Merchandising Glossary

Air seal

a method of closure that utilizes the air pressure created by placing the dome of the vault onto the base of the vault

Air Tray

a transfer container consisting of a wooden tray with a cardboard covering for the casket

Alloy

a substance composed of two or more metals

Alternative Container

an unfinished wood box or other non-metal receptacle or enclosure, without ornamentation or a fixed interior lining, which is designed for the encasement of human remains and which is made of fiberboard, pressed-wood, composition materials (with or without an outside covering) or like materials.

Apron

the lining attached to the undersurface of the foot panel of the casket and/or a component part of the throw (overlay) which extends downward into the body of the casket.

Arm

the part of the casket handle that attaches the bar to the lug (ear)

Average (mean)

the sum of a group of numbers divided by the number of units

Bail handle

a single handle in which the lug, arm, and bar are combined in one unit

Bar

that part of the casket handle, attached to the lug or arm, which is grasped by the casketbearer

Base

the lower or supporting part of a monument. In some monuments, there may be a first, second, and third base.

Base molding

molding along the lowermost edge of the body panels

Bed

the portion of the casket upon which the deceased human remains are placed

Bench

a type of cemetery memorial consisting of a top piece supported by two standards; used to identify family burial plots or used in conjunction with a family monument.

Bevel top marker

a small headstone, set above ground, with a slightly slanting top.

Bier

typically a stand upon which a casket is placed for viewing and services, but sometimes a means of merchandise display

Bi-Unit Pricing

a method of price quotation showing separately the price of the service to be rendered and the price of the casket

Block

a subdivision of a cemetery containing several lots

Body

that portion of the casket shell containing the top body molding, body panel, base molding, and casket bottom

Body ledge (top body molding)

a molding along the uppermost edge of the body panels

Body ledge flange (top body molding flange)

the horizontal portion of the top body molding (body ledge) where the gasket is placed on gasketed caskets

Body Lining

material which drapes the inside perimeter of the body of the casket

Body Panels

compose the sides and ends of the casket shell

Bridge (header, cap filler)

component part of cap/lid that is constructed into caskets that display a cut top; provides strength/rigidity at the point of the transverse cut.

Broadcloth

A twilled, napped, woolen or worsted fabric with a smooth lustrous face and dense texture; a fabric usually made of cotton, silk, or rayon woven in a plain or rib weave with a soft semi-gloss finish.

Bronze

A metal alloy consisting of 90% copper with tin and sometimes zinc comprising the other 10%

Brushed finish

bare metal is scratched with an abrasive material and then finished until a smooth high gloss is obtained

Burial casket

a casket which is sold for the purpose of interring or entombing with the dead human remains

Cap (lid)

the top most part of the casket shell, including the ogee, crown, pie, and header

Cap Panel

The focal part of the interior which fills the inside of the crown, sometimes bordered by the roll (cove); may be referred to as the panel.

Cash Advance Items

Any item of service or merchandise described to a purchaser as a "cash advance," "accommodation," "cash disbursement," or similar term. A cash advance item is also any item obtained from a third party and paid for by the funeral provider on the purchaser's behalf. Cash advance items may include, but are not limited to: cemetery or crematory services; pallbearers; public transportation; clergy honoria; flowers; musicians or singers; nurses; obituary notices; gratuities; and death certificates.

Cash discount

a reduction of the price given for payment of an account within the time limits established by the sales contract

Casket

a rigid container which is designed for the encasement of human remains and which is usually constructed of wood, metal, fiberglass, plastic, or like material, and ornamented and lined with fabric.

Casket display equipment

devices used to present caskets in the selection room or visitation area. Typically, the distance from floor to bottom of caskets 26" to 30" or consistent with height of device used in visitation area.

Casket liner

a removable metal unit that is placed inside a wooden casket shell to provide protective qualities.

Casket rack

a device upon which caskets are placed, one on top of the other, for display or storage.

Casket Stand (Casket Standard)

the stand or support upon which a casket rests in the selection room

Cast Bronze

molten bronze poured into a mold and allowed to cool

Cast Hardware

The most expensive hardware production method in which molten metal is poured into a mold, allowed to cool, and is then removed from the mold.

Cemetery

An area of ground set aside and dedicated for the final disposition of dead human bodies.

Cenotaph

a monument erected to the memory of the dead, with the dead human body not present

Church truck

A wheeled collapsible support for the casket, used in the funeral home, church, or home.

Coffin

a case or receptacle for dead human remains which is anthropoidal in shape.

Columbarium

A structure, room, or space in a mausoleum or other building containing niches or recesses used to hold cremated remains.

Combination case

a transfer container consisting of a particle board box with a cardboard tray and cover to satisfy air shipping regulations

Combination Unit

any product consisting of a unit or a series of units which are designed or intended to be used together as both a casket and as a permanent burial receptacle

Composition board (particle board, pressed board, fiberboard, hardboard)

particles of wood bonded together with waterproof glue; the different types are distinguished by the size and shape of the particles of wood used.

Concrete sectional (sectional)

a grave liner consisting of six or eight slabs of unfinished concrete placed around the casket.

Consecutive Method

placing caskets for selection in their order of increasing or decreasing value

Consignment

to give to an agent to be cared for or sold; (i.e.) funeral director has merchandise to display but does not pay for it until it is sold.

