Thursday, January 23, 2020
At the 2019 National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) convention in Chicago, your humble correspondent saw a number of interesting products and services on display at the expo. Here is part three of a series of videos about new developments. And there’s still a few more yet to come!
Look for previous interviews from this funeral director expo on this YouTube channel. “Like,” comment and subscribe for more great videos like these! And check out these blog posts with many more NFDA videos: Part One and Part Two.
UPD Urns
Tyler Fraser, CEO of UPD Urns, talks about the online urn store that offers thousands of options for urns, cremation jewelry and keepsake urns. Funeral homes can create their own online retail stores that are run by UPD Urns. Check out the online store for A Good Goodbye!
UPD offers urns of brass, wood, ceramics, marble, and many biodegradable options. The jewelry includes options in gold, sterling silver, stainless steel, and glass. There are lovely handmade urns and jewelry, and fingerprint jewelry that can preserve the unique patterns of people and pets in silver or gold. The site also features The Life Chest, beautiful memento storage boxes in a range of styles. Learn more at www.UPDUrns.com.
Sich introduces cremation caskets
Sirius Chan, president of Sich Casket Company, talks about their new line of cremation caskets. There are three models: a casket of woven banana leaves, a wicker casket, and an engineered wood casket with a paper veneer that looks like hardwood.
All models come with a remarkably absorbent biodegradable liner that can absorb up to five gallons of liquid. Chan demonstrates the amazing absorbency of the liner in this video. Learn more about the benefits of Sich caskets at www.SichCasket.com.
The award-winning Stepper for removals
The Stepper from the Mortuary Lift Company helps funeral personnel remove a body from a home or other locations. It’s especially helpful for navigating tight corners or when there are stairs to climb or descend. The Stepper can hold up to 375 pounds, and it enables just one person or two people to easily handle a removal.
The Stepper is an electric stair climbing system that won 2nd place in NFDA’s 2019 Innovation Award. The folding handle allows the attendant to stand upright when descending stairs, avoiding back strain or injury. The sturdy wheels smoothly glide on any surface. Learn more at the company’s website, www.MortuaryLift.com.
Evangelical Garment Services
Rev. E.G. Shields, co-founder of EGS: Evangelical Garment Services, talks about their tailor-made suits and clothing for male and female funeral directors and clergy. They also provide robes for choirs and clergy. At the NFDA convention, they had hundreds of fabric swatches on display, giving expo attendees the opportunity to see, feel and select the cloth for their next bespoke garment. More info at www.EvangelicalGarmentServices.com.
Post and Boost for funeral homes
Bill Johnston, President of Post and Boost®, talks about how funeral homes can effectively advertise on Facebook. When funeral homes feature their funeral directors and other employees in posts on their Facebook pages, then pay to boost those posts in their local markets, those posts are seen more widely and with more impact than with other advertising approaches. Their website is www.PostAndBoost.com.
Johnston is the author of the book, “Why Facebook Works for Funeral Homes and Everything Else Doesn’t!” Buy the book through this Amazon affiliate link.
All of these videos are produced by Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death®. She attended the 2019 National Funeral Directors Association convention and expo in Chicago as a trade press journalist. Visit this YouTube channel to see all recent videos.
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Gail Rubin, CT, is author and host of the award-winning book and television series, A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die, Hail and Farewell: Cremation Ceremonies, Templates and Tips, and KICKING THE BUCKET LIST: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die.
Rubin is a Certified Thanatologist (that's a death educator) and a popular speaker who uses humor and films to get the end-of-life and funeral planning conversation started. She "knocked 'em dead" with her TEDx talk, A Good Goodbye. She provides continuing education credit classes for attorneys, doctors, nurses, social workers, hospice workers, financial planners, funeral directors and other professionals. She's a Certified Funeral Celebrant and funeral planning consultant who has been interviewed in national and local print, broadcast and online media.
Known as The Doyenne of Death®, she is the event coordinator of the Before I Die NM Festival. She also hosts A Good Goodbye Internet radio show and produces Mortality Minute radio and online video spots. Her YouTube Channel features more than 450 videos!
Rubin is a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, Toastmasters International and the National Speakers Association New Mexico Chapter. Her speaking profile is available at eSpeakers.com.
Gail Rubin has been interviewed about funeral planning issues in national and local broadcast, print and online media. Outlets include The Huffington Post, Money Magazine, Kiplinger, CBS Radio News, WGN-TV, and local affiliates for NPR, PBS, FOX, ABC-TV, CBS-TV and NBC-TV. Albuquerque Business First named her as one of their 2019 Women of Influence.
Sign up for a free planning form and occasional informative newsletter at her website, AGoodGoodbye.com.