Since a cemetery is not typically perceived as a service profession but rather as an inventory sales profession, it is important to take every opportunity to increase that salability and potential for profit.

Cemeterians are buying land by the acres and then converting that land to inventory by the square inch. The inventory itself is quantitated by the number of internment opportunities.

There are many ways of monetizing and increasing your business opportunities while sustaining your family’s experiences. For example, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to pass along some of the daily costs of landscape maintenance to others?

One option that would increase the salability of your inventory by increasing its ocular beauty is to create a memorial garden. Within this garden, every tree, shrub, monument/statue, bench and even wildlife could be adoptable.

Families would have the option to adopt a pre-existing tree or plant, or they could purchase a new one and have it planted. They could then personalize their choice for their loved one with a memorial plaque.

Within this garden, a family could also opt for a small monument or statue to embody their loved one’s memory. A cenotaph is a great opportunity for ship out cases. While the majority of a loved one’s family may live elsewhere, those left behind in your area could be greatly rewarded by the opportunity to remember their friend close to home.

A small area of the garden could also be dedicated to a rock garden; this would allow families to purchase small engraved rocks with the deceased’s name engraved on one side and even a small message on the other.

A small pond could be built in the center of this garden and could be used for the spreading of cremated remains. Even the wildlife that lives in and around the pond could be purchased in the honor of the dearly departed and recognized with a flagstone path leading up to it.

Within this garden is a gold mine of opportunity to increase the benefits of your experiences, both monetarily and symbolically.

Not only should you increase the look and feel of the physical memorial experience, but in the 21st century everyone is going virtual; don’t be left behind! Why not help you’re families to remember their loved one with a virtual memorial as well. Providing web hosting is a simple way to include options for families who may be spread out nationwide, but still want to be a part in maintain the memories of those who have passed. A website could be set up to reflect and individual or a family. Each person’s page could be decorated with pictures supplied by the purchaser, and a comment section could be created so that visitors to the site would be able to contribute their memories, photos, and endearments. This site would provide families with everlasting opportunities to reconvene and share with each other, despite the miles between them.