Copper

a malleable, ductile, metallic element having a characteristic reddish brown color

Copper Deposit

a casket made from a core of copper metal to which copper ions are combined by an electrolytic process

Corner

an optional part of the hardware that is attached to the four corners of the body panel

Corrugated container

a container used to hold a dead human body which is constructed out of a type of cardboard, which is made with a series of alternate folds and ridges.

Cove (roll, puffing)

a component part of the casket interior which lines the rim (ogee) and surrounds the cap panel.

Cremation casket

an environmentally safe casket which is designed for encasing dead human remains for cremation.

Crepe

a thin crinkled cloth of silk, rayon, cotton, or wool.

Crinkled Finish

an exterior casket finish in which the metal is coated with a substance that wrinkles as it dries; usually used on less expensive caskets

Crown (swell)

the uppermost part of the cap, extending from rim to rim; everything above the rim.

Crushed Interior

a form of casket interior created by placing the lining material on a metal form, weights added, the material steamed, and then attached to a suitable upholstery (backing) material.

Crypt

A chamber in a mausoleum, of sufficient size, generally used to contain the casketed remains of a deceased person.

Demonstration group (educational group)

three or four caskets utilized to educate the selecting party regarding the elements of casket construction.

Die (tablet)

a main part of a monument, the upright portion above the base where the inscription is located.

Direct Cremation

a disposition of human remains by cremation without formal viewing, visitation or ceremony with the body present.

Direct Lighting

illumination directly shining on an object

Direct Selection Room Procedure

the method of selling merchandise whereby the funeral director remains in the selection room throughout the selection process

Doeskin (Moleskin)

A heavy durable cotton fabric with a short (1/8th inch or less), thick, velvety nap on one side; woven cloth with a suede-like appearance with a nap of less than 1/8th inch.

Dome

the top of an air seal burial vault which entraps air as it is put in position; it also supports the weight of the earth above

Double Seal

a method of closure that utilizes the principle of the air seal in conjunction with an epoxy material at the junction of the dome and the base of the vault

Ear (lug)

the part of the casket handle that is attached to the casket body

Elliptic

a casket having ends in the shape of a half circle

Embossed

to ornament with raised work; to raise relief from the surface; material having designs raised above the surface

Engineered Wood

a range of derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding together wood strands, particles, fibers or veneers with adhesives to form composite materials. Sometimes referred to as composite wood or manufactured wood products.

Epitaph

an inscription placed on a monument to commemorate the deeds or qualities of the departed.

Excelsior (wood wool)

wood that has been shredded into spaghetti like strings

Extendover

the portion of the casket interior which extends over the top body molding (body ledge) for aesthetic value

Ferrous Metal

any metal formed from iron (steel or stainless steel)

Fiberglass

a material consisting of extremely fine filaments of glass embedded in various resins

Fishtail (pie)

the wedge shaped portion of the cap (lid) at each end of the crown

Fixed multiple

a price determination method whereby the casket cost is multiplied by a constant factor

Flaring Square

a casket shell design in which the sides and ends of the casket body flare out from the bottom to the top; a casket shell design that is narrower and shorter at the bottom than at the opening of the top

Flat Finish (Matte Finish)

a finish used on casket exteriors that is free of gloss; dull, lusterless surface: no shine or gloss.

Fluorescent Lighting

the illumination produced by a tubular electric discharge lamp; the fluorescence of phosphors coating the inside of a tube.

Flush Marker

a small headstone which is set with its top even with the surrounding terrain

Fold (gimp)

a strip of metal, plastic, or cloth that is attached to the inside of the panel, covering the area at which point the roll (cove) is anchored

Foot Panel

a component part of the casket interior which is inside the foot portion of the cap

Fractional display

use of portions of caskets (1/2, 1/4, 1/8) in the selection room v. full sized caskets

Functional Pricing

a method of price quotation in which the charges are broken down into several major component parts such as professional services, facilities, automobile and merchandise

funeral ceremony

a service commemorating the deceased with the body present

Galvanized

steel that has been coated with zinc for increased resistance to rust

Gasket Channel

Found on cut top gasketed caskets; is an integral part of the foot panel header on gasketed caskets; the function is to hold the transverse gasket to seal the space between the head and foot caps.

Gauge

a measurement of thickness of metals; the number of sheets of metal necessary to equal approximately one inch of thickness

Graduated Recovery

a pricing method where the mark-up varies

Grave

an excavation in the earth as a place for interment

Grave box

an outer enclosure consisting of a body and a one or two piece lid

Grave liner

an outer enclosure which offers protection from the earth load but without protection from the elements

Graveside service

a ceremony or ritual, religious or otherwise, conducted at the grave.

Green

a natural, eco-friendly approach to death care that utilizes products, services and merchandise that are free of toxic/hazardous materials, are biodegradable or that minimize use of energy.

Halogen lighting

a high intensity light source that produces a clean bright white light approximating natural daylight.

Hammertone finish

a sprayed finish that has the appearance of small indentations in the metal (as if struck by a ballpeen hammer); the 'indentations' are in the paint and appear as the paint dries; usually found on inexpensive caskets

Hardware

the handles, ornamental fixtures and their fittings that are attached to the casket shell