We enjoyed a bit of face-to-face interaction with all sorts of people from all kinds of business in Warwickshire last week.

1. National Funeral Exhibition 2017
Naturensbalm CEO Charles Street, along with Marketing
Director Hatty Stafford Charles, enjoyed an inspiring trip
last week to Stoneleigh Park for the National Funeral
Exhibition. It was a great chance to catch up with old
friends and meet new ones, as well as see the latest
innovations in the funeral industry.
The most useful part of any such occasion, of course, is
the opportunity to discuss strategy, trends and new
ideas with colleagues. The range of options and the
exciting ways professionals are developing their offering
was striking. There were some really beautiful and
genuinely original products at the show, along with
some very fine examples of more traditional
funeralware. Talking to standholders gave us an insight
into how the industry continues to change as new
markets open up.
The most noteworthy aspect we repeatedly heard
about was the more informal and family-led style of
funeral which is becoming increasingly popular. As
discussed in a recent newsletter, families feel far more
confident about doing their own thing and, on occasion,
leaving out the funeral director all together. Many
providers and manufacturers now market their wares
far more successfully to the public than to the industry
and, although the traditional funeral is by no means
disappearing, this is a growing sector. Indeed, here at
Naturensbalm a significant number of enquiries come
from celebrants looking to support families wanting
alternative options. All of this means that the funeral
industry as a whole is not only broadening but also
fracturing.
Personalisation, environmental concerns, financial
issues and a changing attitude towards death are all
driving the funeral sector down paths that they may not
wish to consider but there is no getting away from the
fact that this is a trend which can only develop. The
internet drives much of this, as does people’s growing
first-hand experience of ‘different’ funerals but, first
and foremost, it is the need to express oneself and have
a send-off that is as unique as you are.
We came away from the exhibition more determined
than ever to ensure that anyone interested in a
formaldehyde-free embalming option should have the
opportunity to try our product and have an additional
option in their armoury.
enquiries@naturensbalm.com
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