Interviews

I was very happy with both the CBC interview and the PG citizen interview. I will post the link if anyone is interested.
http://www.cbc.ca/daybreaknorth/daybreak_again.html#monday
http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/20090323182934/local/news/furniture-for-now-and-forever.html

I also was interviewed on Mar 27th by Brian Allen on CKNX north of Toronto. He must have seen the article in the citizen.
http://www.am920.ca/program_schedule.php?area=show&show_id=35

(right click on fridays show, open link and then listen to last 10 minutes of show)

My helpers

I was very proud to have both Noah and Baxter at the show on Friday night. They both helped with the set up and engaged with some of the visitors.

Michelle my friend from the hospital came to assit on Sunday. She was able to provide an insiders view as she had worked the trade show circuit when she was younger.

CBC interview

I received a call from Jenifer who does the daybreak North show on CBC. Apparently her sister was the person who won the box at the homeshow. I also spoke with her briefly at the homeshow and she would like to come out to my workshop and interview me. I am very excited. I am glad it is radio as my shop is extremely messy.

Interesting Stat's from PG Homeshow

I gathered the following stat's from people who filled out my survey information.
Of the 159 surveys that were completed:
61.6% were not aware they could supply their own box for a funeral
64.8% saw price as a factor in chosing their box
55% liked bookshelf as their storage solution of choice
Only 5.7% would not consider final resting boxes as furniture
23.3% selected "maybe" when asked would they consider boxes as furniture
18.9% would utilize boxes as furniture (as long as it would not look like a casket)
45.3% would utilize boxes as furniture.
58.5% of people would like their boxes personalized by family and friends
92.4 % of people would like a greener option for their funeral

I would be very curious to see if similar findings would occur in other larger centre's.

Thank-you Elizabeth

Elizabeth, the retired hospital chaplain has been an incredible asset in promoting this product to the public. She has met half the city in the context of a crisis and responded as caring professional. Now she can talk with them and others about an idea that will change the funeral industry forever.

My friend Dave

I first met Dave just over a year ago. He is a living paradox. One one hand he is a grown up Dennis the Menace then at other times he is an intellect with a broad knowledge base. The hard thing is to determine who he is when he is giving business advice.

Dave was instrumental in helping me get the home show brochure together. After numerous revisions we had a product that was ready for the public.

Dave also helped set up the booth along with my two oldest sons.

Thanks Pat for the shirts

The shirts have been a hit at the homeshow. My mother-in-law Pat helped put them together. We decided on a professional look on the front with the logo. Then on the back we put our company's motto.

One lady saw Noah's T shirt asked where the booth was and came to check it out.

Is it a coffin, no it's furniture what to you mean it's both?

The body language at the homeshow has been awesome to see. I think many people get my product when the hear my name (especially if you let their mind wander) So people would look up to the sign and see Simple Pine Boxes. Then they would see the furniture options and be confused. Some would playfully suggest "Oh I thought you were selling coffins?" The door then opens to healthy dialogue.

Some people don't get it until you explain in detail. Some react with shock and horror and rush away from the booth. Others avoid it as soon as they see the name and stay to the outside of the walkway.

Others approach the booth with curiousity and want to talk.

SPB The Trojan Horse of the Prince George Homeshow

When you make a product for the death care industry it is always an issue how you choose to market to the general public. When I heard the homeshow was coming to town I thought this would be a great opportunity to get out to the public and show my wares. I struggled with the display for the homeshow as to how obvious I would make it that my furniture options could also be used as a final resting box. My friend Dave who helped me design the pamphlet wanted me to put rope handles on the tapered box table box. I decided that the focus of the homeshow was to assist the public to see our products in a neutral light. Since most people deny death and some are afraid to even have the faintest reminder of death I thought that the more subtle I was with the display the better.

We will see what happens.