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Color
—A Vital Issue in Today's World
Are you planning to
renovate your existing home or office or do you have plans for a new
facility? Your color scheme can have a great impact on you, your
employees and the families you serve.
There is something incredibly restful about
neutral colors-- from ivory and buff to mushroom and
chestnut--because they are all borrowed from the natural world around
us.
Green is a hallmark, signifying
life, freshness, and nature. Adding it to your surroundings will be as
uplifting as seeing the first leaves and shoots of spring. Green is
wonderfully calm and relaxing, from the palest sage and gentle celadon
to stronger shades of bottle green and olive. This makes it one of the
most versatile and easygoing color families to introduce into your
home or office. Green works well with most all other colors--Keep in mind
that every flower regardless of its color rests upon a green stem. |
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Blue is a magical color--uplifting,
relaxing, serene, and inspiring all at once. It might be cool, but it
doesn’t have to be cold: the tranquility of pale blue, reminiscent of
endless summer skies, brings with it a sense of infinite space and
peace; the electric vitality of aquamarine and cobalt are stimulating
and refreshing; the deep shades of navy and denim are timeless classics.
Uplifting and uncompromisingly happy, yellow
raises the spirits and brings a sense of joy wherever it is used. It is
the brightest color in the spectrum, so your rooms will be light and
vibrant even if you choose the most pure and intense yellow you can
find. Whether you choose warm shades of deep saffron, cheery sunflower
and rich ochre, or cool tints of acid lemon, delicate primrose, and pale
butter, all will fill your home or office with sunshine.
From deep, regal purple to the
softest gentlest mauves, this color family is rich in decorating
possibilities. Violet has the shortest wavelength and the fastest
vibration in the color spectrum, so it evokes passion and excitement in
the deep jewel hues, while the soft tones of lavender are as soothing as
the herb itself. Surprisingly, purple and all the wonderful hues of this
shade act as an amazing neutralizer in a color scheme. Reminder: this is
historically an imperial color, a symbol of high rank and royalty.
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Marketing Through
Good Design to Enhance the Bottom Line
Several years ago, in the
not- so-distant past actually, a person’s business was considered a
success if a product or service was sold, and the owner made enough
money to turn the process again.
To say that times have changed would be an understatement. Today, the
smart business owner is concerned with trending, profit and loss
reports, and above all, a marketing plan. The marketing plan for
services rendered by an active funeral director includes many aspects;
from an interior designer’s view, to the physical appearance of the
facility. This appearance is much more than just a beauty contest, and
is an integral part of the enhancement of the building, as well as the
bottom line.
Educated, professional
design help comes in many forms, from space planning and furniture
arrangement to accessory placement, always with an eye on the
appropriate choice. Often, the overall design |
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plan may be implemented
in stages, depending on the budget stipulations, however the major
emphasis here is on adhering to the overall approved plan. As in other
ventures, no sort of advice from well-meaning friends and relatives can
substitute for good professional help, backed by experience. In reality,
today’s funeral director is looking for good value regardless of what is
spent.
Competition from the chains now effects the individual owner’s
business and consistent consumer loyalty is no longer a reliable source
for continuing business. Regulatory issues have enormous potential for
impacting the bottom line. The families served, expect and deserve a
more pleasing visual environment.
The old adage that “form follows function” is relevant in this regard.
The funeral director with an eye on future growth will most surely
either redesign or plan a new space with the form and flow of the
facility’s public area planned in the best interest of the families.
With a good flexible plan from a competent interior designer, the value
is put back into the business’s dollar, and the families are afforded a
comfortable and pleasant place in which to gather. From the funeral
director’s standpoint, seeking practical advice about how to best spend
money saves time and effort. After all, a good, solid, ongoing
relationship with a trained professional who keeps up with current
innovations is valuable in any business. A continuous relationship with
your design professional can be as valuable as a good banker and will
save you money over the years. Good design is becoming a necessity, not
a luxury. |
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