MERCHANDISING [COMPS]

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

Air seal

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

Air tray

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

Alternative container

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

Apron

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

Arm

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

Average (mean)

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

Bail handle

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

Bar

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

Base

molding along the lowermost edge of the body panels

Base molding

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

Bed

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.

Bench

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

Bevel top marker

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

Bier

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

Bi-unit pricing

a subdivision of a cemetery containing several lots

Block

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

Body

a molding along the uppermost edge of the body panels

Body ledge (top body molding)

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

Body ledge flange (top body molding flange)

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

Body lining

compose the sides and ends of the casket shell

Body panels

Bridge (header, cap filler)

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. (A covering for the exterior of caskets.)

Broadcloth

a metal alloy consisting of 90% copper with tin and sometimes zinc comprising the other 10%. (The premier metal alloy used in casket construction)

Bronze

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

Brushed finish

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

Burial casket

the topmost part of the casket shell, including the ogee, crown, pie, and header.

Cap (lid)

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

Cap panel

any item of service or merchandise described to a purchaser as a "cash advance," "accommodation," "cash disbursement," or similar term. A cast advance item is also 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. (Obtained from a third party and paid for by the funeral provider on the purchaser’s behalf)

Cash advance items

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

Cash discount

a rigid container which is designed for the encasement of human remains and which is usually constructed of wood, metal, or like material and ornamented and lined with fabric (FTC): a case or receptacle in which human remains are placed for protection, practical utility, and a suitable memory picture: any box or container of one of more parts in which a dead human body is placed prior to interment, entombment, or cremation which may or may not be permanently interred, entombed, or cremated with the dead human remains.

Casket

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 display equipment

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

Casket liner

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

Casket rack

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

Casket stand (casket standard)

molten bronze poured into a mold and allowed to cool

Cast bronze

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

Cast hardware

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

Cemetery

a monument erected to the memory of the dead, with the dead human body not present. Examples - the Washington Monument, World War II memorial, or bench with a name of a deceased person

Cenotaph

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

Church truck

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

Coffin

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

Columbarium

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

Combination case

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

Combination unit

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

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

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

Concrete sectional (sectional)

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

Consecutive method

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

Consignment

the percentage derived by dividing the wholesale cost of the merchandise by the retail price of the merchandise. Improving the CVI is an advantage of the declining price structure

Consumer Value Index (CVI)

a malleable, ductile, metallic element having a characteristic reddish-brown color; frequently used in construction of caskets, urns and vaults due to its non-corrosive qualities

Copper

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

Copper deposit

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

Corner

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

Corrugated container

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

Cove (roll, puffing)

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

Cremation casket

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

Crepe

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

Crinkled finish

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

Crown (swell)

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.

Crushed interior

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

Crypt

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

Demonstration group (educational group)

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

Die (tablet)

a disposition of human remains by cremation without formal viewing, visitation or ceremony with the body present. (Support from the FD is most recognizable)

Direct Cremation

illumination directly shining on an object

Direct lighting

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

Direct selection room procedure

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.

Doeskin (moleskin)

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

Dome

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

Double seal

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

Ear (lug)

a casket having ends in the shape of a half circle

Elliptic

to ornament with raised work; to raise relief from the surface; material having designs raised above the surface. (On materials that cover the casket.)

Embossed

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

Engineered wood

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

Epitaph

another term for the lug on a casket

Escutcheon

wood that has been shredded into spaghetti like strings

Excelsior (wood wool)

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

Extendover

any metal formed from iron (steel or stainless steel).

Ferrous metal

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

Fiberglass

the wedge-shaped portion of the cap (lid) at each end of the crown Fixed multiple (Straight Line)

Fishtail (Pie)

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

Flaring square

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

Flat finish (Matte finish)

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

Fluorescent lighting

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

Flush marker

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

Fold (gimp)

the amount of illumination produced by a source of one candle at a distance of one foot.

Foot candle

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

Foot panel

use of portions of caskets in the selection room vs. full sized caskets.

Fractional display

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

Functional pricing

Funeral ceremony – a service commemorating the deceased with the body present

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

Galvanized

found on cut op 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

Gasket channel

a measurement of thickness of metals; the number of sheets of metal necessary to equal approximately one inch of thickness. (Used to measure steel / stainless steel / ferrous metals)

Gauge

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

Gimp (fold)

A pricing method where the mark-up varies

Graduated recovery

an excavation in the earth as a place for interment

Grave

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

Grave box

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

Grave liner

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 pain and appear as the paint dries; usually found on inexpensive caskets

Hammertone finish

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

Hardware

any tough, heavy timber with a compact texture; any deciduous tree (any tree that loses its leaves annually)

Hardwood