An effective manager isn’t tyrannical. They don’t command unnecessarily, micromanage or instil fear. A successful manager can be approachable, amicable and even downright compassionate. These managers lead teams of satisfied employees, which reduces turnover and...

Growing a business is one thing, but passing the baton is just as important. In private and family enterprises, it’s essential to think of the future first. KPMG Partner Dominic Pelligana looks at succession planning in small business. Many small-to-medium enterprises...

Ashton’s Chief Executive Officer Rohan Kerr recently met the Deputy Prime Minister the Hon Barnaby Joyce MP, at a function in Brisbane. The often serious and uncompromising Minister was relaxed and good-humoured at the event. Rohan had a detailed conversation with the...

Throwing open the front doors of your funeral home to let inquisitive groups look through your facility may be a cause for consternation in some. In an industry where discretion is of foremost concern, welcoming groups of interested people through your premises may...

One of our brand values is our commitment to environmentally sustainable practices. We continually work with our suppliers to develop products that will achieve this end. We have recently been working with one of our suppliers and have developed an amazing...

A memorial tree is a tree that is planted as a way of memorialising the life of a special person. You can think of it as a living legacy of a family’s loved one. When a family purchases one of your caskets or coffins from our Memorial Tree program range, a memorial...

Time Management is one of those management buzzwords, but it actually relates to the process of planning and consciously controlling the amount of time we spend on various activities, with the goal of increasing our effectiveness and productivity. Most of us know that...

The Desert Champagne casket may be the perfect addition to add to your showroom. It is a stunning example of Batesville Casket Company’s unrelenting focus on providing the world’s finest caskets that help families honour the lives of those they love. This 20-gauge...

For over one hundred years, Batesville Casket Company has manufactured the world’s finest caskets. Premium craftsmanship, the highest quality materials and constant innovation have become the hallmarks of Batesville and have helped the company to become the most...

Funeral directing is a challenging job: short timelines, grieving families and the pressures of modern business make burnout a real issue for both funeral home owners, management and staff. Burnout may result in staff who are disengaged and demotivated in their job...

In September, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released its death statistics for 2015. The ABS usually release these statistics in November each year, for the previous calendar years’ statistics, however, their data is available earlier this year. We present some...

Funeral directors are often called upon to speak in front of an audience and to make speeches at local businesses or events. We all want our speeches to have impact and be memorable and the infographic at the end of this article can help you to leave a lasting...

Return to Sender are New Zealand’s leading designers and manufacturers of contemporary coffins, catering to the growing number of people looking for more contemporary, aesthetically designed coffins with an environmental focus. Return to Sender’s award-winning coffins...

A personalised Expression Coffin can greatly help to make a funeral more meaningful for a family. The feedback that we receive from our funeral directors as well as families is a testament to this. Comments such as: “It was truly Dad”, “It’s exactly what my wife would...

The purchase decision is only the ‘visible’ part of a complex decision-making process by the consumer. But what happens before and after this purchase? What are the factors influencing the choice of product purchased by the consumer? Funeral industry professionals are...

Our stunning Return to Sender coffin, the Archetype Rimu, is a modern take on a traditional shape. Made of sustainably harvested rimu. The handles are integrated in wood so metal or plastic handles are not required. The interior is a feature and does not need to be...