This couple quit their film and PR careers to take over family's cemetery business
A couple transitioned from film and PR careers to take over their family's cemetery business, which generates over $6 million annually across four locations. Despite widespread advice to sell, they decided to keep and modernize the business by focusing on making cemeteries relevant to future generations and positioning them as spaces for the living to honor their loved ones.
Summary
The speakers describe their decision to take over a family cemetery business instead of selling it, despite significant pressure from industry professionals and contacts who advised them the venture was too complicated and risky. The cemetery business operates four locations: Lincoln Cemetery, Monte Vista, Washington Memorial Gardens, and Dorm Memorial Park, generating over $6 million in annual revenue. The couple emphasizes their philosophy that cemeteries exist primarily for the living rather than the deceased, as families visit repeatedly throughout the year on anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays to maintain their heritage and connection to loved ones. To remain relevant to future generations, they are committed to keeping the business operating and modernizing it. The transcript also highlights the extensive historical records the business maintains, including purchase documents dating back to 1945 and records from 1964 showing lot sales for $50. They reference old maps and purchase records as invaluable assets, noting that losing such documentation would be problematic for business operations.
Key Insights
- Every industry professional and contact they consulted advised them to sell the cemetery business, citing its complexity and their lack of expertise in the space
- The cemetery business generates over $6 million annually across four locations
- The speakers believe cemeteries exist primarily for the living—families and loved ones who visit repeatedly on anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays—rather than for the deceased
- They maintain historical purchase records dating back to 1945, including documentation showing lot sales at $50 in 1964
- The couple views remaining relevant to future generations as essential to the long-term success of keeping their cemetery business operational
Topics
Transcript
[0:00] We at length [music] discussed if we should just sell. In fact, everyone we knew, every industry professional, every [music] contact we had, everyone said sell it. It's too big. You guys don't know anything about the space. [music] It's very complicated space. You don't want this. Sell it. >> There's one fact in life that you cannot deny. We are all going to die. So, we want families to build that heritage at all of our cemeteries. And in order to do that, we've got [music] to remain relevant to the future generations. >> Our cemetery business brings in over $6 [0:30] million a year. >> [music] >> So, that includes Lincoln Cemetery, Monte Vista, Washington Memorial Gardens,…
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