Meyers gets a head start on serving tomorrow’s families

Todd DeMint always dreamed of being in the funeral profession. At age five, he played at being a funeral director, imagining himself greeting families and handling caskets. So when he worked his way up to owning one of the leading funeral homes in Kansas City, MO, it felt like the natural outcome of his passion and perseverance.

Meyers Funeral Chapel operates like a small-town firm in the middle of a highly competitive metro market. Family-owned and operated, it’s earned a reputation for quality, personalization, and care.

But Todd saw preneed as a powerful way to engage more families and position the firm for long-term success.

“I was working constantly, trying to be everywhere at once,” Todd says. “I wanted to treat preneed with the same quality as at-need, and I was looking for a partner who could help take us to that next level.”

The Challenge of a Competitive Market

Founded in 2006, Meyers Funeral Chapel brought a fresh standard of quality and service to a well-established market. Todd recognized the importance of growing the brand and reaching more families through preneed, but gaining momentum was hard.

At the same time, consumer preferences were changing, and direct cremation was on the rise. With fewer traditional services and less understanding from families about the value of funerals, Todd grew concerned that average funeral values were on the decline.

“It’s easy to get complacent when families are making selections that may not require as much work,” Todd says. “But you’ve got to get creative and continue inventing new ways to move forward and promote service.”

This approach led Todd to create a personal concierge framework for the Meyers staff, and it also sparked his interest in Precoa’s Pro system for generating leads, setting appointments, and prearranging families through education and meaningful connection.

Precoa Levels Up Preneed

When Precoa first walked through the door more than a decade ago, Todd heard what they had to say and was ready to take the plunge. He also recognized how much trust it would take to let someone else start meeting with families.

“Taking a chance on any new partner is hard,” he says. “But it was clear that Precoa’s marketing and lead generation was hands-down better, the appointment setting and results were greater, and the difference between their system and the next tier was unquestionable.”

After partnering with Precoa, the impact was immediate. Meyers saw a steady stream of quality leads, and families started asking for the firm’s Advance Funeral Planner as often as they were for Todd.

“That was the moment I realized something special was happening here,” Todd recalls. “I worked every visitation for 18 years, but to hear people come in and ask for our preplanning consultant by name? That’s been beautiful to see.”

Precoa has a system that’s been fine-tuned over time. Todd DeMint Owner | Meyers Funeral Chapel

A System That Keeps the Foot on the Gas

One of the biggest challenges funeral homes face with preneed is consistency. It’s easy to fall into a cycle of starts and stops, with leads falling through the cracks and unpredictable swings in volume.

That was never a concern with Precoa.

“Precoa keeps their foot on the gas,” Todd says. “Whether it’s direct mail, community education events, appointment setting, recruiting, or just follow-through, it’s a system that’s been fine-tuned over time. ”

That consistency gives Meyers a powerful competitive edge. Today, the firm serves hundreds of at-need families each year, and they’re meeting hundreds of preneed families as well. Just as important, Precoa has helped grow the Meyers brand.

“It’s easy to see the difference when you’re being proactive,” Todd says. “When Precoa came in, our entire business changed. That’s when things really blew up.”

Looking Ahead With Confidence

Todd is excited about the future of the funeral profession. He enjoys the work he’s dreamed about since he was a boy, and he’s serving more families than ever before. He also sees the writing on the wall for firms that are not yet proactive with preneed.

Quality preneed will only continue to separate top firms, and you don’t want to be caught on the outside looking in. Todd DeMint Owner | Meyers Funeral Chapel

“Over a recent dinner with another funeral home owner, I spelled out my theory,” Todd says. “There will be a lot of funeral homes that get left behind over the next 15 years because they simply didn’t prepare. Quality preneed will only continue to separate top firms, and you don’t want to be caught on the outside looking in. I feel blessed that we’ve already got a 10-year head start.”

Todd sees this playing out through a sustained increase in preneed volume with Precoa, and the corresponding rise in average funeral values. At a time when more people are making choices based on perceived convenience and cost, Precoa helps Meyers educate families about the value and meaning of a well-planned funeral.

“I’m a walking billboard for Precoa,” Todd says. “Our partnership didn’t just change our business. It changed our lives.”

Our partnership didn’t just change our business. It changed our lives. Todd DeMint Owner | Meyers Funeral Chapel