December 2020

Page B9 DECEMBER 2020 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on B www. vischerfuneralsupplies.com 1215 E. Broadway • Morrilton, AR 72110 • 501.477.2229 • www.rosewoodclassiccoach.com “Your Brand Icon Awaits” Call us today for the latest on Price and Delivery Offering Custom Hearses & Sedans Roberts & Downey Furniture Eligible for Schedule 179 Batesville Receives Top Quality and Innovation Scores in 2020 Funeral Service Insider Casket Survey BATESVILLE,IN— Batesville con- tinues to lead the industry with top rankings for Quality and Product In- novation in the annual Casket Survey conducted by Funeral Service Insider (FSI), a Kates-Boylston publication. This year’s survey drew responses from more than 300 funeral profes- sionals who shared their insights on a wide range of topics related to fu- neral service. “We are proud to know that cus- tomers recognize and appreciate our commitment to consistently provid- ing high quality, innovative prod- ucts,” said Chris Trainor , Batesville president. “We believe quality is a tangible value that not only differen- tiates our products and our company but is also important to families.” Batesville’s focus on quality and in- novation are well recognized. The company has been ranked number one in both categories since the FSI Casket Survey started more than 15 years ago, but as Trainor says, “Qual- ity is a continuous process and not something you do once and put on the shelf.” One of the early adopters of Lean manufacturing, Batesville leverag- es lean principles and kaizen events in all areas of its business to make sure it remains focused on the things that add value. Innovations are of- ten a byproduct of its efforts to make things better. Even with the restric- tions on large group meetings due to COVID-19, the company complet- ed more than 80 kaizen events over the last 12 months and is on pace to surpass that in FY2021. Survey participants noted several Batesville innovations, including a va- riety of Family Choices® personaliza- tion offerings that have been updated with more modern designs and con- verted to three-dimensional figures to provide greater value and versatility for families. The company’s magnetic LifeStories® medallions, bronze keep- sakes and interior overlay options also enhance the family’s experience. “While the pandemic has present- ed tremendous challenges, it has also reminded us that funerals are a nec- essary and vital element in a family’s grieving process,” said Trainor. “In a time of loss, families lean on funeral directors for support, and as a supplier and partner, we are privileged to pro- vide products and solutions that help make that connection even stronger.” Batesville Sponsors Keynote Speaker at NFDA Virtual Convention Batesville was proud to sponsor the keynote address by Micah Solomon , best-selling author and one of Amer- ica’s most noted experts on custom- er service, at the NFDA Convention and Expo, October 20 – 22. “As a longstanding partner and sup- porter, we want to commend NFDA for putting together a safe, virtual convention packed with meaning- ful educational content and plenty of opportunities to learn about new products and reconnect with suppli- ers and colleagues,” said Jenn Parvin , vice president of marketing and tech- nology at Batesville. “It’s an honor to help bring a world-class speaker like Micah Solomon to one of our indus- try’s premiere events.” Solomon’s keynote, Ignore Your Customers (and They’ll Go Away) provided a step-by-step guide for cre- ating a service culture and customer experience. Batesville also hosted a live Q&A with Solomon immediate- ly following his presentation. “COVID-19 has compounded the stress that is inherent in our indus- try,” said Parvin. “We were grateful to have Dr. Alan Wolfelt to discuss the five pillars of self-care during the convention. Batesville made the most of the event, with a combination of live product and technology demos, vid- eos, chats, and a Q&A session with Batesville executives. Batesville also introduced: a new military personal- ization feature on the N01; enhance- ments to the Virgo; a new oversize version of the popular dual-disposi- tion Clifton; and a new brown finish on the dual-disposition Dryden. Batesville (www.Batesville.com) , a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hill- enbrand, Inc. (NYSE: HI), is a rec- ognized leader in the death care in- dustry in North America, offering a comprehensive portfolio of burial and cremation products, memorial- ization options and innovative tech- nology solutions. For more than 125 years, Batesville has supported li- censed funeral professionals in help- ing families honor the lives of those they love. A history of manufactur- ing excellence, product innovation, superior customer service and reli- able delivery helped Batesville be- come – and remain – a market leader. ARGENTA,IL— “As this most difficult year comes to an end, we would like to thank funeral directors who have served families during the pandemic. As we begin to ex- amine the 2020 books from a tax perspective, we would like to remind our customers that chapel furniture is a 100% deductible Schedule 179 expense on your business tax returns,” says Rick Roberts. Rick and Elizabeth Roberts have been handcrafting ex- quisite, high-quality chapel furniture for over 33 years in the prairies of central Illinois. With six design lines, hand- crafted in Argenta, and available in a variety of woods, Roberts & Downey Chapel Equipment offers both clas- sic and contemporary products that match any decor. “You have worked hard and investing in yourself makes good business sense. We stand ready to help you place a year end order, families do notice and appreciate when you make improvements to your facilities,” Rick concludes. For more information on how Schedule 179 can apply to your furniture order, contact Roberts & Downey Cha- pel Equipment at 800-331-9093, visit www.robertsandd- owney.com or call Rick Roberts directly at 217-521-2391.