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New Product Announcements
Information on the latest products and services available from cemetery and funeral service industry suppliers.
News Releases are submitted by the companies. The ICCFA is not responsible for content. Inclusion on this page does not imply endorsement by the ICCFA.
Ensync Trends Launches Breakthrough Software Solutions
United Priority Distributors Introduces Boy Scouts of America Memorial Cremation Urn Line
Rodenator Pro™ Eliminates Burrowing Animal Problems
Apex Casket Company Adds New Stained Glass Casket Designs
Celebration Quilters Offers Custom-Designed Memorial Quilts
Memorial Group Provides Foundation for Dignity and Quality
Terrastella Introduces New Designs for Memorials and Urns
iiTOPs™ Announces Revolutionary Internet Application for Memorial Industry
Mabrey Products Introduces New Infant Urn
I Do Remember Offers Customized, Interactive CD-Roms
Support For Executors With the Executors Toolkit Available Through Inevitable Exodus Inc.
Inevitable Exodus Inc. Presents Comfort Cub, the Teddy Bear With Heart Locket Urn
Solar Stone Available for Licensing at Major Trade Shows
TransMedia to Promote New Cemetery Product—Stained Glass Memorials in Headstones
RD Enterprises Inc. Improves Design of Hawl Frost Removers
Cast Stone Memorial Trees Introduced for Cremation Gardens, Funeral Homes
Memorystone.com.au Offers Variety of Personalized Grave Markers and Keepsakes
Independent Distribution Network Offers Live Funeral Service Broadcasts
Riders Last Rest Manufactures Urns for Motorcycle Enthusiasts
EternaHugs LLC Introduces EternaBear Urns
Virtual Underground Introduces New Service for Underground Mapping and Locating
CemOps Offers Professional Assistance in Cemetery Operations
Valley Monuments Offers Discount for Cremation Garden "Starter Package"
Inlyte Products Offers Custom-Made Tribute
Free Cremation Garden Planning Guide Available Through Valley Monuments, Inc.
webCemeteries.com: Web presence, Data backup/management, & Income
Paper Wings introduces Heaven's Hugs
Re|Collection Media Announces New Reseller Program for Memorial Product
Abbott & Hast Presents The Death Care Web Store
Assurant Preneed Upgrades Insurance Product
Rock of Ages Launches Memory Medallion
CSSI Media Introduces Endless Legacy Family Treasures
CPRA Studio Announces New Cremation Garden Project
Candle for Life is a solar Gravestone candle that lights for Long years.
Valley Monuments Introduces Artificial Memorial Rocks
Cathy Weber-Zunker Publishes 'Creating a Eulogy'
Vidstone Introduces Serenity Panel
Ensync Trends Launches Breakthrough Software Solutions Specifically Designed to Emerge Business from the Grave.
(October, 2007, Beverly Hills, CA)
EnsyncTrends, a division of TSG One, and Salesforce.com have partnered to create state-of-the-art information tracking systems for the funeral services industry: DirectorEmerge and BizEmerge. These monumental products will be launched at the National Funeral Director's National Convention being held October 7th-10th, 2007 at the Convention Center in Las Vegas.
DirectorEmerge was designed by the top notch team at EnsyncTrends to be the most advanced software solution for funeral directors. It will track the success of their business and the satisfaction of their customers from planning funeral services to cremation processing for humans and pets, while building and growing their business with a resourceful tool at their fingertips.
EnsyncTrends has also created BizEmerge, a software solution program all small to medium businesses can benefit from. BizEmerge is designed specifically for clients to allow external vendors to track marketing initiatives and determine ROI on incentives offered through different marketing campaigns to attract customers and more.
DirectorEmerge and BizEmerge both identify revenue, liabilities, and success factors of the business to the management. All invoices, payments, and transaction data can be easily exported to the accounting software and imported from the POS system of choice. DirectorEmerge and BizEmerge require no hardware upgrades, database installations, or any computer technician to install. All they need is an internet connection and EnsyncTrends Software. Tracking and trendsetting reports can be sent to any PDA instantly in the palm of their hand.
Senior Managing Consultant, Temeko Richardson, states, "All executive management and business owners need a single source to provide business intelligence to make cost-effective, insightful decisions. Our focus is to deliver specialized solutions that provide not only the highest ROI but the most comprehensive reporting from streamlined data entry in an easy-to-use format for both management and the user".
Duane Burrell, TSG One Business Development Manager states, "Seeing everything in multiple reports is key to understanding the successes, failures, and potentials of the funeral business." Burrell firmly believes the Software will help "smaller funeral businesses to grow to the next level."
Every exhibitor and participant of the convention will be offered a $500 discount for signing up for the full solution during the convention as well as a 30-day free trial. EnsyncTrends will be providing an exciting demonstration and an opportunity to obtain more information about the breakthrough products. Located at booth 868 for all your Tracking, Trendsetting, and Technofabulous needs.
Website: www.DirectorEmerge.com
Technical information contact: Duane Burrell 310- 281-1174.
Press Contact: Jolson Creative Image PR 310-474-1776
email: jolsoncreativePR@mac.com.
United Priority Distributors Introduces Boy Scouts of America Memorial Cremation Urn Line
(September, 2007, Three Rivers, California)
United Priority Distributors announced that it has entered into a license agreement with the Boy Scouts of America to manufacture and distribute the "BSA® Memorial Cremation Urn Line".
An agreement has been signed and tooling has been implemented to produce the first Boy Scouts of America® memorial cremation urn line. Five beautifully personalized urns will soon be available to families who have had a loved one that devoted his or her life to the Scouting movement.
The variety of BSA memorial urns commemorate any level of achievement, as well as highlight the area of skill a Scouter favored. The personalization of these urns include several Boy ScoutTM themes that will give a wide selection of choices.
Families can purchase these urns through their local funeral home. The BSA memorial cremation urn line is perfect for those Scouters who are pre-planning their own service or family members seeking to provide a special tribute for their dedicated Scouter.
Tyler Fraser, UPD's special projects manager, designed the BSA memorial line. He understands the Boy Scout program because of his personal involvement for twelve years in the Boy Scout Program.
