NFE 2009 - bigger and busier than ever!
The 2009 National Funeral Exhibition was bigger and busier than ever, with more than 170 exhibitors of funeral products and services taking over two halls at Stoneleigh Park Exhibition Centre. The show more than lived up to expectations with visitor numbers up 12% on the 2007 attendance figures and a 12.5% increase in exhibitors, including more than 20 overseas businesses, which helped to create a distinctly international flavour.
Just about everyone there declared it a resounding success. New features like the demonstration of the art of glass blowing by Ashes into Glass and the facial reconstruction workshops organised by funeral/embalming supplies and autopsy equipment specialist Omega Supplies UK, proved extremely popular. Sunday’s Family Day was extremely busy, with children enjoying rides in the Rev. Paul Sinclair’s motorcycle hearses, face painting and entertainment, and adults trying their hand at clay pigeon shooting and archery.
The show was officially opened on Friday, June 12 by Bill Olner, MP for Nuneaton and Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Funerals and Bereavement Group, who congratulated the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) and organiser Leisure Expo on bringing together such an amazing variety of products and services all under one roof.
A truly international event
The presence of exhibitors from Lithuania, Hong Kong, Germany, Italy, Australia, China, New Zealand and France, ensured funeral professionals were able to update their knowledge on the latest market developments. Flying the flag for Ireland were Duffy Coachbodies from Dundalk in Co. Louth and Dublin-based Morning’s Print a Plate which demonstrated what is claimed to be the fastest and most user-friendly name plate system in the world.
Array of special features
In addition to the glass blowing demonstration and facial reconstruction workshops, Hall 1 also played host to Speakers Corner where people working in the funeral sector were given 20 minutes to express their views/concerns on funeral industry topics, followed by a 10-minute Q&A and the Classic Hearse Feature. Organised by the Classic Hearse Register, which helps keep the profession’s history alive and has produced the first ever book on the history of the British hearse, the display of beautifully restored vehicles included a 1968 Woodhall Nicholson Austin Princess, a 1937 Rolls Royce 20/30 hearse, a 1972 VW Bay Hearse one of few remaining and the only one operational in the UK and a Fiat 2300 reputedly used by the Mafia!
Tremendous support from NAFD partners and members
Several of the NAFD’s preferred suppliers had a presence at the National Funeral Exhibition, including its telecoms provider, insurer and new merchant service supplier Elavon Merchant Services.
The Debt Recovery Bureau, which founded the NAFD Fast Track Debt Recovery Service one of the most successful NAFD member benefits was there along with the Centre for Death & Society, which was promoting the Foundation Degree in Funeral Services, and Citation plc, the UK’s leading health and safety and employment law consultant and preferred supplier of these services to the NAFD, which has agreed to provide a bursary towards the course tuition fees for the 2009/10.
The not-for-profit Bereavement Advice Centre highlighted its work with funeral directors and others including banks, insurers, hospitals and bereavement counsellors to provide the public with information and advice on the practical issues following a death, and The Bereavement Register, which prevents unsolicited items of direct mail being sent to the deceased, helping to combat identity fraud, thanked funeral directors for their support.
Funeral sector raises its profile
Kindred associations, including the BIFD, the Funeral Furnishing Manufacturers Association, SAIF and the British Humanist Association gave the National Funeral Exhibition their full support, along with the British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons, which was promoting its bid to establish a network of nationally accredited businesses.
Following a successful collaboration during NFE 2007, the National Association of Memorial Masons once again staged its Tradex exhibition at the show and recognised excellence within the memorial masonry trade through its Craftex competition.
Innovations galore
As expected, many long-established funeral businesses launched new products at the exhibition, but there were also some relatively new firms to the funeral sector making their mark and a wide range of new products went under the spotlight in the Innovations section.
Here visitors could see potter Sarah Walton’s memorial birdbaths, RWL Products Inc.’s new Mason Lift TRK180, Ecoffins’ cardboard coffins and a new cortege car flag among the items on display from Flags of Substance. Italian coffin and casket manufacturer Lorandi was looking for distributors, LEEC unveiled the ‘Mini Jack’ multi-level trolley to transport coffins and Phoenix Memorials reported a ‘great reaction’ to its range of fine lead crystal vases, paperweights and candleholders, which incorporate a small amount of ashes in the glass.
Sundial memorials were among the new range of garden cremation memorials developed by Haddonstone, the UK’s leading manufacturer of fine cast stone garden ornaments, and Fine Timber Products promoted its new, oval-shaped water hyacinth and cane coffin, while Eternal Serenity Supplies was also promoting a new coffin range and Evolution outlined its funeral management solution software.
Gravograph UK had some special offers on coffin plate engraving equipment and Immortile exhibited the ceramic photograph, a unique plaque which captures the likeness of a loved one in relief in sculpted vitrified clay and glaze. The latest range of garden ornaments for housing cremated remains were exhibited by Elizabeth May Memorials, while Initial Memorials launched two new ranges featuring a weatherproof alabaster and burr walnut effect finish.
Doing business and having fun
A couple of sheep promoting the new Hainsworth wool and cotton coffins; the quirky T-shirts, aprons and Gravediggers Ale on sale at Funeral Humour.co.uk; Binz’s chocolates hearses; birthday cake to celebrate the London Casket Company’s 21st; SEIB’s bid to identify wannabe guitar rock heroes and The Bereavement Register’s Spirited Cocktail Challenge were among the many elements which made NFE a thoroughly enjoyable experience for exhibitors and visitors alike!
From the feedback we have received, both funeral directors and suppliers to the sector made quality contacts and had a good time, says the NAFD’s chief executive officer Alan Slater.
It was incredibly encouraging to see so many NAFD members exhibiting at the show, including some who have only recently joined the Association, making the most of the opportunity to engage with prospective customers and develop business opportunities. Exhibitors reported that they were doing some good business, which is ultimately what the National Funeral Exhibition and for many the show was such a success that they have already rebooked for 2011!
If you were unable to attend NFE this time, check out who was there and the latest products and services at www.nationalfuneralexhibition.co.uk