December 2020

Page A21 DECEMBER 2020 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A Features: • Biosafety Level 4 Containment • Can be cremated and X-rayed • Metal Foil Barrier • Fluid and vapor barrier where biohazard containment is required such as Mortuaries, Coroners, Medical Examiners, Evidence Collection, Disaster Preparedness Organizations, and Mausoleums • Sealed pouch used for the shipment of caskets, human remains or pet remains, that’s accepted by many domestic and international airlines • Made to military specifications and quality control • Can accommodate approximately 25 descendants Tested at clemson university 4000psi odor, gases leakage BODYSEALER ® Biohazard COVID-19 LEVEL 4 Containment pouch Manufactured in the U.S.A. Hermetically sealed biohazard containment pouch 40 inch folded width • 500 sq ft to the roll Now Available: 25 Pandemic Pac (7’x40” pouches) 100 Pandemic Pac (7’x40” pouches) 516-665-8323 sales@bodysealer.com Johnson Consulting Group’s Performance Tracker Trends & Insights Report SCOTTSDALE,AZ— Johnson Consult- ing Group has released findings from a 2019 report that tracks trends in the funeral pro- fession among more than 1,000 funeral and cemetery businesses. “We are champions of data-driven deci- sions,” said Jake Johnson, president and CEO of Johnson Consulting Group. “Perfor- mance Tracker allows us to put that data into our clients’ hands—to inform decisions.” This year’s Performance Tracker Trends & Insights report incorporates 2019 data into the sales and family satisfaction survey anal- ysis. The findings reflect the compilation and analysis of more than 700,000 sales re- cords and 184,000 survey responses collect- ed since 2011. In addition, this year’s results provide a par- ticularly important baseline for identifying and evaluating the anticipated effects of CO- VID-19 on the funeral industry in 2020 and beyond. Key findings include: • Families continue to recognize very high levels of satisfaction with their chosen fa- cility, with more than 96 percent rating their experience as “Superior” or “Above Average,” in particular, recognizing the impact of caring, compassionate and pro- fessional staff. • There is not a significant relationship be- tween the average sale and either the fam- ily’s reported level of satisfaction or how likely they are to recommend the facility. • The rapid transition from burials to cre- mations seems to have stabilized. With individual case sales increasing for all case types, the average sale is just slightly below a trending average of around $5,000, as lower priced cremations make up a larger portion of the sales than a few years earlier. • Changing economics and ways of doing business are affecting how facilities operate, with significant differences evident in the number of cases and average sales per case by arrangers based on the size of both the facility and the company in which that fa- cility operates. • While service fees are increasing, discounts are as well, and product sales and services remain in line with customer expectations. According to the report, families are more likely than ever to recommend their funeral home to others. Lori Salberg, director of technology at Johnson Consulting Group’s sister company, J3Tech Solutions states, “There is a significant relationship between the satisfaction of fami- lies and their likelihood to recommend.” Sal- berg explains, “The experience of other family members is cited as a key factor by 50 percent of families when it is time to make choices for their loved ones—so the importance of this recommendation cannot be overstated.” The full Performance Tracker trends and in- sights report is available on the Johnson Con- sulting Group website. COVID-19 and the Funeral Industry The many effects of COVID-19 on the pro- fession will become clearer as 2020 progress- es. Johnson Consulting Group has commis- sioned a special report to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on customer experience in the funeral industry. The results will be released in the near future. Johnson Consulting Group is committed to providing intelligent business solutions that meet business owners wherever they are in their business life cycle. Whether they want to grow their business and enterprise value or plan their exit strategy, JCG can assist. With over two decades of creating personalized part- nerships and growing revenuewith funeral and cemetery business owners, managers and staff, JCG has the expertise and dedication to assist funeral home and cemetery businesses grow in their current operations, start their succession planning, or take their business to market. For more information, visit www.johnsonconsult- ing.com to learn more.