Susan Fraser, executive director, initiated the memorial cremation urn line project from the inspiration of her son, Ryan Fraser, who passed while holding the position of Senior Patrol Leader of Troop 412 in Fountain Valley, CA.
"Our son was beautifully memorialized by our troop, upon his passing on Mother's Day in 1995. Since we are in the industry, we have been aware for some time that these dedicated individuals need to be recognized for their often life long efforts in the excellent program of Scouting."
For information about the BSA memorial cremation urn line, visit www.unitedprioritydistributors.com or www.unitedurns.com; Call 888-445-4449; or email service@unitedpriority.com.
Rodenator Pro™ Eliminates Burrowing Animal Problems
(June, 2007, Midvale, Idaho)
The Rodenator Pro™ is cutting edge technology for eliminating burrowing animal problems. Burrowing rodents destroy crops, plants, and cause damage to golf courses, yards, and orchards. Rodents carry disease and can cause illness, even death
Today, Meyer Industries markets the most advanced chemical and poison-free system of its kind that is registered with the EPA and provides efficient and effective burrowing rodent control. The Rodenator Pro is the only device that has government as well as private laboratories documenting the Rodenator's effectiveness. Farmers, ranchers, pest control companies, nurseries, golf courses and water districts experiencing rodent destruction can eliminate the problem. City parks and recreation departments, schools, and public works, all of whom have a responsibility to monitor public safety, are using this system to eliminate rodent infestations in the US and around the World.
The Rodenator Pro™ is a proven aggressive approach to burrowing rodent control. It is an elimination system as well as a control system. The Rodenator Pro™ System has proven so effective that it is now marketed worldwide. Every continent on the planet is now able to blow their burrowing animal problems away. The Rodenator Pest Elimination System is fast and efficient, allowing a user to go directly after a targeted pest.
It comes complete, excluding propane and oxygen tanks, and uses the latest in solid-state electronic controls, circuitry, and check valves with a 2 year warrantee. The system is environmentally safe, completely non-toxic, and the cost of operation is only pennies per application. This device operates by squeezing a lever that ejects a calibrated mixture of propane and oxygen down through the rodent's tunnel system. A self-contained ignition system then allows the user to ignite the gas, creating an underground shockwave, instantly and humanely eliminating the animal without using poisons.
For more information, visit www.rodenator.com, or email info@rodenator.com.
Apex Casket Company Adds New Stained Glass Casket Designs
(May, 2007, Pomona, California)
Apex Casket Company has added new patented Color Stained Glass casket designs to their selection, allowing families to choose from seven different designs, depending on their needs. Built with the same glass material that is typically seen in church windows, they are elegant in design and strong enough to be enclosed in part of the hardwood casket structure. Apex Casket Company has also added new 18 Ga. metal casket lines. Apex Casket helps redefine the casket making industry with innovative products, quality customer service and, most importantly, inexpensive pricing.
To request for more information or catalog, call 1.888.680.6800, or visit www.apexcasket.com.
Celebration Quilters Offers Custom-Designed Memorial Quilts
(April, 2007, Burlington, Wisconsin)
Celebration Quilters creates custom handmade quilts celebrating special occasions including anniversaries, weddings, births, birthdays, graduations and keepsakes of fraternities, sororities, college affiliations and hobbies and in celebration of the memory of a loved one. They have experience in all aspects of quilting from design through all stages of quilt construction.
Artist and designer Janice Bjorkman founded Celebration Quilters in 2005 as a way to offer comfort to bereaved families. There are several options for families wishing to custom design a quilt:
- The memorial quilt stitches scraps and pieces of a loved one's clothing into a quilt celebrating his or her life. It can include all types of clothing including suits, ties, shirts, skirts, uniforms, an apron pocket, even a wedding dress or hair ribbons. Photos and text can also be transferred to fabric and included. The quilts offer a way for people to wrap themselves in warm memory and help them through the grieving process.
- The Random Square and Cotton Mix quilts are perfect for the special clothing people have saved and don't know what to do with. Whether it is a few pieces or many, Celebration Quilters can add fabric to complement the treasured garments and fabric.
- T-shirt quilts are another option for preserving memories and celebrating achievements. A quilt currently in production celebrates the childhood of a college-bound young man. He can include this "piece of home" as he packs his bags and leaves to face the challenges of college life.
- The Anniversary Quilt allows clients to gather greetings and memories from friends and family. Muslin squares are sent out and completed squares are returned. Celebration Quilters designs and transforms the individual squares into a celebration quilt ready for presentation on a special occasion. This type of quilt can also celebrate a wedding, a bridal shower or a birthday.
For more information and to place an order, visit www.celebrationquilters.com.
Memorial Group Provides Foundation for Dignity and Quality
(February, 2007, London, England)
The Memorial Group is the leading name in the provision of high quality, professional memorials. The process of selecting a suitable monument is made more comfortable by its compassionate, understanding and caring staff; these skills have been developed since the company began trading in 1894. The Memorial Group prides itself on providing outstanding levels of craftsmanship and customer care.
The Memorial Group is able to provide prospective clients with a full colour catalogue of monuments that best suit requirements. Alternatively, it is possible to follow a client's design and transform the drawings to reality. The job of providing a quality, lasting memorial for loved ones is something the memorial group undertakes with complete care and attention.
The objective of a memorial is to provide a lasting monument for remembrance of a loved one; a way of commemorating their life; a unique reflection of their personality. The Memorial Group uses only premium materials with highly skilled workmanship for monuments. To make sure that every memorial is appropriate and enduring, the memorial group works closely with clients throughout the selection process.
Advisers from the Memorial Group provide guidance where needed and can help clients select memorials that are right for them. Once the monument is erected, the Memorial Group continues to offer this special level of care through regular maintenance and restoration.
The monuments are made with all natural materials, including granite and marble. These materials are susceptible to the weather. Sun, rain, wind and erosion may eventually mark memorials. The Memorial Group offers a complete renovation and repair service to keep the monuments looking their very best. This could involve re-gliding or re-cutting the inscription. It may be a matter of simply cleaning and polishing or a complete renovation—the Memorial Group has the skills and experience to help.
