Charles Simpson. Photo DR
“The sector is in crisis”
Charles Simpson is the founding director of the company Senior Media which publishes the website Meilleures-pompes-funèbres.com. A professional in the sector for over 14 years, he explains his approach.
Where did you get the idea of creating a price comparison tool for funeral services?
“It meets the need of families to ensure the best price. When the death of a loved one occurs while you live several hundred kilometers away, it is interesting to be able to receive several quotes. We are completely independent. Requesting online quotes has become commonplace. Moreover, before walking through the door of an agency, the client has often already made his choice. »
How do you get paid?
“We have contracts with a wide selection of funeral directors. They pay us for the customer contacts we send them, not commission. We systematically send two quotes to customers. Afterwards, families make their choice in complete freedom. They are not obliged to use the selected companies. »
What type of clientele uses your services?
“Requests come from almost everywhere but mainly from large urban centers. We have a rather urban clientele. They are active people in their sixties with a slight majority of women. They call on us because, often, they do not know the local players. »
From your point of view, how is the market doing?
“At the national level, over the past five years, competition has increased. It made it possible to limit price increases for customers. But the recent drop in mortality is creating strong tension in the sector which, as a result, is in crisis. »
Do you have any requests for low-cost funerals?
“A few years ago, the low-cost trend caused a lot of talk. In fact, she didn't take it. No more than green burials. It's surely a generational question. »
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