by joshua2 | Media
I want to share some good news with you about a national award we’ve just won.
I’ll tell you more about it later, but first…
You may have already seen our online design-your-own coffin tool on the website.
But I know that when you’re doing an arrangement, it’s not always easy (or practical) to get onto a computer with a family to create a coffin design – especially in their home.
So, we’ve developed a simple, 1-page, PDF template for manually designing personalised coffins with families.
This printable template shows you the flattened coffin sides, ends and lid.
This allows you or the family to draw or write on it and make notes about how certain images are to be used and where they should be placed.
You can also jot down other ideas about the design in the ‘notes’ section.
Then, once you’re back at the office:
- Take a photo of the completed template on your mobile or just scan it and email it back to us; and
- Email us the images the family would like used on their coffin.
We’ll create the design from the completed template and notes, then email a 3D proof back to you to share with the family, for their approval (or modification).
This template can also be used for people wanting to pre-arrange their funeral with you.
They can write down their coffin ideas and keep this record with you, or with their other personal information to be referred to on their passing.
Contact us for your copy of the template. It really is simple to use…and especially useful for in-home arrangements.
And that award I mentioned…
Ashton Manufacturing have just been announced as one of the winners of Westpac’s Businesses of Tomorrow awards for 2018.
This is what Westpac say about this award…
“Businesses of Tomorrow is a program designed to reward and recognise businesses with the drive to shape Australia’s future. These businesses may be large or small and they don’t need to be a Westpac customer, however they all share the following strengths:
- Demonstrate a clear purpose and vision.
- Deeply understand their customers’ needs.
- Have the capability to meet tomorrow’s challenges.”
by joshua2 | Media
Have you ever scratched a coffin and needed to fix it quickly (and properly)?
If you have, then the new video on our website’s Resources section is made for you…
This short 1 minute 58 second video featuring Tim Cowell, one of our polishing experts, shows you just how easily a scratch can be touched-up.
Tim demonstrates the 3 materials you need to use, and how to use each of them.
You’ll be surprised how quickly a touch-up can be completed.
Why not share the video with your staff?
by joshua2 | Media
Were you one of the 1.9 billion people that watched the coverage of the royal wedding on the weekend?
If you’re like me, there’s one part of the wedding that will stick in your mind forever…
It wasn’t the perfect 21-degree day in Windsor;
It wasn’t Ms Markle’s £387,000 wedding dress;
Nor was it the 19-year-old cello prodigy playing Ave Maria to the gathering of 600…
…It was the speech by Chicago-born bishop Michael Curry.
If you didn’t see it, Bishop Curry’s 13 minute and 40 second unscripted sermon was a lively departure from traditional British royal wedding sermons.
It was more performance than speech.
But it was a wonderful speech nonetheless. The unforgettable sermon was full of encouragement and wisdom on ‘love’, for the young couple.
And, being memorable and unique is a good thing.
It sets you apart from other people. And in the funeral industry, this means you can stand out from your increasing competition.
Here’s one very simple thing you can do in your funeral home to stand apart from other companies…
You can offer coffins that are new and innovative.
Take the Artisan for instance.
It’s not a coffin. And you can’t really call it a casket.
Because it’s different… it’s innovative.
This award-winning design will be a real focal point in your coffin/casket range. It will demonstrate to families that your funeral home is a progressive company, offering the latest products.
The Artisan has a domed lid which is easily removed. Plus, it features unique low sides.
This gives your families a more intimate viewing experience – especially when they can sit alongside the deceased, rather than having to stand and look down into the coffin.
The 6 handles are cleverly formed into the base of the coffin too.
It comes with a thick wool mattress and pillow for added visual comfort for the deceased.
It has generous internal dimensions as well: length = 195cm, width = 57cm, depth = 33cm.
Its innovative design and minimal use of natural materials meant it was chosen for display in the prestigious New York Smithsonian Design Exhibition.
Following this, the Artisan was shown around the United States for a further two years as part of the Smithsonian’s travelling exhibition.
I’m sure you’d agree, that during these challenging times it’s becoming more important to stand out in an industry quickly becoming crowded.
If you’re looking for ways to stand out from your competition, then why not introduce the Artisan into your coffin range.
Contact us now and we’ll send you some high-res images and more information about this remarkable design.
Related video: You’ll be amazed at the care and craftsmanship that goes into making our beautiful Artisan casket
by joshua2 | Media
Lighthouse photos really do make beautiful coffin designs.
Especially this panoramic lighthouse photo our designers Natasha and Vanessa sourced to create this coffin and urn.
The Byron Bay Lighthouse Expression Coffin is one of our latest designs I wanted to share with you.
