Funeral Service Times August 2017 October 2018 | Page 11

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Co-op slashes funeral
prices to ‘beat’ competition
The funeral provider will commit to match its competitors on price
Co-op Funeralcare has cut the prices of its funerals as it
guaranteed to “beat other providers’ funeral prices on a like-for-like
basis”.
Amongst the measures, which came into effect on Monday 10
September, is its new ’guarantee to beat’ commitment. This will see
the company commit to beat any like-for-like quote on funeral costs.
Through the changes, Co-op will also be further lowering the cost
of its affordable funeral option, the Simple Funeral. From Monday
10 September, the Simple Funeral will reduce in price by £100,
undercutting other national providers by taking it to £1,895 plus third
party costs and £1,675 in Scotland.
The changes to the price of the company’s affordable funeral
option follow a significant increase in people selecting its most
affordable funeral choices, with almost four times as many people
choosing these services since 2015.
Changes to funeral prices are also being made to support its 4.7
million members. Members will now receive an increased discount
of £200 (or five percent if greater) on all of Co-op’s core funeral
options. This will take the member price of a simple funeral to £1,695
plus third party costs.
Robert Maclachlan, managing director of Co-op Funeralcare and
Life Planning, said: “Funerals are becoming increasingly price sensitive
and in the last two years we have seen a huge shift in the number of
clients seeking affordable funeral choices. Our new guarantee to beat
on price means that families choosing a funeral with the Co-op can
be assured that they are receiving a competitively priced funeral, with
no compromise on our high standards of care.”
Coles Funeral Directors
expands into north Cardiff
The firm has also been nominated for four awards by the Good
Funeral Guide
Cardiff-based Coles Funeral Directors has announced the
opening of its second premises in the northern part of the city, as
well as its four nominations at the Good Funeral Guide Awards
2018.
The family-run business will be opening a second funeral home
in Cardiff in October 2018 to better serve its growing customer
base in the north of Cardiff. The old Barclay’s Bank on Heathwood
Road is currently undergoing a re-fit. The new funeral home will be
designed to be a “light, airy and inviting space”.
The new premises is expected to create up to 10 new jobs for the
local community.
Coles Funeral Directors has also been revealed as the only funeral
director in Wales to be recommended by the Good Funeral Guide.
The business named as a finalist in four categories at the Good
Funeral Guide Awards, including the Funeral Director of the Year
2018.
Gareth Coles, managing director of Coles Funeral Directors, said:
“This year has brought with it many things that we are proud of as a
business, in particular being able to serve the community in North
Cardiff with our new premises very soon. Over the years, larger
companies have acquired most of Cardiff’s funeral homes and we’re
one of the last remaining independent funeral businesses now.”
www.funeralservicetimes.co.uk
Funeral crowdfunding
platform expands to UK
The American company Fund the Funeral was set up by funeral
directors in 2016
Fund the Funeral, the solution to funeral crowdfunding in the
United States, has announced the release of its platform in five new
markets: the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New
Zealand.
Now available for business in six countries, Fund the Funeral
plans to continue expanding in new places to keep up with market
demand.
Fund the Funeral is a funeral crowdfunding platform co-founded
in 2016 by Jonathan Fisher, a third generation funeral director in
Lafayette, Indiana. It was designed from by funeral directors and
claims to be the only crowdfunding platform that ensures a fraud-
free experience by paying out only to funeral service providers.
The platform is now serving over 75 funeral homes and has
raised nearly $300,000 in funds for over 230 funerals.
Fund the Funeral co-founder and third generation funeral
director, Jonathan Fisher, said, “Since Fund the Funeral was founded
in the United States, funeral directors in other countries have been
asking when our services will be available to them. The time is now,
and we look forward to working with funeral homes and families
who have lost a loved one in these new countries to help them bid
a final farewell to their loved one.”
SEPTEMBER 2018