gravestones/funeral homes

["George Graham" <georgergraham@zzzzzzzzzzz>]

HI Karen,
The subject of gravestones has been discussed many times  here, so I'm
comfortable with it.
4 years ago I got out of the monument industry to pursue my dream of being a
full time sculptor.I've got a lot of ideas and it was time move on.
The main issue is making contact with customers. Cemeteries, funeral homes
and monument dealers are all fighting for the same people. For the most part
you would be looked upon as some who would be taking money right out of
their pocket. The established businesses are set up to give full service,
 from design to setting. If you can hook up with an enlightened company that
is now selling creative designs, and god knows there is room for creativity,
then you carve out a nitch for yourself that will put you in contact with
customers.
I don't know of any set finders fee, but it should be openly discussed. If a
funeral home hands off a customer to you , its just like giving away money.
A set finders fee is acceptable to me. If I'm doing all the time consuming
meetings, designing, ordering the stone, and the carving, then a set finders
fee is far more acceptable then a percentage of the final cost.
At this time the monument dealers are facing stiff competition from funeral
homes and cemetery associations. All these businesses can order a finished
monument from one of the mass producers that is a standard, familiar cookie
cutter style that is very cheap. So it is a very cutthroat situation. People
do a lot of shopping around and can play one shop off against another. I
know of sales that hinged on 10 dollars.
Customers that  might be open to what you can offer need to know that you
are on the scene. If you do hook up with one of the big operations, then you
must insist that you are prominently featured in their sales program.
Otherwise they can keep you hidden in the dark, and use your talents at
their leisure.
The option I prefer is to go completely independent, do serious advertising
in your area, and cut out the middle man. This means you must have a
functional shop, handle deliveries to you, and the final setting of your
work. Going this route means  you can exercise a bit more control of your
life, but you assume all the risk of unsatisfied customers, damaged stones,
cemetery rules and regulations, and liability in general. One thing I know
for sure , is that one person cannot do it all. You must have a team on
reliable friends involved with you to make it happen.
Enough for now! Please feel free to ask more questions. Also don't forget
about all the opportunities in plaques and signs that have nothing to do
with the monument field! Restoration and repair,,,,.
Good luck
George Graham
http://www.grahamsculpturestudio.com