Memorial park industry expects upbeat growth

With stronger economic development from infrastructure and real estate, the Northern Part of the province has paved way for the continued growth of the memorial park industry.

Jun S. Yu, the Marketing Manager of Angelicum Garden of Angels pointed out in an interview with The Freeman that in terms of awareness and reach, they have made a good year in 2007 as Cebuanos already developed a better grasp of the essence of the industry.

“Selling a memorial plan is no longer a taboo nowadays because people have become more receptive of the concept so it is not anymore hard for us to make a sales pitch since they usually see it on television, hear it on the radio or read it in the newspapers,” Yu explained.

He further added that few years back, it has been a difficulty for their agents and brokers to sell as most people would refuse to hear or talk about morbid things such as death.

 “Memorial plans would be the last thing in their mind they will purchase but the trend has changed as now it has become equally important like education, life and health insurance as people have seen it as an investment for their future,” Yu added.

And as development continued to grow stronger in the North especially for infrastructure and real estate, Yu stressed that the playing field for the memorial industry which once was subtle and silent has become “bloodily competitive.”

“For this type of industry, replication has been a practice. If one company does developments, a month or so after the others will do the same; so creativity in packaging has to be extensive to make it appreciable to your buyers. It’s no longer a price war but a war between having beautiful parks that outclasses everybody else,” Yu discussed.

But Yu stressed that for Angelicum, the business is not a rat race as they already fully-developed their 7. 5 hectare property and continuously improves and maintains their park with usable developments which is not purely for aesthetic purposes to give better service to their client-base.

At the meantime, 46% of the whole property has been sold, but in the end of this year Yu is targeting to generate over 60% consumption sale despite Angelicum’s mere four years in the business.

With this year’s new and better offerings, Yu said that, “for 2008, we see a very big movement in our inventories especially with the fact that development is strong in the area and Angelicum has become widely known in Cebu already.”

This year, Angelicum’s inventories are being offered at specially discounted rates and on-term payment scheme wherein interested buyers can get as much as 20% discount for this particular promo. Angelicum guarantees a “totally hassle-free, easy-to-buy and easy-to-sell investment” as buyers will not be bothered with dues and payments.

Angelicum has started in the memorial park business last 2003 with the aim of addressing the growing needs of the Cebuanos.

“We saw the need and took the opportunity and we were not wrong about our decision and we will be here today until tomorrow so that you can be ensured that your future is in our hands,” Yu stressed. – Rhia de Pablo