Which? report finds poor practice in funeral homes

There is a new Which? report published today entitled 10 things you should know about funerals.

It reveals that ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ advice was given by an astounding 70% of funeral directors when approached by mystery shoppers.

The report is significant, in that it opens readers’ minds to the operation of funeral homes, drawing their attention in particular to comparing costs between funeral directors, transparency of ownership, the fact that independents may be cheaper, asking for what you want, and requesting price lists.

Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services is pleased to say that it complies with all the findings of the Which? report.  We openly quote our prices, and include these on our website so that you can price an entire funeral before you make any decisions. Try our estimate generator by clicking here. We have compared the prices of all the funeral directors in St Neots and published these on our website so that you don’t need to. We actively encourage people to talk about funerals before they are required. We proudly declare our independence. We guarantee not to try and sell you anything you don’t want or need, including embalming. Read a testimonial to this effect here. We always talk about the options before making any decisions. We offer a discount for payment in advance of the funeral, so that you don’t have to worry about receiving a nasty surprise a few days afterwards.

Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services are proud to be the only locally-owned, fully independent funeral directors in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. We are recommended in The Good Funeral Guide 2011 and by The Natural Death Centre, and we are the only funeral directors to feature on The Best of St Neots. For more information or if you require any help, please telephone us on (01480) 471001 or e-mail info@kingfisherfunerals.co.uk

Business Vision is reason for LBA Award

There’s a large article about Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services winning the Local Business Accelerators Award in The Hunts Post today.

The feature highlights the reasons for being chosen as the winner, particularly focussing on Andrew’s desire for the business to stay small enough for him to be able to oversee every funeral from start to finish.

The judges were also impressed with the innovative plans that the company has as it grows in the future.

It also mentions, of course, Roxie, our lovely labrador, who is shortly to start her training to become a bereavement dog within the business.

Gail Anderson, reporting for the paper said “Setting up a new funeral services business is a brave step. Companies rely on reputation so it can take years to establish a name for oneself. Though judging from the plethora of thank you cards on display in Andrew’s office, clearly he is working fast.”

Kingfisher Indepedent Funeral Services are keen to point out one factual inaccuracy in the article. The company is the only locally-owned, fully independent funeral service in St Neots, but not in Huntingdonshire. There are other independent funeral directors in Huntingdonshire.

Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services are proud to be the only locally-owned, fully independent funeral directors in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. We are recommended in The Good Funeral Guide 2011 and by The Natural Death Centre, and we are the only funeral directors to feature on The Best of St Neots. For more information or if you require any help, please telephone us on (01480) 471001 or e-mail info@kingfisherfunerals.co.uk

And the winner is ...

The judges of the Local Business Accelerators Award visited Gate Lodge at the end of last week to present a certificate and take photos for the local press.

We were extremely proud to be judged worthy winners of this award, particularly as Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services is a relatively new business to the area.

The judges said that they liked that fact that we were truly independent, a local business offering a high quality local service, and deserved the benefit that we can derive from the prize on offer.

One of the judges was also highly impressed by Roxie, our bereavement dog in training, and the innovation behind her introduction to the business.

Look out for details in The Hunts Post, and for our prize of three months free advertising!

Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services are proud to be the only locally-owned, fully independent funeral directors in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. We are recommended in The Good Funeral Guide 2011 and by The Natural Death Centre, and we are the only funeral directors to feature on The Best of St Neots. For more information or if you require any help, please telephone us on (01480) 471001 or e-mail info@kingfisherfunerals.co.uk

A Beautiful, Relaxed Occasion

Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services were privileged to host a funeral ceremony at their premises, Gate Lodge, in the heart of St Neots, yesterday.

The ceremony was designed based on the wishes of the deceased, who had specified that something very simple was what she wanted.

Members of the family took part by reading poems. Music chosen by several people was included. Carolanne Gibson, a qualified Civil Funeral Celebrant presided over the event.

Mourners gathered at Gate Lodge about half an hour before the ceremony started. We provided tea, coffee and biscuits to welcome everyone and help them to relax. They were welcome to mingle, to settle in the ceremony room, or to do whatever they wanted.