For more information, visit http://www.memorialgroup.co.uk.
Terrastella Introduces New Designs for Memorials and Urns
(January, 2007, Las Vegas, Nevada )
Terrastella has introduced a line of breakthrough designs in personalized memorials and cremation urns in natural marble and specialty stone. The memorials are laser-etched photographs and text in 1½"-thick, hand-cut optical glass for burial or cremation families in full and keepsake sizes and have a 72-hour turnaround. The cremation urns are hewn from natural marble or specialty stones, including honey jade, amethyst, Picasso-stone and more, in full or keepsake sizes. Terrastella also offers sterling silver designer jewelry made from the stone used for the customer's cremation or keepsake urn as a lasting connection to a loved one.
For more information, call 702.243.2200; or email terrastella@lvcoxmail.com.
iiTOPs™ Announces Revolutionary Internet Application for Memorial Industry
(November, 2006, Folsom, California )
iiTOPs™ (interactive internet Total Order Processing system)
combines memorial industry expertise and state of the art technology to create a revolutionary Internet application. All you need is Internet access!
Suppliers have significant differences in their ordering processes, services, product lines and terminology. iiTOPs™ streamlines and simplifies the process, by allowing users to enter all memorial orders using one ingenious online interface. Suppliers can order from their own user accounts, and iiTOPs™ creates the correct format and forwards their order to them. The user can choose from the designated supplier list and enter all their orders using one simple format. iiTOPs™ guides users quickly through the process.
All memorial order acknowledgements and proofs are viewed and tracked with one program! New orders, for approval, orders in production and received orders are viewable online instantly. Nothing changes regarding invoicing & billing or communication with each company's support staff. Suppliers can continue to use their customer service staff and representatives as they always have. In fact, iiTOPs™ will enhance their abilities to serve you!
For additional details and information, please visit www.MrBronze.com.
Mabrey Products Introduces New Infant Urn
(November, 2006, Chico, California )
Mabrey Products has introduced the newest addition to its infant urn line—the Ark Urn. Handcrafted from solid maple, the Ark Urn is laser etched and decorated with a variety of beautifully inlaid exotic hardwoods, including padauk, purpleheart, yellowheart, cherry, and walnut.
The new Ark Urn compliments Mabrey's line of hardwood child and infant urns, including the Angel & Child, Praying Angel, Letter Blocks and their best selling Personalized Angel.
Like all Mabrey products, the Ark Urn is handcrafted in Chico and can be personalized by laser etching names, dates, and additional inscriptions when requested by the family. Orders normally ship within 3 days, and overnight service is available.
Visit www.mabreyproducts.com, or call 1.800.942.3799 for additional information and pricing.
I Do Remember Offers Customized, Interactive CD-Roms
(November, 2006, Chantilly, Virginia)
I Do Remember offers families a customized, interactive, multimedia CD-Rom to memorialize their loved ones. The I Do Remember framework is an interactive experience that incorporates various media types (ie. photographs, text, musical selections and video footage) together on one CD-Rom.
Your personalized CD-Rom is a unique experience for reflection and sharing with others.
For more information, visit, www.idoremember.com; or email info@idoremember.com
Support For Executors With the Executors Toolkit Available Through Inevitable Exodus Inc.
(November, 2006, Ottawa, Ontario)
Inevitable Exodus Inc. presents The Executor's Toolkit, a comprehensive two-part estate management system that will save executors time and money when organizing or settling an estate. The Executor's Toolkit is the only annually audited self-guided system that is backed by a dedicated team of lawyers and accountants who specialize in estate management. The practical time and money-saving tips found throughout the kit are the result of real life experiences from executors/POAs, advisors and funeral directors who use the kit. Families that have used the toolkit have expressed their appreciation for its ability to save them time, money, and deliver peace of mind; they consider it a high value addition to the funeral home service.
The Executor's Toolkit includes:
- Extensive portable record keeping system
- Detailed workbooks providing step-by-step instructions
- Support CDs
For information contact Inevitable Exodus Inc. at 1.888.829.8362; info@TheExecutorsToolkit.com; or visit their Website at www.TheExecutorsToolkit.com .
Retailers, wholesalers and distributors please call 888.829.8362 for business to business pricing.
Inevitable Exodus Inc. Presents Comfort Cub, The Teddy Bear With Heart Locket Urn
(November, 2006, Ottawa, Ontario)
Inevitable Exodus Inc. presents the family heirloom every family member will want to hold. It's more than a teddy bear. It's more than a locket urn. Inevitable Exodus Inc.'s Comfort Cub will add a whole new dimension to the cremation selections offered to the families you serve. These cubs have the ability to melt the hearts of family members the moment they touch one.
Crafted by world-famous teddy bear manufacturer, Gund, this is no average bear. What makes the Comfort Cub so special is its customizable and removable heart locket. Inside the concealed chest pocket, under the bear's left arm, lies a true heart of gold—a 14-carat plated locket urn. Each Comfort Cub is carefully constructed to provide a lifetime of cherished memories and will greatly assist the bereaved in the grieving and healing process. For ultimate personalization, both the sealing plate and the exterior of the locket urn can be engraved, and given the multifaceted nature of the Cub’s heart locket, (it can hold pictures, cremated remains or a combination of both), regardless of their choice for traditional or cremation services it gives families many options to create a lasting heirloom.
For information contact Inevitable Exodus Inc. at 1.888.829.8362; info@ComfortCub.com; or visit their Website at www.comfortcub.com .
Retailers, wholesalers and distributors please call 888.829.8362 for business to business pricing.
Solar Stone Available for Licensing at Major Trade Shows
(October, 2006, Paradise, California)
The Solar Stone, invented by Curtis Alan Gollihar of Paradise, California, offers a unique new alternative in memorial stones that allows for customization of a loved one's gravesite. This product is more personal and appealing than existing options due to its array of tailored feature choices. The Solar Stone comes in a range of materials, sizes and colors. Its affordable design coupled with unprecedented options will quickly
recommend itself to funeral planners.
