Article Keyword Videos to Watch
Publishing
Click on the image to start the video.
|
Related Topics
Images - Links - Articles
Munich
Related Images
|
Funeral Homes turn to Innovative Memorial Gifts
Funerals and innovation seem unlikely companions. Our bereavement traditions of the viewing, the casket, the urn, and the tombstone have been relatively unchanged for several centuries. But everyone is innovating these days, even the death industry. Five months ago, Neal Harmon, President of FamilyLearn Inc., introduced iMemoryBook to the funeral home industry and watched as over 200 funeral homes in 22 states launched this unique memorial gift as a part of their care packages. "There are a few things that families think of as 'just something you do' when planning a funeral,” Harmon says. “In the next ten years, iMemoryBook will be one of those things."
Unlike the ubiquitous guest book of attendee names, iMemoryBook connects families so that they can compile their favorite photos and memories of the loved one. iMemoryBook then publishes a personalized hardbound memorial book that is shipped to the families' doors within ten business days after the completion of proofing and editing. All family and friends can add to the memorial book from any Internet connection in the world. After using iMemoryBook, anyone will understand why customers are calling it "a delightful experience."
Neal explains the phenomenal growth of his innovative flagship product, "I believe the success of [the memorial] iMemoryBook is directly related to three things," Harmon says. "First and foremost, families LOVE iMemoryBook. It isn't easy to say goodbye after the death of a loved one. Recording your memories is one of the most powerful ways to cope and heal. Because families unite to remember the loved one, it is a powerful healing experience for all involved." iMemoryBook satisfies the internal desire perhaps best expressed by James Barrie, the Scottish poet, who declared, "God gave us memories, that we might have June roses in the December of our lives."
Consider the following example:
David, a funeral director of Bunker Family Funeral Homes, was diagnosed with a brain tumor and died within just a few months of diagnosis. Brian Bunker had learned about iMemoryBook and decided to make a book in remembrance of David, then give the book to David's wife as a memorial gift. Brian and his associates were so impressed and moved by the experience, that within a week of using the iMemoryBook, Bunker Family Funeral Homes ordered enough iMemoryBook packages to give one as a [memorial] gift to each one of their families.
"[David's family] was touched and encouraged by it and very excited." Brian Bunker said, "We had already seen the value [of iMemoryBook] before we did one for David, but after participating in one we knew this was a gift we wanted to offer to our families." Harmon also emphasizes how iMemoryBook caters to the families. "iMemoryBook affords an unprecedented level of personalization," Harmon continues. "The families own the content. It's their book, their photos, their cover, and their memories. It's as personalized as ordering a fine meal. If they want steak done medium rare, we oblige. If they want a fillet mignon, it's done to perfection. And when the family gets the final product, it is always a guaranteed hit."
"Second, we have taken special care to ensure that this product creates no extra work for funeral directors." Harmon explains that a director simply hands an interested family an iMemoryBook memorial package. After giving the family the self-contained memorial gift package, the director's part is done. FamilyLearn does the rest: technical support, publishing, and shipping. That is not all, FamilyLearn makes a phone call to each family that receives an iMemoryBook memorial gift package, ensuring that each family has full support as they experience the healing process of personalizing their book. iMemoryBook uses its collaborative system to build awareness of a mortuary’s name and website, and simultaneously generates preplanned funeral leads in the community in an appropriate and respectful way.
Third, and possibly the most impressive part of iMemoryBook is the price--it literally catches funeral directors off guard. "In fact," Harmon says, "the iMemoryBook is so affordable, it can be the least expensive and most meaningful gift the family receives." Mortuaries can provide a cover-to-cover custom 150 page hardbound (library quality) book for less than .00.
"We are so gratified by the terrific response we have had to this product," Harmon enthuses, "We've known since iMemorybook's inception that we have something really special to offer." He concludes, "We are excited that as families learn about this product, more legacies, stories and memories will be preserved that will bless lives for generations to come." For more info please visit http://www.iMemoryBook.com/memorial
If you are a funeral home, please visit http://www.familylearn.com/funerals or contact the company at 1.888.326.5327.
About the Author: About the Author: http://www.familylearn.com/company/team?page=jeff
|