The holiday season will be here before you know it.

That means it’s time to start planning your holiday remembrance program. But you don’t have to go at it alone. Give your funeral home a gift this holiday season — a strategic partnership.

Finding yourself a partner to help this holiday season has a lot of benefits. It makes things easier while planning and guarantees you’ll put on a program families will love. Here are some other reasons to consider a partner:

1. Reduced costs: If you’re going at it alone, your funeral home is going to foot the whole bill. That could include things like catering, a venue, decorations, invites, holiday gifts, and any other expenses. But if you are able to partner with another business, you could reduce your expenses by half.
2. Bigger guest list: While your expenses get halved, your audience doubles. You can reach out to all the families you serve, while your partner can reach out to the people they serve. A bigger event means more opportunities to network and reach new client families.
3. Split workload: The holidays are a busy time for everybody. By partnering up, you can save your staff and yourself some time from having to set up and plan the whole event.
4. Unique perspectives: If you’re looking to bring in guest speakers for the program, a partner can help. They might know a guest speaker willing to participate in the program or they can offer their own insight and experiences.

Whoever you partner with, it’s a win-win for the both of you.

So what are some businesses that would be interested in partnering with your funeral home? Here are a few to consider:

• Hospice: For many funeral homes, you’ve already had some experience working together. So partnering with the local hospice is a smart place to start. Both funeral homes and hospice care have a focus on bereavement. Working together to put on a remembrance program should come naturally.
• Nursing home: The nursing home is another natural partner to consider. Just like the client families you serve, the holidays can be a hard time for nursing home residents. It’s estimated that 60% of nursing home residents don’t have regular visitors. Partnering with your local nursing home can be a great way to bring the community together during the holidays.
• Places of worship: Religious institutions in your community are another great place to look. Several churches already put on their own holiday programs for families. By partnering with them, you can bring in their expertise. Pair that with your own knowledge of remembrance services, and you’ve got a recipe for success.
• Hospital: Hospitals are a smart choice. Because of their size, they can lend a lot of resources to help organize and fund a successful holiday remembrance program.
• Special societies: If you’re an out-of-the-box thinker, the possibilities for partnership are endless. There are several organizations that would all make a great partner. You could even consider partnering with a coalition of smaller local groups. If your funeral home serves a lot of Italian-American families, you could partner with a local Italian-American association. If your families are primarily Hispanic, you could do the same with a Hispanic-American organization. You also could partner with organizations that help a specific cause. Some possible groups are the local branch for the American Cancer Society, the Easter Seals, Shriners, or the local Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Want to make your holiday remembrance program an event families will cherish for years to come? Consider offering them a unique crystal or glass ornament to remember their loved one. Call us at 866-372-9372 to request a free sample!