This original idea is now available for licensing to manufacturers interested in new product development, especially in the funeral products industry. Gollihar hopes to have the Solar Stone in full production and available to the public in the very near future.
Information about the Solar Stone may be obtained by contacting Curtis Alan
Gollihar at 530.872.4376 or 530.228.3994.
Additional information about the Solar Stone may be obtained by contacting the Publicity/Press Department of Invent-Tech at 800.940.9020 ext. 2285 or at products@invent-tech.com. Invent-Tech is a Coral Gables, Florida-based firm that is handling the publicity and public relations for
the Solar Stone.
TransMedia to Promote New Cemetery Product—Stained Glass Memorials in Headstones
(September, 2006, Boca Raton, Florida)
TransMedia Group, Palm Beach County's largest and fastest growing independent public relations firm, announced today it has been retained by Stained Glass Memorials, LLC to publicize the first innovation in cemeteries in centuries-Stained Glass Memorials in headstones.
The product is a professionally sealed unit which contains a custom-designed stain glass creation, depicting a religious, patriotic or personal theme set in a headstone.
The Stained Glass Memorial unit was invented by a 38-year-old widow whose husband, John Mazzone, a union glazier, died two years ago from duodenal cancer. As a tribute to her late husband, Adrienne Mazzone and her children, Jake and Sirena, created a stained glass cross, had it encased and professionally sealed, then placed it in John's headstone. Adrienne says that she and her children are the only ones who visit the cemetery with flowers and glass cleaner.
The innovative touch began attracting so much attention in the small cemetery in Cornwall, NY, that Adrienne applied for a patent for her invention called Stained Glass Memorials. Today it is being offered for sale nationwide by funeral directors and headstone suppliers.
"When John died, we wanted to do something special at his place of rest, so I instructed Giacomo's Memorials that John's headstone had to be different and made in the USA because he was very proud to be an American and it had to have stained glass embedded in it, as that was John's career, working in glass."
Today her company offers various designs, pre-encased units of art and works closely with customers on custom designs. A solar powered lighting unit will soon be offered as well.
"The stained glass created such a poignant affect on us that we decided that it should be shared with others who've lost loved ones," she said. For more information, visit; www.stainedglassmemorials.com.
RD Enterprises Inc. Improves Design of Hawl Frost Removers
(September, 2006, Iowa)
RD Enterprises Inc. has purchased the Hawl Frost Removers manufacturing division of Thomas Machine Company. Many cemeteries across the cold, northern tier of the United States have used the Hawl Frost Remover for several years to thaw and dry their gravesites for easier dirt removal.
A previous employee of Thomas Machine Company, Doug Grell has been the principal builder of the original frost remover design. Since purchasing the company, Ron and Doug Grell have been working on design improvements and new products. A local sexton has been providing guidance with research and development. Three standard sizes and custom-built frost removers are available. In stock will be the original large size of 94" by 36", a medium size of 47.5" by 36", and a small size 36" by 20". The small size can be used for urns or small pets.
The Wind Blocker is a new product developed to keep the torches burning and lessen those midnight flame checks. This product will be available in October 2006, just as that winter wind begins to howl.
Customers can expect the Hawl Frost Remover to have even better performance than before with their new design improvements. For more information, visit the Website at www.hawlfrostremovers.com. To contact Ron and Doug, email them at hawlfrostremovers@hotmail.com; or call 641.231.0032.
Cast Stone Memorial Trees Introduced for Cremation Gardens, Funeral Homes
(August, 2006, Oxnard, California)
Oxnard, Calif.-based Valley Monuments, Inc. is expanding its collection of realistic and rugged rock and boulder reproductions with three cast stone cremation Memorial Trees, 40-70 lb. exact replicas in a choice of gray or red-brown bark with and without 250-cubic-inch internal cremains urns.
The back-to-nature memorials are functional landscape accents for cremation gardens, trails and funeral home families' residences and feature a 7 1/2" (W) x 5" (H) bronze plaque mounted in a hand-chiseled recess, an anti-theft metal eye bolt with easy-to-follow instructions, and a lifetime guarantee.
"Just like all of our products, this latest introduction is designed to provide lasting emotional value to families desiring a more personal and spiritual choice than interring a loved one's cremains in a scattering garden, columbarium or traditional urn," says the firm's marketing director, Stephen Hartmann.
The trees wholesale for $289 without a bronze plaque (5-7 day turnaround) or $349 with one (4-5 weeks). Shipping via FedEx Ground is $42-$52. Single and companion internal urns are additional.
A "neutral" retailer support website at www.OurMemorialRocks.com (without any of the manufacturer's contact info) is available to refer families in an office or comfort of their own home to see all products in animated 3-D, common questions and color samples prior to making a purchase.
For an information packet, free cremation garden planning guide or more details, call 1.877.652.1815 ext. 10, or e-mail Stephen@ValleyMonuments.com.
Memorystone.com.au Offers Variety of Personalized Grave Markers and Keepsakes
(August, 2006, Campbellfield, Australia)
With the growing trend toward personalized memorials, Memorystone.com.au is pleased to introduce a unique new concept which offers both a dignified way to mark the passing of your clients' loved ones and an extension to your existing traditional business, adding the professional finishing touch for a complete memorial service.
Permanently engraved in durable natural slate, these attractive, temporary grave markers and permanent keepsakes symbolize the memory of someone dear. They are made more personal in that the clients create them online at your premises (when they are organizing the burial arrangements).
Memorystones are available in 5 languages (Arabic, English, Greek, Turkish and Vietnamese). A range of simple, yet dignified images are available to include on your Memorystone. These range from symbols of love and peace to approved religious symbols for Christian, Greek Orthodox, Islamic and Buddhist religions.
Your clients type their message of remembrance in the language of their choice, choose an optional image and approve the artwork on the spot. There is no checking or proof reading—what the client creates is what is permanently engraved into the slate. The order is completed online and the Memorystone is produced within 24 hours and delivered worldwide within 15 days.
Memorystone Temporary Memorials, by Signature Engraved Masonry Products, are the dignified alternative to the standard metal or plastic grave markers, allowing mourners to easily identify the gravesite prior to the placement of the permanent gravestone. The Memorystone then becomes a permanent keepsake for them to take home and cherish.
