FUNERAL DISRUPTOR TAKES ON FUNERAL GIANTS

A new start-up company, eziFunerals is taking on funeral giants, InvoCare and Propel Funeral Partners by launching a new online funeral collaboration platform. We help you find the best funeral plans in your area. So if you are looking for cremation in Sydney of a funeral home in Melbourne ezifunerals is here to help.

In an industry that has seen little change in the last 100 years, eziFunerals has developed a sophisticated funeral technology platform to manage an all-inclusive funeral collaboration solution that will serve as the foundation of the company.

The funeral industry in Australia is currently estimated to be $1.5 billion and provides essential services to individuals and families dealing with, or preparing for, death and bereavement.

However, navigating the funeral industry when dealing with a loved one’s death can leave many of us vulnerable to upselling and confused with no understanding of the industry and little idea of our funeral rights and choices.

According to eziFunerals, the number one reason consumers pay too much for funerals is that they don’t shop around. Consumers are not aware that the majority of local funeral brands are owned by public listed companies trading on the stock exchange. The names on signs outside funeral homes are well known, but revenues and profits from them flow to corporate shareholders.

eziFunerals Founder, Peter Erceg said it was time to shift the power back to consumers. “Our mission is to empower consumers to manage the financial and emotional stress of funerals, by providing independent and transparent end of life planning, from Cradle2grave®. We want to be recognised as the ‘funeral go to brand’ for consumers in Australia”, he said.

Most importantly, eziFunerals is creating a more positive, customised and convenient funeral experience for consumers as they manage one of the most difficult and stressful life events.

eziFunerals core solution lies in its ability to simplify and streamline the funeral planning process for consumers, without funeral director involvement. The consumer is in total control. Clients are asked a number of questions to create a personalised funeral plan online. They can then request transparent, itemised and no obligation quotes before selecting a Funeral Director that meets their needs on service, price and budget. “Instead of picking a funeral company by guesswork, families will be able to shop around for funeral directors, and get the right funeral at the right price before proceeding to contract", said Erceg.

Since its founding, eziFunerals has transformed the funeral planning industry in many ways and has seen considerable growth in traffic and interest by individuals, consumer groups, funeral homes, aged care and funeral finance providers.

More than 200 Clients have signed up to the eziFunerals platform, with numbers growing on a weekly basis. There are 600 Independent Funeral Homes listed in the system with over 60 Funeral Homes claiming their listing. A partnership has also been established with the Australian Funeral Celebrants Association and discussions currently in play for exclusive alliances with Funeral Finance providers and the Aged Care sector interested in offering eziFunerals as a value added end-of-life product for their members and residents.

“It pays to do your homework”, Erceg explains. “People are not aware that several funeral businesses may be associated with the one parent company. InvoCare currently control over 40% market share nationally and operate over 270 locations and 16 cemeteries and crematoria. InvoCare has 3 national funeral brands in Australia (White Lady Funerals; Simplicity Funerals; and Value Funerals) and over 30 regional funeral home brands in different states across Australia. So, when looking for a funeral director, the first piece of advice is: “know who you are dealing with and shop around”, he said.

Erceg sees his online funeral platform model not as undermining funeral directors economically, but as empowering small to medium family owned funeral homes to increase their market share and give huge firms, like InvoCare and Propel Funeral Partners, a run for their money.

About eziFunerals

eziFunerals is an online consumer advocate that supports individuals and families cope with end of life decisions, death and funerals. We are an independent, Australian-owned and operated company. We are not part of any other funeral company. Founded by consumers frustrated by how difficult it was to get independent information, eziFunerals supports consumers plan a funeral, compare prices and select the right funeral director anywhere, anytime. Find our more by visiting our website www.ezifunerals.com.au