tony Russo.
In part one we concentrated on the ins and outs of cemetery news.
Click here for complete show notes.
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In this episode, we dive into some significant shifts in the industry, including Matthews International's $350 million transaction and a potential board shakeup. We'll also discuss SCI's recent acquisitions in Arizona and a growing trend of consolidation.
We'll also touch on Thacker's acquisition of Southern Legacy Casket, the Hart Island Project, Toledo's first black-owned funeral home in decades, and a controversial license restoration case in Utah.
Click here for complete show notes.
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This week, Tom Nondorf, editor of American Cremation & Cemetery magazine co-hosts the first of a two-part year-in-review episode.
The Unique Cemetery Overlooking Sanford Stadium: “They sell plots because the University of Georgia plays pretty good brand of college football. People want to see it. And so, you know, they have that crazy brand of a Southern football fan. So, some people buy plots where they can be kind of overlooking a slight view of the stadium.”
On Contributing Writer Tui Snider: “And then one of (the books) was by this woman, Tui Snider, out of Texas, who is just amazing at researching cemeteries and the different symbols you find on headstones. She just emailed me from Norway where she is going to be looking at cemeteries there and doing her thing for a couple months going around Europe.”
Carving a Legacy: “(Slate headstone carver J. David Gillespie) goes up to Boston and studies under a woman who’s an expert up there about carving slate letters in the old-school way, basically doing perfect imitations of the type of headstones that exist in cemeteries up in New England and then just starts doing that as his living.”
The Cemetery Cleanup Exposé Dilemma: “You’ll see them every few weeks. You know, somebody went to the cemetery to find a teddy bear and a vase that they left on a grave, and it had all been thrown into a pile somewhere. The stories were always the same, you know? Somebody calls a local news station ... it’s just so easy to make everybody look bad.”
Click here for completel show notes.
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In this episode we have update on Barington Capital, commentary on the FTC's revived report, continued success in celebrations of life, and more.
Kates-Boylston Holiday Subscription Offers Barington Announces Board Picks FTC Still Naming and Shaming a Year Later Recent ‘SendOff’ Funerals Make News Ohio Funeral Directors Expand Event Offerings with Alcohol -
From the pages of American Cemetery and Cremation we bring you a Christmas travel story that ends where all stories must.
Click here for the full story.
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In this episode of Funeral Service Insider, we speak with Angela Woosley, a funeral director who has taken a solo approach to the business, catering to families with requests other funeral directors often won’t accommodate.
Modern Funeral Preferences: What I was hearing was not, “Oh, we really want this mahogany casket and this expensive, lined outer barrel container!” and “Absolutely, I love seeing embalmed people. They look so natural and lifelike, and certainly not like a mannequin!”
Rethinking Traditions: Everything we do with the dead, when you think about it, is really unpleasant. Everything. So, whatever we find for that particular family or person or client that resonates and feels good for them, for that person, that’s what we should be doing.
Celebration of Life: What truly matters about that person is not that they became a beautiful corpse, but that they lived a beautiful life and made an important imprint on other people’s lives.
Honoring Tradition: We took her out of her casket and placed her on a mattress and box spring that the family had gotten together. They brought red velvet ropes to separate her from grievers because her mom didn’t want people to cry on her (which is unlucky), and it was just the way that she wanted.
Breaking Down Barriers in Grief Support: The less we gatekeep and the more that we invite families in and partner with them rather than “serve” them or “guide” them or “direct” them, I think the more satisfied they’ll be with our services and the better their grief will be as well.
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Here are the stories we reference in this week’s In Case You Missed It.
Holiday Subscription Special
Major Investor Calls for Matthews Shake-up, Will Nominate New Board
Mercy University and Pierce Colleges of Funeral Service Agreement
Park Lawn Expands Presence in Illinois
Response to Park Lawn Expansion
White Marsh Saga Continues
No Jail for Casket Thief
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Welcome to another episode of "Funeral Service Insider," the podcast In this week's episode, we're bringing you the highlights of notable events and discussions from recent weeks.
HR & Leadership Forum Registration
Kates-Boylston Announces Newly Formed Advisory Board
Termination Gone Wrong
Amigone Funeral Home Crematory Ordered to Close Under New York Law
Unclaimed Remains Stories
Unfortunate Time for a Repair
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Jennifer Lindell-Roys, location leader for Kersey Funeral Home in Auburndale, Florida, is the American Funeral Director magazine 2024 Funeral Director of the Year.
Breaking Barriers in the Funeral Business: “The guy told me that I would have to probably work at Kmart because women weren't really supposed to be in the funeral business at that time.”
Breaking into the Funeral Industry: “I came into one funeral home in in Hollywood, Riverside and talked to the secretary, and then the funeral director came out to see me. And he says, ‘Oh, absolutely. We would love to have you.’”
Old-School Anatomy Lessons: “The one thing that we had to do is when we had anatomy, we had these plastic bodies in front of us and all these plastic pieces that like a puzzle that would be put in there. And we had to listen to a cassette tape on, you know, where this part went and what this part did and, you know, how many bones are there.”
The Challenges of the Holiday Season: “Christmas is a hard time for everybody. And it's even double hard when you've lost somebody. So we try to help them, make it through and let them know that we're here.”
Growing Community Support: “We do a business expo, which we have in March or April, and it's gotten bigger and bigger and bigger every year.”
Curiosity in the Classroom: “There was one kid that was really interested in it. He had so many good questions. He wanted to know all about the, the cremation and what happens and the embalming and what happens.”
Balancing Funeral Directing with Site Management: “I want to meet my families. I wanna be with my families and help them.”
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At Kates-Boylston's Dec. 10 HR & Leadership Forum, we will explore strategies for funeral professionals to retain top talent and enhance preneed programs.In this bonus epiusode, we speak with Wanda Sizemore, onboarding specialist at Envision Strategic Partners, about how she built her career as a preneed sales expert and her goals for the upcoming talk.
You can register for the Dec. 10 here.
Click here for complete show notes.
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In this episode, we cover key industry developments including a preview of Matthews International's earnings, the impact of funeral home consolidations, and the looming Federal Trade Commission rule changes.
We also explore unique stories like a Japanese coffin café and delve into the challenges facing a Pennsylvania funeral home company as they navigate financial difficulties.
Join us as we unravel these stories and more, offering insights and commentary on the death care industry. Whether you're a funeral director, cemeterian, mortuary professional, or simply interested in the evolving landscape of funeral service, this episode has something for you.
Holiday subscription special.
Four Years in, Anthem’s Will Andrews Is Still Willing to Make Big ChangesMatthews Earnings Preview
FTC Report
Coffin Cafe
Monument Company Fiasco
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