Memorystones are made from durable natural slate and are impervious to weather, even sub-zero or desert temperatures. The message is engraved 1 to 2mm deep and highlighted with a specially formulated, desert sand color which will not peel, fade or fall out and will last for generations to come.
For more information about this new opportunity visit www.memorystone.com.au or email stones@memorystone.com.au.
Independent Distribution Network Offers Live Funeral Service Broadcasts
(July, 2006, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina)
Tomorrow's technology today! Beginning in August, 2006, the Independent Distribution Network (IDN) will offer live, high-quality, video and audio broadcasts of funeral services on the Internet. This is a fantastic way to reach out-of-town family members, enhance current funeral services and allow future clients to view archived services!
Many funeral homes may already have closed circuit TVs or provide DVDs of the services to their clients. IDN takes this concept to the next level by allowing anyone to view the service from any location.
Find out more about this new opportunity at http://www.independentdistributionnetwork.com; or call John Watts at 843.457.3170 for more information.
Riders Last Rest Manufactures Urns for Motorcycle Enthusiasts
(June, 2006, Wisconsin)
Riders Last Rest now offers single cylindrical urns for motorcycle enthusiasts. With a capacity of more than 250 cubic inches the urns can accommodate the largest of individuals.
Each Urn weighs 25 pounds and is meticulously built to last virtually forever. The company utilizes actual motorcycle cylinders that are mounted to geometrically designed bases. The lids are threaded and secured with chrome bolts.
Riders Last Rest stands out from the majority of urn manufacturers and distributors because they only sell their urns to funeral homes or associations. Visitors to the Website at www.riderslastrest.com who inquire about a purchase are told to contact their local funeral home. This allows funeral home directors to control their own pricing and profits.
For more information about this product and others, contact Richard C. Huwiler at 414.302.9090.
EternaHugs LLC Introduces EternaBear Urns
(June, 2006, Scottsdale, Arizona)
EternaHugs LLC introduced the first in a series of soft-sided, patent-pending urns called the EternaBear. These innovative urns will offer individuals suffering from the loss of a loved one a way to be comforted and keep their loved one close.
The EternaBear is a 24-inch plush stuffed bear with a zippered compartment designed to hold up to 200 cubic inches of cremated remains (cremains). Within the zippered compartment, the Bears have five small stuffed "pillows" which are used around the cremains in order to maintain a huggable feel. For additional security of the cremains, a sealable 4-millimeter gauge pouch is included. Accompanying each Bear is a dedication locket necklace that has space for two pictures and can be engraved with a personal inscription of the customer's choosing.
The EternaBear provides a solution to a longtime problem: conventional urns are made from hard materials that offer little to no warmth or personalization. Director of Marketing for EternaHugs, LLC, Dina Jara stated, "Our products are a warm soft option to the traditional urns we are accustomed to seeing in today's marketplace. The ability to hug our Bears is a comforting and cathartic experience that maintains a physical closeness to those we've lost."
The EternaHugs company is a compassionate business dedicated to offering a variety of plush soft-sided urns geared towards providing an alternative to traditional urns. For further information or to become a dealer, please contact Mary Rydberg at mrydberg@eternahugs.com;or call 602.499.1506.
Virtual Underground Introduces New Service for Underground Mapping and Locating
(June, 2006, Atlanta, Georgia)
Virtual Underground Inc. (VUI) brings underground mapping to cemeteries. New technology makes finding old internments possible. VUI's advanced 3D Array Radar system has the capability to map entire cemeteries efficiently.
Data is collected non-invasively and unobtrusively by a small crew running the radar system over the area of interest. This data is then processed in VUI's office to locate individual internments. Once they have been found, the internments are placed precisely on a map of your cemetery (created by VUI), placing them in relation to surface objects such as pins and headstones.
Providing an accurate map of the underground, Virtual Underground's service can find misplaced vaults, map cemeteries where records have been lost and find the boundaries of historic burial grounds. Additionally, VUI can find bedrock, buried rocks, the water table and utility lines on your property.
The company can also create a map of your monuments (headstones, footstones, ledgers, etc) with names, dates and precise location. VUI can cover your entire property or map a smaller area.
Benefits:
- Permanent map
- Accurate
- Non-invasive
- Cost effective
- Sees all types of vaults
- Sees direct burials
For more information visit www.cemetery.virtualug.com; call 404.315.4828; or email info@virtualug.com
CemOps Provides Professional Assistance in Cemetery Operations
(May, 2006, Amarillo, Texas)
Most cemeteries in the country have certain issues that need
to be addressed. CemOps can help you be compliant before
auditors come in and catch these issues.
Regulatory agencies are getting more affluent at finding
things more than ever before. We have the expertise to
identify your needs, help get you compliant, and avoid
unnecessary immediate expense. The cost of using CemOps is
minimal to an audit find. Just like Pre Need, you can save
considerable dollars by getting your location compliant now.
Also, if you are considering purchasing a location, let us
be your audit agency to perform the due diligence. Don't
buy a location without knowing first what issues there might
be. Corporations have spent millions, wishing they had done
this prior to purchase. Trust us, we know. We have
remediated cemeteries for one of the corporations, and we
know what it can cost. Be proactive. Federal regulation of
our industry is not far away. Non-compliant locations fuel
this fire. Be part of the solution. If we want to be self
regulated as an industry, let's show we can actually
accomplish this. Letting cemeteries continue to be out of
compliance is not the way to keep the federal government
out of our business.
Go to www.cemops.com and take the first step to
peace of mind for you and your families.
Valley Monuments Offers Discount for Cremation Garden "Starter Package"
(May, 2006, Oxnard, California)
Valley Monuments, Inc. is offering a 15 percent discount through the month of May to cemeteries and memorial parks who want to create a cremation garden or nature trail by purchasing a "starter
package" of their choice of six or more of its realistic
cast stone artificial boulders.
