What are the major components of memorial products?

A typical memorial product will have four major components:

• The person’s name
• The person’s picture
• A graphical background
• Text that makes a defining statement

Though it sounds simple, this is not a case of simply slapping some text and images together to make a sale. You must work with the family in a caring way in order to create the right solution for their needs.

It all starts with the name. Think about how many names the typical person really has. As an example, my legal name is James Manchester Lamb. But most people call me Jimmy, and I also go by Dad, Brother, Uncle, Husband,… It’s imperative that the name on the product is appropriate for how the loved one is best remembered.

The next area of focus hinges on capturing pleasant memories that define who the person was. For an active individual, that could be a daunting task that might seem better relegated to a mural on the side of an office building. Thus, the family must choose one or two key things that honor the deceased in the right way. Golf, gardening, fishing, hunting, music, etc., are popular examples. The bottom line is that the graphic not only needs to make the right statement, but it also must be able to convey the right message in a graphical format.

Once the background has been defined and an appropriate image selected, the next step is to choose the text that defines the person or speaks to the beliefs of the person. Special attention must be given to the amount of space available, and even font styles, in order to blend into the background instead of clashing with it.

The final step of the memorial product creation is to add in a photo of the person being memorialized, which is typically just a headshot. It all comes down to how the family wants to remember their loved one, so take the time to get it right.

If you are looking for new opportunities, memorial products can easily fit into your portfolio of products and services, provided you are willing to handle the emotional aspects that come with it.

—Sawgrass