Funeral Director of the agency described how he managed to create a successful business in the field of funeral services.
To create a funeral agency needs about $ 100,000 of seed capital / funeraldirectoryusa.com
About this profession do not dream as a child, and nowhere in Ukraine does not teach it. Nevertheless, from Kiev, Alexander proud owner of a funeral agency's "Requiem" does not regret that fifteen years ago, accidentally got a job in the field of funeral services.
"In the 90 years I graduated from the Kiev Civil Engineering Institute (KISR), but the time was difficult, had to survive" - says proud. After graduating from high school to work on unclaimed when he went to a specialty: he worked briefly in the pharmaceutical business, and then turned up the work on funeral arrangements. It was a turning point in the life of the failed engineer. After a few years he has matured to open his funeral business.
The company's "Requiem" appeared in 2002. The new company I am proud to have moved ten of his colleagues, mainly from the medical or pharmacological training. Arranged the funeral in Kiev, selling coffins and religious paraphernalia. "In addition, we provide services for the preservation of dead bodies, this niche at that time was not busy," - says the entrepreneur.
The company now operates in Ukraine. It has 18 stores and its own production of ritual production. In addition, she is one of the few who got a license for the transportation of bodies abroad. "Mournful" business shows good profitability in 30-40%, and in the nearest future entrepreneur - open the first school in the Ukraine for the preparation of ritual agents.
To the grave
To create a funeral agency needs about $ 100,000 of seed capital. Space rental cost in the 15 000-20 000 USD. a month. Have to spend on the purchase of a hearse, coffins paraphernalia.
In the early years of the company's "Requiem" bought "the foundation" skeletons coffin, and then the employees themselves knocked them with a cloth. Gorges then organized his own production near Kiev. There, apart from the tombs, make wreaths, crosses the fence. Wood is purchased in the Kiev region and western Ukraine. The most simple coffin costs 350 USD., And the most expensive ever commissioned "Requiem" cost to the client 21 000 USD. He was placed on the American way - with a folding lid, made of precious wood.
In the funeral business are the same marketing techniques as in other types of businesses. "Requiem" packages the their services for different "audiences." In the "social" package worth from 3000 to 3700 UAH. are an inexpensive coffin, draped in silk, two wreaths, a set of ritual, the veil, a shroud, a cross and transport services. "Total" package - from 3700 to 4500 UAH. - Provides for a more expensive paraphernalia. VIP-package price - usually between 4,500 and 25,000 USD., But in fact the "ceiling" no. "It may include the provision of a limousine," Cadillac "wreath author - says proud. - Once I had to find a violinist who played at the funeral with cold 20 degrees. "
"Requiem" could arrange a funeral in any religious ceremony. Priest - a mullah, rabbi, priest - will cost about the same amount - UAH 170-250. This fee in standard packages not included.
The most unusual order, which had a chance to fulfill employees 'Requiem' - preparing the body for cryonics and its transportation to Russia. Cryonics - the preservation of the body is in a state of deep freeze that could someday revive the dead. "When science is possible to reach new heights," - says the proud. In Kiev, this service does not have one, but one company in Moscow, for $ 40,000 promises to keep the body for 50 years.
The main difficulty in the funeral business, however, not technical. "In the first hours after the loss of a loved a man falling down all the social mask, and people may behave differently," - explains the proud, who struggles to find enough psychologically stable staff. In the ritual, and so little business who wants to work with.
For ten years the company's staff has increased tenfold, to 100 people, mainly due to commencement. Since the work involves the nervous and the stress in the agency special schedules. Seller ritual objects work after three days, and funeral agents have a week off every month.
Private owners against the public utilities
Despite the difficulties, to work in the ritual business profitable. "Profitability of merchandise up to 40%, and funeral services - 30%", - says the proud. Business is stable: daily in the capital of 120-130 people die, and large private funeral agencies - not more than five. The "Requiem" from 100 to 300 clients per month.
According to Lyudmila Sidorenko, head of the Association of Independent Entrepreneurs in the field of funeral services, the company's "Requiem" is well known in the market and the volume of orders is in third place among the agencies after the funeral of companies "Sorrow" and "Peter the Great." In addition, the market work for about twenty smaller firms - but their speed can not be compared with the three leaders.
However, the growth of private companies in the funeral market is not completely prevent fair competition from the state. According to Lyudmila Sidorenko, the law creates a preference for utility structures. In Kiev, the largest marketer of funeral services - "Specialized companies combine public utilities" utility, which reports directly to the mayor's office and oversees all capital cemetery. The plant can put a variety of obstacles to private companies. For example, to check on the territory of the cemetery and the monument to private traders to assemble a package of permits, which give officials the plant. "As a monopolist, special plant offers services in the order of less than private companies, and at higher prices," - says Sidorenko.
Private traders are now united and seek a new law that would facilitate their work and created a level playing field for all. The Ministry of
regional development have created a group that is working on new legislation, together with funeral agencies. If an independent funeral agencies be able to get his, we should expect significant redistribution of the market, the emergence of new players and the original services.
Go beautifully
5 most unusual burials, which offer foreign Funeral Agency
Salt
In the U.S., some companies offer sea burial, which is often chosen for himself the sailors. The body of the deceased is placed in a container attached to it GPS-navigator, after which the container is dumped into the ocean. After this funeral company organizes trips to the burial place of relatives and friends. Cost depends on location "landing" of the deceased.
At the bottom
Underwater funeral, and offers an American company Eternal Reefs. After cremation the ashes of its employees is mixed with the cement of the deceased and give the resulting mass of a sphere, which sinks to the bottom of the ocean. Since the porous surface of the ball, it settle various inhabitants of the seabed and create an artificial reef. The cost of the funeral - $ 2,995.
Earth through the porthole
In a relatively small amount of $ 695 employees of British companies will place the ashes of the deceased Celestis in a rocket and send it into space. For $ 12,500 the ashes may be returned to Earth, leaving Earth orbit or send to the moon.
Small but precious
The U.S. firm Lifegem can create a diamond weighing from 0.2 to 1.5 carats, which contains the ashes of the deceased. The cost of such services - from $ 2.490 to $ 24.999. You can choose blue, red, yellow, green or transparent color diamond. In the stone and keep the ashes of pets.
The last volley
The British company Heavens Above Fireworks mixes the ashes of the deceased remaining after the cremation, filled with fireworks. And instead of burial all goes straight into the sky in front of family and friends.
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