COMPS: merchandising

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)

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 one of these.

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

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 "accommodation," "cash disbursement," or similar term. 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 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

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.

(Wedge-shaped, broader at the shoulders than at the head or feet.)

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

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

Concrete Sectional / Sectional

placing 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 this 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

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.

reflected illumination of an object. (best lighting option for the selection room)

Direct lighting

Indirect lighting

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

the method of selling merchandise whereby the funeral director does not stay in the selection room during the selection process.

Direct selection room procedure

Indirect 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.

(An exterior casket covering)

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

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 / Valance

a material consisting of extremely fine filaments of glass embedded in various resins. (A material that caskets are made from.)

Fiberglass

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

Fixed multiple / Straight Line

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

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

a service commemorating the deceased with the body present.

Funeral ceremony

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

Galvanized

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.

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

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.

Header / Cap filler / Bridge

the turned under edge or horizontal portion of the header.

Header flange

a component part of the casket interior which is inside the head portion of the cap; no distinction is made between this and the foot panel in full couch caskets.

Head panel

airtight; impervious to external influence; completely sealed by fusion or soldering.

Hermetically sealed

that portion of the casket interior covering the hinges that attach the casket cap to the casket body; usually extends from the roll and becomes a part of the body lining.

Hinge cover / Hinge skirt

a type of cemetery monument in which the die is wider than it is tall.

Horizontal tablet

a disposition of human remains by burial without formal viewing, visitation or ceremony with the body present, except for a graveside service.

Immediate burial

the illumination resulting from the glowing of a heated filament.

Incandescent lighting

functional or ornamental covering that usually covers the foot end of the casket in the full couch casket; may be located at both the head and foot of the full couch casket.

Inner panels

the method of price quotation by which each unit of service and/or merchandise is priced separately.

Itemization

A cotton padding (Can also be used in restoration of eye enucleation)

In casket manufacturing, used as a padding material.

Kapoc