Coffin Business Guidelines
Building Size
To start you off the building that you require should be no larger than a double garage. Later, as your business grows, you may need to get a larger building. It is always a good business practice to grow with your business, i.e. do not start too big. You need to store up to 25 coffins and caskets, plus a few tombstones. Wall racks can be obtained or manufactured that can support coffins and caskets against the wall for storage and display. Later, as your business grows and you need to manufacture large quantities as quickly as possible, you will have to introduce a production line. Included in the package is a diagram of a production line.
Building Owners (Landlords)
When shopping around for a building you must make it clear to the landlords (building owners) that you will only be manufacturing and selling funeral products such as coffins, caskets, tombstones and flowers. You will not be storing human bodies or perform any of the functions that a funeral parlour (undertaker) would normally do. You do not need a license to sell funeral products. Undertakers however do need to be registered before they can open a funeral parlour.
Prices
Make sure that you promote the competitive prices of your products. Most funeral products throughout South Africa are very similar, so it is your low prices (compared to undertakers and other manufacturers) that will attract attention. When doing your marketing to the public you should highlight the prices of your products, instead of the product itself. It is the prices that will sell and not the product. As mentioned above most products in S.A are very similar, so again it is your prices that will attract the customers.
Marketing Agents
At the outset we recommend you employ agents to market your products on a commission basis only. Your agents must target the general public and smaller undertakers. Good places for them to hand out flyers would be at hospital gates, pension depots where pensioners stand to collect their pension, outside government offices such as home affairs and taxi/bus ranks. Flyers can also be placed inside postboxes in residential areas or on windscreens at malls (first get permission). The public may not respond immediately to your flyers, but they will keep them until there is a death in the family. The purpose of your agents would be to attract customers from the public sector (and not the undertakers).
Your Customers
Most of the larger undertakers will not conduct a funeral for someone that has already purchased a coffin or casket. The reason for this is that they then lose the 1000% profit that they would have made if they sold the coffin or casket. You therefore have to approach one of the smaller undertakers in your area and come to an arrangement with them to conduct funerals for all your customers. Our advice is to stay away from the larger (franchise) undertakers. There will be many other smaller undertakers in your area that you can do business with. You can off course also sell the coffins and caskets that you manufacture direct to the smaller undertakers.
Business Plan
You should prepare a business plan for your manufacturing plant. Included in this package is an 'Outline For A Business Plan'. Use this example to prepare your own business plan. The example will guide you through all aspects of preparing your own business plan.
Other Tips
It is always advisable to start small and then grow your business as your customer base grows. Keep your overheads as low as possible. Once customers know that you supply a good product at a good price they will spread the word. Your business should then gradually grow. Initially you can start at home in a single or double garage, just be aware of the noise factor if you have neighbors in close proximity of your workshop. Once your business has expanded to the point where you will need a production line and more employees, you will have to get proper business premises. Note that the usual factory by-laws will apply as far as electricity, dust extraction etc etc, is concerned. Initially you can appoint sub-contractors instead of employees in your factory, this way your work-force will be working for themselves and not for you. Payment is then structured accordingly.
Synopsis Of Services
Our services include coffin and casket training courses, training manuals and blueprints, tutorial videos, do-it-yourself kits, templates, marketing & business package, all of which will assist you to either secure a job in the funetal industry or start your own manufacturing business.
read more...Training Manuals
The manuals explain in detail how to manufacture coffins and caskets, including how to stain chipboard so it resembles hardwood. It includes sizes, images, photos and a step-by-step guide. This is also a cost effective way to learn the manufacturing process of a coffin and casket.
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