Each of the 20 memorial rocks in the manufacturer's collection are hollow, open at the bottom and weigh 50-60 lbs., but are exact replicas of 800-1,000 lb. real boulders. They feature a hand-chiseled recess for a 7 1/2" (W) x 5" (H) bronze plaque and an anti-theft eyebolt system.
Wholesale pricing before the discount is $289 without a bronze plaque or $349 with one. Shipping via FedEx Ground ranges from $42 to $52 each. For an additional $50, a memorial rock can be ordered with an internal 250-cubic-inch cremains and/or keepsakes urn (a double urn is $100).
"The 'starter package' promotion is designed for the growing number of cemeterians who want to take advantage of the warming weather to create a cremation garden or trail today rather than months or years from now," says the firm's marketing director Stephen Hartmann.
Once the boulders have been installed in a garden or along a trail, the bronze plaque can be ordered through a cemetery's normal supplier, through Valley Monuments or direct from its preferred foundry Gasser/Olds Company, http://www.GasserOlds.com. After the models in the starter package have sold out,
additional memorial rocks—available in sandstone, slate
gray and red rock—can be ordered individually or in
quantities.
To request more information about Valley Monuments' starter
package, its products or its marketing support
programs, call 805.487.1971 or toll-free 877.652.1815, ext. 10 or visit its website at www.ValleyMonuments.com.
Inlyte Products Offers Custom-Made Tribute
(May, 2006, Canton, Georgia)
ThoughtKeeper is a new memorial product that offers families, friends and the community a means to celebrate the lives of lost loved ones. Introduced to help people cope and persevere through difficult times, ThoughtKeeper provides a
place to store a journal and special keepsakes inside, offering a commemoration of life that helps us share, reflect and forever capture the moments that mattered most.
ThoughtKeeper was developed by Inlyte Products, an organization formed from the tragic loss of a child, with a mission to help others through a difficult time.
Placed with the grave marker of a lost loved one, ThoughtKeeper memorials offer everyone that visits a way to share their memories and thoughts of those who have passed on. They are designed to help people experience emotions
and reflect on lives that may be cherished forever.
For more information, call (866) 407-9298 or visit us online
at www.ThoughtKpr.com.
Free Cremation Garden Planning Guide Available Through Valley Monuments, Inc.
(January 2006, Oxnard, California)
A free cremation garden planning guide is now available through Valley Monuments, Inc. for qualified death care industry professionals planning new or expanded projects at cemeteries, memorial parks or even funeral homes with adequate space around their facility.
The firm is a manufacturer of realistic cast stone artificial boulders with hand-chiseled recesses for bronze plaques which are increasingly being used to create cremation gardens and nature trails to meet the growing demand for more practical and profitable cremation memorialization options.
The free planning guide includes information about Valley Monuments' assortment of 20 replica memorial rocks as well as helpful cremation garden design advice and success stories such as that told by Andrea Vittum, president of 165-acre White Haven Memorial Park located 12 miles from Rochester, NY.
Visitors to Valley Monuments' website, www.ValleyMonuments.com , who select the "Cemeteries-Memorial Parks" category in the "Memorial Rocks-Wholesale" division will see a "Cremation Garden Design" section where they can browse through a slideshow of photos that are designed to provide simple ideas for entryways and signage, structures and landscape accents, water features, pathways, children's areas and more.
In addition to its 20 memorials for cremation gardens and nature trails, Valley Monuments offers funeral homes eight different models in three realistic colors which are sold to families who want to remember their loved ones closer to home in a front or backyard or garden of their residence.
Each memorial rock features a hand-chiseled recess for a 7 1/2" (W) x 5" (H) bronze plaque and can be ordered either with or without an internal 250-cubic-inch urn for cremains and/or keepsakes. Wholesale pricing is $349 including the custom plaque.
To request the free cremation garden planning guide--or for more information about Valley Monuments, its products or its marketing support programs--call (805) 487-1971 or toll-free (877) 652-1815 ext. 10 or visit its website at www.ValleyMonuments.com.
webCemeteries.com: Web presence, Data backup/management, & Income
(January 2006)
webcemeteries.com is a new online service which allows users to record and access data, advertise and create online memorials. The ability to store company records on the Web, using your own unique password, ensures that important files are not deleted or lost if your computer crashes. Other benefits include:
- Free Web page
- Free public genealogy search
- Online memorials
- Income from Web page advertising (for lawn care, seed and memorial venders, etc)
- 50% profit from a record book produced by webCemeteries.com
- Complete data management
- Complete backup and recovery services
- Statistical analysis of dates and other important data
These services are very inexpensive.
- 100 graves or less is free
- 100 to 1000 graves is just $10 a month
- 1000 or more graves is just one cent per grace per month
For more information email Admin@webCemeteries.com; call toll free at 800-653-7049; or visit www.webCemeteries.com
Paper Wings introduces Heaven's Hugs
(December 2005)
Paper Wings has introduced a wonderful line of keepsake memories called Heaven's Hugs, uniquely designed pictures paired with comforting poems. These are fantastic gift ideas that can be displayed and treasured throughout the years. Each can be double matted, 16 by 20, or 11 by 14, in plaques or canvas without glass.
Customers can choose from a variety of personalized designs, including several pictures created for those who have lost a baby or a child. One of the styles shows a child walking on the clouds and another shows a child in a large hot air balloon with animals. A design entitled "The Morning Star" depicts a garden scene with God reaching down to hold a person's hand.
To view more products from Paper Wings, visit www.paperwings-designs.com
Re|collection Media Announces New Reseller Program for Memorial Product
(December 2005, Fairfield, California)
Re|collection media, a leading producer of documentary-style DVDs and companion keepsake books, announced the availability of the re|collection memorial Reseller Program.
"Re|collection memorial is a cinematic experience that captures the life story of the deceased," said Sondra Wells, President of re|collection media. "It gives comfort and peace to the family, provides a keepsake to go back to when they are feeling lonely and separate, and preserves the individual's story for future generations."
Families today are seeking unique and personal ways to remember their loved one. Through the re|collection media Reseller Program, funeral care professionals can offer these families the re|collection memorial DVD and companion keepsake book without having to invest in expensive equipment, hiring additional staff, or learn new software.
