New Jersey Dignity Memorial(R) Providers First in Industry to Partner With J.D. Power and Associates

New Jersey Dignity Memorial(R) Providers First in Industry to
Partner With J.D. Power and Associates
Customer Satisfaction Metrics Applied to Funeral Homes and Cemeteries in New
Survey 


TOMS RIVER, N.J., April 14  /PRNewswire/ -- The Dignity Memorial funeral,
cremation and cemetery service providers of New Jersey have partnered with
global marketing research giant J.D. Power and Associates to understand what
makes the Baby Boom generation tick.  This notoriously demanding and
unconventional generation is now making final arrangements for their parents --
as well as planning in advance for their own celebration of life -- and the
Dignity Memorial provider network believes extensive customer satisfaction
metrics are essential to helping them meet this group's needs.  At the same
time, the data will provide additional insight into the diverse cultures and
generations who utilize the services of Dignity Memorial providers.

"We have found that a professional survey is one of the best ways to measure
the performance of firms that provide services, even though we often think of
auto makers and similar businesses when we think of consumer surveys," said
Michael A. Hogan, Market Manager.  "By partnering with J.D. Power and
Associates, we are emulating other progressive, consumer-oriented service
companies who believe this well-known research firm is one of the best ways to
gain extensive data regarding customer preferences.  The survey will strongly
enhance our knowledge of how to best serve those who come to us in need, and
also benefit consumers and our industry as a whole," added Hogan.

The J.D. Power and Associates survey represents the second generation of the
Dignity Memorial network's quest for customer metrics.  The network launched
its first customer survey in 2000, which made it one of the first in a
slow-to-change industry to use professional survey methods.  The move to a
partnership with J.D. Power and Associates is in keeping with the network's
interest in obtaining extensive customer metrics to help them meet the needs of
today's families.  This focus has been driven by the Boomer generation, which
has shown less interest in polished caskets and engraved markers, and more
concern in celebrating the lives of loved ones with unique end-of-life events.

"The Dignity Memorial network has stated that they intend to re-invent this
category.  Our work with the Dignity Memorial group (a first for this
industry), should allow them to understand their performance across the
families they serve, and provide a road-map to improved customer satisfaction
and stronger customer loyalty," said George Owens, Director at J.D. Power and
Associates.

"We want to take care of our customers, like any good company.  To do so we
will refine what constitutes the best possible customer experience and develop
appropriate processes to meet this goal, something that has long been an
objective of the Dignity Memorial network and is a primary reason for our
continued success," said Hogan.

J.D. Power and Associates has a 36-year history of helping companies improve
the quality of consumer goods and services.  The research firm conducts more
than 350 major tracking studies each year for some of the world's largest
companies, including numerous Fortune 500 firms.  A staff of more than 600
associates conducts quality and customer satisfaction research across a variety
of industries including automotive, commercial vehicles, telecommunications,
travel, real estate, finance, marine, healthcare, utilities, sports, retailing,
office products, and professional services. J.D. Power and Associates is a
business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP).

   The Dignity Memorial providers of New Jersey include the following firms:

   Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home
   3010 Ridgeway Road
   Manchester, NJ  08759
   [phone]
   Mark D. Polhemus, Manager- N.J. License No. 3882

   Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home
   703 Main Street
   Toms River, NJ  08753
   [phone]
   John C. Polhemus, Manager- N.J. License No. 3700

   Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home
   115 Lacey Road
   Whiting, NJ  08759
   [phone]
   Wallace T. Polhemus, Manager- N.J. License No. 3646

   Becker Funeral Home
   219 Kinderkamack Road
   Westwood, NJ  07675
   [phone]
   Martin O. Seitz, Manager- N.J. License No. 3889

   Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel
   68 Old Short Hills Road
   Livingston, NJ  07039
   [phone]
   Mark Harris, Manager- N.J. License No. 3284

   Biondi Funeral Home
   540 Franklin Avenue
   Nutley, NJ  07110
   [phone]
   Anthony A. Biondi, Jr., Manager- N.J. License No. 3893

   Blake-Doyle Funeral Home
   226 Collings Avenue
   Collingswood, NJ  08108
   [phone]
   Eric G. Vanderslice, Manager- N.J. License No. 4308

   Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels
   44 Wilson Avenue Route 527 N
   Manalapan, NJ 07726
   [phone]
   Albert Bloomfield, Manager- N.J. License No. 4074

   Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels
   2130 Highway 35
   Ocean, NJ  07712
   [phone]
   Leslie Bloomfield, Manager- N.J. License No. 3357

   Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Funeral Chapels
   1300 Vermont Avenue
   Lakewood, NJ 08701
   [phone]
   Leslie Bloomfield, Manager- N.J. License No. 3357

   D'Elia Funeral Home
   Highway 70 and Vermont Avenue
   Lakewood, NJ  08701
   [phone]
   Jason C. Campagna, Manager- N.J. License No. 4207

   Goble Funeral Home
   22 Main Street
   Sparta, NJ  07871
   [phone]
   Lawton J. Matthews, Manager- N.J. License No. 3505

   Gutterman-Musicant Funeral Directors
   402 Park Street
   Hackensack, NJ  07602
   [phone]
   Arthur Musicant, Manager- N.J. License No. 2544

   LaMonica Memorial Home
   299 Bloomfield Avenue
   Bloomfield, NJ  07003
   [phone]
   Josette LaMonica, Manager- N.J. License No. 3747

   LaMonica Memorial Home
   145 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue
   Livingston, NJ   07039
   [phone]
   Josette C. LaMonica, Manager- N.J. License No. 3747

   Leber Funeral Home
   2000 Kennedy Boulevard
   Union City, NJ  07087
   [phone]
   James Leber, Manager- N.J. License No. 3599

   Mack Memorial Home
   1245 Paterson Plank Road
   Secaucus, NJ 07094
   [phone]
   Michael W. Mittenzwei, Manager- N.J. License No. 3940

   McCracken Funeral Home
   1500 Morris Avenue
   Union, NJ  07083
   [phone]
   Jason Oszczakiewicz, Manager- N.J. License No. 4167

   Michael Hegarty Funeral Home
   3377 Highway 9
   Old Bridge, NJ  08857
   [phone]
   John Hassler, Manager- N.J. License No.  3813

   Neary Quinn Funeral Home
   39 South Street
   Manasquan, NJ  07036
   [phone]
   James G. Coakley, Jr., Manager- N.J. License No. 3281

   Quinn Hopping Funeral Home
   26 Mule Road
   Toms River, NJ  08755
   [phone]
   Angelo B. Brugno, Jr., Manager- N.J. License No. 4106

   Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home
   145 East Mount Pleasant Avenue
   Livingston, NJ   07039
   [phone]
   Gary T. Harris, Manager- N.J. License No. 3922

   Thos L. Shinn Funeral Home
   10 Hilliard Drive
   Manahawkin, NJ  08050
   [phone]
   Richard C. Polhemus, Manager- N.J. License No. 4000

   FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
   MICHAEL A. HOGAN
   DIGNITY MEMORIAL PROVIDERS OF NEW JERSEY
   [phone]


DATASOURCE: Dignity Memorial Network



CONTACT:  Michael A. Hogan of Dignity Memorial Providers of New Jersey,

[phone]



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