MOR 332 - Funeral Merchandising

Credits: 2
Lecture Hours: 2
Lab Hours: 0
Practicum Hours: 0
Work Experience: 0
Course Type: Voc/Tech

This course is designed to give the students an understanding of the various products available through funeral homes and competing industries. Topics of study include casket components and construction, outer burial container components and construction, and urns and cemetery components. In addition, this course will cover the principles of merchandise display and presentation, pricing concepts and techniques, and inventory management.
Prerequisite OR Corequisite: MOR 301
Competencies

Categorize materials used in casket construction
1. Identify metals and methods used in casket construction
2. Identify wood species and methods used in casket construction
3. Highlight casket finishes
Examine exterior portion of the casket
1. Identify component parts of casket exterior
2. Compare casket shell designs
3. Contrast opening styles
4. Highlight various casket dimensions
Examine interior portion of the casket
1. Identify component parts of casket interior
2. Categorize materials used in casket interiors
3. Compare interior styles
Explain personalization options
1. Identify exterior options
2. Identify interior options
Examine outer burial containers
1. Highlight purpose of outer burial container
2. Categorize types of outer containers
3. Identify materials used in construction of outer burial containers
4. Describe various methods of closure of outer burial containers
Examine cemeteries and cemetery merchandise
1. Categorize areas of a cemetery
2. Identify structures found in a cemetery
3. Identify styles of monuments
Examine cremation merchandise
1. Identify cremation containers
2. Classify containers for cremated remains
Incorporate merchandising concepts in the funeral home setting
1. Determine merchandise availability
2. Explain arrangement consideration in the selection room
3. Describe the various methods of merchandise display
4. Describe both direct and indirect selection room selling procedures
5. Explain the reasons for differences in prices of caskets
6. Discuss methods of selling vaults and outer burial containers
Create a presentation of funeral merchandise
1. Illustrate common techniques of merchandise display
2. Present funeral-related merchandise
3. Explain differences in funeral merchandise
Examine elements of inventory and pricing management
1. Describe inventory management procedures
2. Compare pricing policies and structures
3. Identify price quotation systems
4. Explain methods of determining a selling price for merchandise
5. Differentiate between selling price and price quotation
Distinguish green funeral merchandise from traditional funeral merchandise
1. Highlight the role of the Green Burial Council
2. Recall criteria for green merchandise
3. Categorize elements of a green cemetery
Investigate other funeral merchandise
1. Identify containers used for transporting human remains
2. Recognize specialty caskets and containers
3. List examples of sundry funeral merchandise
Explain emerging trends in pet disposition and merchandising
1. Explore legal considerations
2. Outline methods of disposition
Explore various pet merchandise
1. Identify cremation containers
2. Identify burial containers
3. List miscellaneous goods

Competencies Revised Date: AY2027