Funeral Merchandising Lesson 1: Introduction to Merchandising

How is 'Merchandising' defined in the funeral industry?

The purchasing, pricing, display, and sale of goods and services at your funeral home

How is 'Merchandise' defined?

Anything that can be bought or sold

What are several examples of funeral merchandise mentioned in the transcript?

Caskets, vaults, urns, printed materials, clothing, slideshow presentations, and religious items

Is the sale of clothing common in modern funeral homes?

It is not all that common outside of smaller towns

According to page 21 of the textbook, what is fundamental for funeral directors?

To have a clear understanding of the products or merchandise that they offer

What is a casket?

A rigid container designed for the encasement of human remains, available in various shapes

What is a coffin?

A case or receptacle for human remains that is anthropoidal in shape

What is the common nickname for coffins because they taper at the head and foot?

Toe pinchers

How many sides does a commonly used coffin have?

Six sides

How many sides does a commonly used casket have?

Four sides

What is the French and Latin origin translation for the word 'coffin'?

Basket

What materials did early Egyptians use for their version of coffins?

Mats, skins, reeds, or wooden earthenware

What was the main purpose of early Egyptian coffins or baskets?

To keep the body from touching the ground or dirt

In the colonial period, who was responsible for caring for the deceased?

Immediate family and close friends

Where would the deceased usually lie in state during the colonial period?

In their houses

In the colonial period, who was responsible for building coffins?

Carpenters who were familiar with woodworking

How were coffins sized during the colonial period?

They were built to order based on the measurements of the loved one

Which businesses primarily handled early coffin manufacturing?

Cabinet and furniture makers

What does the term 'anthropoidal' mean in terms of coffin shape?

In the shape of a human

Where is a coffin typically at its widest point?

The shoulder or the elbows

What is the first reason cited for making coffins anthropoidal?

Lighter in weight, making them easier to carry

How did the anthropoidal size of a coffin affect grave digging?

The record size meant the grave digger was able to dig a smaller grave

How did the anthropoidal shape benefit the funeral service location?

It was easier to get the coffin in and out of people's houses

What economic benefit did the anthropoidal shape provide?

It was cheaper in material and labor cost to build

What ornamentation was typically found on colonial coffins?

They were generally plain wooden coffins with no ornamentation

How were plain coffins without handles typically carried?

By palmitters placing their hands underneath and holding it

When did the coffin transition to having defined functions beyond simple utility?

The mid eighteen hundreds

What is the first of the five main themes of burial receptacles defined in the mid-1800s?

Utility of the coffin

What is the second of the five main themes of burial receptacles defined in the mid-1800s?

Status indication

What is the third of the five main themes of burial receptacles defined in the mid-1800s?

Preservation of the body

What is the fourth of the five main themes of burial receptacles defined in the mid-1800s?

Protection

What is the fifth of the five main themes of burial receptacles defined in the mid-1800s?

Aesthetic representation

Where is the coffin still the preferred burial container outside of North America?

Many areas of the world, such as Rome and Asia

According to the transcript, what does America's Amazon sell versus Asia's Alibaba?

Amazon sells caskets; Alibaba sells coffins

When did the casket start becoming the favorite burial container in America?

Early 1800s

What did the 1850 patent letter argue regarding the shape of the container?

The squareness of a casket was less harsh on a family viewing a deceased loved one than a coffin

What are the two most common materials used for caskets today?

Wood and metal

What personalization option consists of attachments reflecting hobbies placed on the casket corners?

Corners

What personalization option is displayed inside the casket while it is open?

Cat panels

Which demographic is currently seeking alternative dispositions and eco-friendly funerals?

Millennials

What common phrase regarding cheap burial is often heard in Houston?

Just put me in a pine box

What was the primary intention of the Egyptian sarcophagus?

Preservation

What were the primary characteristics of the nineteenth-century coffin?

Economical and functional

What is the emphasis of the modern twenty-first-century casket?

Status and beauty, marketing and sales

In professional funeral directing, are the terms 'casket' and 'coffin' synonymous?

No, they are not synonymous

Where is the word coffin frequently used incorrectly when referring to a casket?

The entertainment industry, such as news reports or TV shows

What is the professional responsibility of a funeral director regarding container terminology?

To kindly educate the public on the correct usage of coffin versus casket

Merchandising

The purchasing, pricing, display, and sales of goods and services.

Merchandise

Any goods that are bought and sold, including caskets, vaults, urns, and memorial products.

Casket

A rigid container designed for the encasement of human remains that is available in various shapes, other than anthropoidal.

Coffin

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

Cofin

The French term which, along with the Latin term cophinus, translates into 'a basket' and serves as the origin for the word coffin.

Anthropoidal

A design that conforms to the human-shape, typically having six sides.

Colonial Period burial

A period where death was a personal affair and the deceased was cared for by immediate family and friends without professional assistance.

Toe Pinchers

A common name for simple, six-sided coffins that featured no ornamentation or coverings.

One of the five main themes defined in the mid-$1800s$ as a proper function of the burial receptacle.

Utility

A function of the burial receptacle used to signal the social or economic standing of the deceased in the mid-$1800s$.

Status indication

Preservation of the body

A function of burial containers established to aid in maintaining the remains temporarily.

One of the five functions of burial receptacles focusing on the beauty and visual appeal of the container.

Aesthetic representation

Alibaba

The Asian equivalent of Amazon, which the transcript identifies as having hundreds of coffins for sale online.

What caused the Casket Evolution and transition in the early 1800s america

to avoid the 'disagreeable sensation' of the body-shaped container.

1850 Patent Letter

A document that suggested the casket or square form be adopted to obviate the negative feelings produced by the coffin shape.

Natural (green) burial

A modern disposition method where traditional baskets are making a comeback as burial containers.

Millennials

A demographic group currently seeking alternative dispositions, including eco-friendly funeral services and utilitarian containers.

Six-Sided Coffin

The most common burial container design which was lighter, smaller, and cheaper to build than other shapes.

Four-sided container

The shape many North American consumers associate with caskets, distinguishing them from six-sided coffins.

Anthropoid shape genesis (origin)

The origin of human-shaped designs which was intended to be lighter to carry and require less material and labor.

Egyptian coffins were made of what?

mats, skins, reeds, or wooden and earthenware baskets to keep the body from touching the ground.

Tradesman

A local professional, such as a carpenter, who built coffins to order in the Colonial Period alongside making furniture.

A function of the burial receptacle focusing on the physical safeguarding of the human remains.

Protection

Professional funeral director

An individual who views 'casket' and 'coffin' as distinct, non-synonymous terms and recognizes proper identification.

Sarcophagus

The early Egyptian container used specifically for preservation purposes mentioned in the summary of burial container evolution.