I’m sure you’d agree that lighthouses seem to hold significant meaning for many people. There’s something symbolic about them: strength, guidance, hope etc.
Combine that, and people’s love of the ocean and this may become a very popular design.
Did you know Expression Coffins are patented? They’re not like other coffins.
Here’s what makes them unique…
We use a modern coffin design which features rounded lid edges with no mouldings. This allows our image wraps to flow seamlessly into, around and under the coffin.
We make the raw coffins in-house from E-Zero Customwood (MDF). This is the most eco-friendly fibreboard and is Australian grown timber. You can confidently use it for both burial and cremation.
We use only water-based inks. These don’t contain solvents.
You may select any handles and drapery you wish. Then, we can trim and mount the coffin for you… so it’s funeral-ready.
Our coffins are all handmade in Australia, then delivered on our truck to your funeral home for the funeral.
Each coffin is part of our Memorial Tree Program. A certificate is issued with each coffin to explain the tree planting actions taken on your client family’s behalf.
They’re a larger standard size. Funeral directors appreciate the extra room in the coffins: L1900 x W550 x D325 (mm).
Matching ashes urns are available for every design. Families may like this option as a lasting memento.
Any design is possible. We have a database of millions of high-res images we can use to create a special coffin for any family you are serving.
Would you like a unique design for your funeral home? Get in touch to discuss your ideas.
Click here for the Expression Coffins website
by joshua2 | Media
Do you ever arrange funerals with client families who want a particular coloured coffin?
They might say something to you like…
“We’d like a purple coffin for mum – it was her favourite colour.”
Of course, you want to help them with their request.
But guess what?
There’s a million-and-one variations of purple…
The purple colour they want, may actually be mauve, or lilac, or even violet.
Thankfully Expression Coffins are available in any solid colour.
All you need to do with the family is find the correct colour and let us know.
Here’s what to do…
1. Go to this Dulux webpage: https://www.dulux.com.au/specifier/colour/colour-atlas (Note: you don’t have to use Dulux, but it has a nice selection of colours and is easy to use)
2. Scroll down to the ‘Colour Atlas’
3. Click on one of the colour bars
4. Select your colour from the swatches (there are 1000’s to choose from)
5. Advise us of the colour name and number (e.g.: Exploding Star, S17H7)
6. We’ll then email you a proof of the Expression Coffin for approval by the family.
7. Once approved, we’ll get the coffin underway.
The great thing about using Expression Coffins for solid colour coffins is that there are no paint fumes from drying paint.
Additionally, you can have almost any colour imaginable (as you’d appreciate, what you see on a computer screen always differs slightly to the finished coffin – but we get very close).
And the price?
You only pay a standard Expression Coffin price. We do not charge extra for solid colours.
by joshua2 | Media
If you haven’t heard this phrase from your staff or colleagues, then you may have heard it from another funeral home…
“The families we serve only want cheap coffins”. Or another variation of this is, “Our families only buy ‘flat lid’ coffins”.
Right, let’s examine this…
Firstly, we have to agree on one thing before we continue.
That is, in general, funerals are an important experience for people, and, offer significant value to families going through the grieving process.
Ok, if we agree on this, then obviously, the coffin (or casket) must be an integral component and an important focal point for the family during the funeral. And, be of some inherent value for them.
So why then, do some funeral directors insist, “The families we serve only want cheap coffins”?
Here’s one explanation – and this does not just relate to funerals.
Families (like all consumers) will often buy the cheapest products offered (e.g. coffins) when they don’t understand the benefits of the more expensive options.
It makes perfect sense.
If families haven’t understood the features and benefits of each model in a funeral home’s coffin and casket selection (or had these details properly explained), then why would they buy anything other than the cheapest options?
In their mind – and rightly so – they just wouldn’t have the knowledge to justify a more expensive coffin purchase.
When you think about it, how many times during people’s lives do they have to buy a coffin? Once or twice perhaps? Three times maybe?
Therefore, when a family meet with a funeral director for a funeral arrangement, they come with little or no knowledge of what to look for, or what to ask about, when it comes time to select the coffin.
They are relying on the arranger’s guidance to help them choose a coffin that best meets their needs AND represents the best value for them. They won’t always be looking for the cheapest coffin.
Again, it’s not only funerals, many consumers will be happy to purchase a more expensive product (e.g. a better coffin) if they understand what the benefits of the additional cost will be.
Sure, it takes extra time to thoroughly go through all the coffin and casket options with a family during the arrangement.
But, by doing this, the funeral director is empowering the family to choose a coffin that best matches their needs – and it may not be the cheapest coffin.