The DVD brings the individual's story to life on-screen through a collection of memories – photographs, home movie footage and cherished mementos – compiled with narration, ambient music, descriptive titles and elegant transitions for a true cinematic experience The companion keepsake book, a work of art, has pages that are printed double-sided in full color on acid-free premium paper. The mini keepsake book is a lightweight, soft-cover book suitable for mailing as a memorial acknowledgement. The small keepsake book fits nicely in a briefcase or a purse and the large keepsake book is a beautiful coffee table conversation piece – both are covered in finely woven linen imported from Italy and feature color-matched end papers.
Re|collection media's Reseller Program provides the funeral care industry with discounted pricing, free pick-up and delivery, rapid turnaround, and product samples.
Re|collection media specializes in producing documentary-style DVDs and companion keepsake books that capture the special moments and stories of your life. For more information, call toll-free 877-875-3464 or visit www.recollectionmedia.com.
Abbott & Hast Presents The Death Care Web Store
(October 2005, Monterey, California)
The Abbott & Hast Publications now have a new addition to their Web site. The Death Care Web Store offers high quality and unique items for the funeral profession including industry-related books and die-cast models of professional vehicles, as well as one-of-a-kind minted items that cannot be found elsewhere. Among the newest offerings is a beautifully detailed lapel pin/tie tack of a horse-drawn funeral carriage that uniquely identifies the wearer with the profession. The pin is casted pewter and antiqued with 24k gold. It includes a burgundy velour drawstring pouch. The carriage is of the classic James Cunningham Son & Co. No. 241 1/2 Four Column Hearse that features ornate drapery, beveled glass lanterns and roof-mounted urns.
Another new item created for its great appeal among funeral directors is a cast aluminum wall plaque featuring the well-known quote from British Prime Minister William Gladstone that begins, "Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead..." The plaque, measuring 10'' wide x 5'' high, is easily visible within a 10-foot area and tastefully conveys a message that has been embraced by the profession as a defining declaration.
Abbott & Hast Publications is the publisher of Mortuary Management magazine and the Funeral Monitor weekly newsletter. For more information, call (800) 453-1199, email info@abbottandhast.com or visit the Death Care Web Store at www.abbottandhast.com.
Assurant Preneed Upgrades Insurance Product
(October 2005, Atlanta, Georgia)
Complete Choice, Assurant Preneed's comprehensive portfolio of preneed insurance products, has been upgraded with additional features, including extended issue ages on time pay plans, premium discounts for automatic payments, 12-year time pay plan with renewal commissions and an updated premium rate card. The new benefits will be available for applications submitted on or after October 10, 2005.
Complete Choice provides families with more options. Families can choose to pay by automatic withdrawal from a checking or savings account and are rewarded with lower premiums. Prospective policyholders can also reduce their premium payments by selecting the new 12-year pay plan. The upgraded insurance product has also increased the issue ages by 10 years for qualified and guaranteed acceptance three, five, seven and ten year time pay plans.
Firms also benefit. Because a portion of the commission is paid up front, with the remainder paid throughout the premium-paying period, there is a reduction in commission charge back issues. In addition, agents receive an updated premium rate card that provides greater precision in calculating payments. This eliminates any rounding errors and also contributes to meeting the expectations of the policyholder. Finally, when families choose to pay by automatic withdrawal from a checking or savings account, the automatic payment improves account retention and minimizes the incidence of underfunded funerals.
Assurant Preneed provides preneed insurance products that help individuals arrange and fund their funeral plans. The company's products are distributed through individual funeral directors, funeral service associations, marketing organizations and general insurance agencies in the United States and Canada. Assurant Preneed insurance products are underwritten by American Memorial Life Insurance Company and Union Security Insurance Company.
For more information, visit www.assurant.com
Rock of Ages Launches Memory Medallion
(October 2005)
Responding to a growing trend toward personalized memorialization, Rock of Ages, America's leading quarrier, manufacturer and distributor of high-quality, exquisitely designed memorials, introduced Memory Medallion during the National Funeral Directors Association annual meeting in Chicago.
Memory Medallion is a small stainless steel disc, about the size of a half-dollar that is embedded in a memorial. It uses Micro-Can technology and is impervious to weather, even sub-zero or desert temperatures.
A recent survey commissioned by the NFDA found that 62 percent of those wanting a funeral service preferred some form of personalization. Industry experts attribute the growing trend in personalized memorialization to the demands of Baby Boomers, who are used to having things done on their terms.
"Today's trend in remembrance is to make it very personal, reflecting the unique aspects of the person being memorialized," said Caryn Crump, senior vice president of Marketing for Rock of Ages' Memorials Division. "Families want to honor their departed loved ones for the individuals they were.
The Memory Medallion works with a "touch wand" and most hand-held Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) or lap-top computers. It operates by opening the Medallion cover and touching the wand to the stainless steel disc to download an image and life story of the person being memorialized.
"Rock of Ages is distributing the product to respond to the desires of those we serve," Crump explained. "Memory Medallion provides an opportunity to literally touch a life, which our families truly appreciate. The real value is beyond technology -- it's a wonderful opportunity to preserve a memory in a dynamic and personal way."
Memory Medallion is available exclusively from Rock of Ages.
Rock of Ages' Memorial Division, which is headquartered in Graniteville, Vermont, is widely recognized for innovative designs and quality construction of memorials. The company has retail locations throughout the United States.
For more information, visit www.rockofages.com.
CSSI Media Introduces Endless Legacy Family Treasures
(September 2005, Jacksonville, Florida)
CSSI Media of Jacksonville, Florida, has introduced Endless Legacy Family Treasures, a new program cemeteries and funeral homes can use to respond to the growing trend toward personalization.
The memorial service of the future is a celebration of life. Endless Legacy Family Treasures complements the move toward personalization by allowing the family to create a unique, customized family heirloom that can be shared and passed on through the years.
The family submits family history, pictures, video clips and other memorabilia that they wish to preserve, and Endless Legacy creates a movie montage of the departed one's life. The video is then recorded onto a DVD for ultimate durability and ease of use.
The DVD is stored in a hand-crafted wooden base on which rests an elegant figurine of the family's choosing.