The informality and simplicity of the ceremony was something that quite simply could not have been achieved at a crematorium.

Several visitors commented that they did not know a funeral could be like this. But they will now tell others. So slowly the word will spread.

After the ceremony, the immediate family had asked if Roxie could be around. I was hesitant about this, as she is still quite lively, but she was absolutely wonderful (despite jumping on a few people!)

Roxie is becoming firmly established as a member of the Kingfisher family. She is adorable, and will shortly start her training to become a bereavement dog available to help all clients who want to meet her.

Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services are proud to be the only locally-owned, fully independent funeral directors in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. We are open to all suggestions, and positively encourage participation in funeral arrangements. We are recommended in The Good Funeral Guide 2011 and by The Natural Death Centre, and we are the only funeral directors to feature on The Best of St Neots. For more information or if you require any help, please telephone us on (01480) 471001 or e-mail info@kingfisherfunerals.co.uk

The 2012 Challenge is on!

Over the last couple of months, Roxie and I have been clocking up the miles to kick start the 2012 Challenge, in which I aim to cover 2012 km under my own power (walking, cycling etc) before the start of the olympics in July.

The challenge will be sponsored, and the target is to raise £2012 between now and July. Money raised will be donated directly to Sue Ryder St John's Hospice, Moggerhanger, which provides palliative care to so many local people.

Please visit my fundraising page by clicking here or if you prefer to sponsor me in person, telephone (01480) 471001 or call in at Gate Lodge, Cemetery Road, St Neots, PE19 2BX during office hours.

Look out for more details in the local press, and regular updates on this blog.

Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services are proud to support local charities and organisations. We are the only locally-owned, fully independent funeral directors in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. We are recommended in The Good Funeral Guide 2011 and by The Natural Death Centre, and we are the only funeral directors to feature on The Best of St Neots. For more information or if you require any help, please telephone us on (01480) 471001 or e-mail info@kingfisherfunerals.co.uk.

The Call to Market

As a new business, at Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services we are working hard at marketing ourselves to the community.

Barely a day goes by without some company or other telephoning, claiming they can increase traffic to our website, or wanting us to advertise in their new brochure, or even, as some do, guaranteeing that work will increase if they are contracted to do our marketing. Surprisingly, when they’re asked to put that in writing, they are not quite so forthcoming with their claims.

Yesterday, I was called to remove a gentleman whose GP had certified his death and had already completed the cremation paperwork and left this with him.

The paperwork had the large stamp of another Funeral Director very clearly on the front page. Two chances of being called then, once by the GP, and once by the next-of-kin. But not a lot of scope for the client to make any informed decisions.

Clever marketing, or just a wee bit cheeky?

Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services are proud to be the only locally-owned, fully independent Funeral Directors in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. We are recommended in The Good Funeral Guide 2011 and by The Natural Death Centre, and we are the only funeral directors to feature on The Best of St Neots. For more information or if you require any help, please telephone us on (01480) 471001 or e-mail info@kingfisherfunerals.co.uk.

Changing the way we price Pre-Need Funerals

We had feedback from a few clients about the way that Pre-Paid funerals are priced in the area, and that they would find it much easier if an inclusive price was quoted.

It is quite difficult to do this, because everyone's wishes are slightly different. Crematoria charge varying fees, Religious and Secular officiants are paid differently, the requirements of burial and cremation are different.

However, we believe in listening to our clients, so we have updated the prices of our pre-need funerals to give inclusive costs for both an Eco-Friendly, Economical Funeral, and a Traditional Funeral.

Details of the specifications and prices can be found here.

Kingfisher Independent Funeral Services are proud to be the only locally-owned, fully independent Funeral Directors in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. We are recommended in The Good Funeral Guide 2011 and by The Natural Death Centre, and we are the only funeral directors to feature on The Best of St Neots. For more information or if you require any help, please telephone us on (01480) 471001 or e-mail info@kingfisherfunerals.co.uk.