To view the available collection of figurines or watch a demonstration of the product, visit www.endlesslegacy.com. For additional information, call (904)476-7875.
CPRA Studio Announces New Cremation Garden Project
(August 2005, Highlands Ranch, Colorado)
CPRA (Cemetery Planning Resource Alliance) introduces its new project with Horan & McConaty in Centennial, Colorado.
Building off their prototype at their Parker Road property, Horan's new facility advances the trend of funeral homes developing "pocket cemeteries". The design and integration of funeral home and cemetery at this location create efficient flow by staff and visitors affording maximum exposure to the unique garden areas. CPRA is currently in the conceptual planning stage of this project focusing primarily on layout and circulation of the building, parking and memorial area.
CPRA's DESIGN SELLS philosophy for creating beautiful and memorable places and enhancing the family's remembrance experience through innovation and expertise in design will be evident in this fresh concept.
Visit www.CPRAstudio.com or call 1-866-733-CPRA (2772) for more information on CPRA's design services.
Candle for Life is a solar Gravestone candle that lights for Long years.
(July 2005, London)
The user just need to turn it on, place it to the gravestone and it stays lit for life by the solar power.
- The candle needs only five hours of light to enable it to work sixty hours in total darkness.
- Different images and logos can be printed on the candle by costumer order.
- The candle is a water resisting and build from the best quality materials, one year guaranty included.
- The candle comes in two versions, for Christian and for Jewish, the Jewish one gets checked by Yoram Abargel Rabbi and found kosher for use by the Halacha.
- The user can attach name and date to the candle by using a metal sticker that is included.
For ordering, pleas use the following contact details:
Shai Amaram
Vertigo Tech. L.t.d
31 Golders Way
London
NW11 8JX
Tel: 02087316048
07940398311
E-mail: shai@candleforlife.co.uk
Valley Monuments Introduces Artificial Memorial Rocks
(April 2005, Ventura, California)
Ventura, California-based Valley Monuments Inc. successfully introduced a line of unique new artificial memorial rocks at the International Cemetery & Funeral Association trade show in Las Vegas to cemeterians planning new or expanded cremation gardens or nature trails and funeral home operators interested in more natural alternatives to traditional urns.
Manufactured from construction-grade GFRC cast stone, the realistic and rugged castings are hollow, approximately 1-inch thick, open at the bottom and guaranteed for a lifetime. They weigh up to 130 pounds but are exact replicas of boulders weighing 500 to 1,000 pounds.
They are designed to be installed in cremation gardens or nature trails as memorials above cremains buried in the soil or in an urn vault. They also are used as headstones by cemeteries and as landscape accents by families at private residences when ordered with a 250-cubic-inch internal urn.
Each model features an anti-theft eye bolt and a hand-chiseled recess for a 7.5-inch-wide by 5-inch-high bronze plaque, which can be customized with up to 10 lines of text.
"This is truly an innovative product and just what our industry needs to keep pace with an ever-changing marketplace," said Andrea Vittum, president of the 165-acre White Haven Memorial Park in the Rochester, New York, area and a former ICFA board member."(The memorial rocks) have helped us find a use for difficult-to-develop areas of the cemetery, they are maintenance-free because we don't have to trim around them as we do the other memorials in the cemetery, and they provided us with an exciting new product to offer our customers as an alternative to scattering or other forms of non-memorialized disposition."
To view 3-D images of the memorial rocks, visit www.ValleyMonuments.com. Valley Monuments offers a variety of public relations and marketing support to its customers.
For more information, call (805) 642-1977 or toll-free (877) 652-1815, ext. 10.
Cathy Weber-Zunker Publishes 'Creating A Eulogy'
(April 2005, Alexandria, Minnesota)
Speaker, author and freelance writer Cathy Weber-Zunker has announce the release of a newly published self-help eulogy book titled "Creating a Eulogy."
Americans today are faced on a regular basis with unexpected loss and are often speechless when facing the task of writing a personal and fitting tribute for a loved one. The emotional aspects of loss can produce a "writer's block." Within this step-by-step booklet, a eulogy is constructed.
A pure white embossed cover leaves space for funeral care providers and hospice organizations to imprint their business stamp or logo on the front. Its low price allows care providers the option to include it as a gift or earn a profit by offering it at retail price.
"Creating a Eulogy" is available to funeral homes, hospice programs and preneed marketing organizations.
For more information, contact Creating A Eulogy, Cathy Weber-Zunker, 1217 Fillmore Street, Suite 101, Alexandria, MN 56308; (320) 763-5607; or visit www.cathysays.com.
Vidstone Introduces Serenity Panel
(April 2005, Miami, Florida)
Vidstone, a pioneer in multimedia tombstone technology, has introduced the first product of its kind, the Vidstone Serenity Panel. The panel consists of a 7-inch screen and solar panel meant for displaying multimedia tributes. On a full four-hour charge of the 7-inch solar-powered panel, the Serenity Panel plays up to approximately 30 minutes, which allows three to four viewings of the typical seven- to 10-minute personalized tribute.
"This is not fantasy or science fiction," said Sergio E. Aguirre, Vidstone chief executive officer. "We've received tremendously positive feedback from customers and individuals who have tested our product."
The Serenity Panel is safeguarded by a weatherproof enclosure for protection against the elements. It includes security features and simple touch-button operation.
"The Serenity Panel enhances the elegance of the stone in a way that wasn't possible until now," added Vidstone Vice President Christina Oliva.
Vidstone's Serenity Panel recently won the Most Innovative Product Award at the annual International Cemetery and Funeral Association Conference in Las Vegas, the largest international industry event for burial products and services, representing 7.000 companies in the cemetery and funeral service profession. The Serenity Panel was also featured in the April 4, 2005, issue of The Los Angeles Times.
The Vidstone Serenity Panel is available through authorized dealers and may be recessed into most kinds of stone monuments. Authorized dealers currently include cemetery associations, monument dealers and funeral homes. The product is backed by a full one-year product warranty and optional long-term protection plans.
For more information, visit www.Vidstone.com or e-mail Info@Vidstone.com.
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