Looking Back at the Tombstone Industry

 Tombstones

I originally posted this back in 2016 and it is even more relevant today then it was back then.

With the Covid Pandemic, the flood of new and "fly by" night tombstone manufacturers, and I use that term very loosely I might add. The importance of caring, quality and guarantees are more important than ever.

From me to you

I have been in this industry for 22 years now, and I have seen many changes.
I remember when we first opened the doors of a little known tombstone company called Forget me not Tombstones, when there were but a handful of big tombstone manufacturers in South Africa. I also remember when we were the first tombstone company to really embrace the wonderful world of the internet and the day our website went live for the first time.
From very humble beginnings to... well  that's just it we are still humble. And that is the difference.

I have seen many tombstone companies pop up all around the place - they last a few years, then they close shop or unfortunately vanish taking with them the hard earned money of their lay buy clients with them.
These types of people have no respect or understanding of what the tombstone industry should be about. But I am beginning to realise perhaps my ethos is unique in this industry.

 I have seen "mega" tombstone suppliers open up, where it is all about the cash, the flash and the bling. The bigger, the better, the more cash the more the splash.
Now call me old fashion, but I feel that a tombstone/ funeral service needs to about respect, about humility, about helping families remember their loved ones in a beautiful and dignified way. And remembering that we are in a very emotion driven industry, that we are dealing with families who are grieving and who are in various stages of this process. We do not merely sell a consumer product, we provide a service and as a tombstone business owner, we need to remember that it is an honour to be selected to assist the family who makes use of your services.

And that is why we only have one branch. I made that decision knowingly, not because I do not have aspirations of growing larger (which we have over the 122 years), but because my concern is that I do not want to loose that family atmosphere we have at our company. We believe in family, I want to engage with my clients, I get joy from being on the showroom floor, meeting clients, old clients popping in for a cup of coffee. If I have more branches to manage, the less engaged I feel I will become with people.  I want my clients to know if they want to see me, they know all they have to do is come to our showroom and they will find me there to assist them in away I am able.

In this world of technology and "faceless" communication, I feel we are moving a way from each other, we are forgetting how to connect with each other on a deep and personal level. Here at Forget me not Tombstones, we believe in making these connections with people.

We sit and listen to our clients, hear the stories of their loved ones, how they passed on, how they who are left behind are coping. Its not just a memorial, its so much more than that. I feel completely honoured to be apart of the process, to hear these stories. It is often so hard to find the words to describe to someone how it feels to do a tombstone for a family, because for me it truly is a gift.

That is why I have put a lot of emphasis on our Design LAB lately, I work closely with each client to create the perfect memorial that encompasses the love for a deceased family member.
From just an idea or merely one design component you wish to incorporate, I will create design options for you to have a look at. I will assist you every step of the way of the design process, from conception to reality.

So when you come to Forget me not Tombstones you will be welcomed into a family atmosphere, you might even see clients making a cup of coffee for themselves in the kitchen - we truly are family here. There is nothing superficial about us, we are a family run business and we offer a loving, caring service to our clients.  Our relationship with you lasts a lifetime.

We may not be the biggest tombstone company or the "flashiest" either, but one thing is for sure without a shadow of a doubt, we truly do care, We treat you and your loved one with respect and the dignity you deserve - not only that, we offer cutting edge designs and one of a kind memorials. Creativity abounds here at Forget me not Tombstones.

You are not just a name and number here at Forget me not Tombstones, no matter what product you
buy from us, each client is important and we look forward to welcoming you to the
Forget me not Tombstones Family.


Blessing and Light

Tasch

https://www.forgetmenottombstones.co.za/

 Affordable Tombstone Prices

Forget me not Tombstones has been a family run Tombstone Factory for the last

21 years. Our experiences through the years has evolved our company into one that not only provides Tombstones, Headstones, Memorials and Gravestones but rather one which builds a relationship with each one of our clients. We believe that installing a tombstone for a loved one is part of a very personal process for each individual. We create Timeless Tombstone Designs and have been creating our Beautiful Tombstones for 21 years. We are a reliable Tombstone Supplier, that delivers the Highest Quality Granite Tombstones in the Johannesburg and Gauteng Area.

With an exceptional service track record and incredibly quality tombstones at affordable prices, Forget me not will not disappoint you. Their dedicated team of professional and caring Tombstone consultants are there to assist you every step of the way when selecting a memorial, headstone or tombstone for your loved one. 

Prices of Tombstone vary depending on the style of tombstone, the granite used and if you are installing a full tombstone or a headstone on base. Forget me not Tombstones are the leading Tombstone manufacturer and they have a team of Tombstone designers with many years experience to guide you. 

We are currently running our incredible Spring Specials until the 31st of October 2023, please get in contact with us or visit our website Tombstone Prices

Our Christmas Specials have been launched! Check out our Tombstones

We have some very beautiful tombstones on special ranging from Our Child Memorials , which have a gorgeous selection of handpainted designs. Our in house resident artist will sit with you and create a beautiful design for your little angel. You come with an idea and we will make it a reality.

We also have a selection Traditional Tombstone Designs on our christmas specials.

Please get in contact with us and we will send you our tombstone catalogue with our specials

From me to you


I have been in this industry for 15 years now, and I have seen many changes.
I remember when we first opened the doors of a little known tombstone company called Forget me not Tombstones, when there were but a handful of big tombstone manufacturers in South Africa. I also remember when we were the first tombstone company to really embrace the wonderful world of the internet and the day our website went live for the first time.
From very humble beginnings to... well  that's just it we are still humble. And that is the difference.

I have seen many tombstone companies pop up all around the place - they last a few years, then they close shop or unfortunately vanish taking with them the hard earned money of their lay buy clients with them.
These types of people have no respect or understanding of what the tombstone industry should be about. But I am beginning to realise perhaps my ethos is unique in this industry.

 I have seen "mega" tombstone suppliers open up, where it is all about the cash, the flash and the bling. The bigger, the better, the more cash the more the splash.
Now call me old fashion, but I feel that a tombstone/ funeral service needs to about respect, about humility, about helping families remember their loved ones in a beautiful and dignified way. And remembering that we are in a very emotion driven industry, that we are dealing with families who are grieving and who are in various stages of this process. We do not merely sell a consumer product, we provide a service and as a tombstone business owner, we need to remember that it is an honour to be selected to assist the family who makes use of your services.

And that is why we only have one branch. I made that decision knowingly, not because I do not have aspirations of growing larger (which we have over the 15 years), but because my concern is that I do not want to loose that family atmosphere we have at our company. We believe in family, I want to engage with my clients, I get joy from being on the showroom floor, meeting clients, old clients popping in for a cup of coffee. If I have more branches to manage, the less engaged I feel I will become with people.  I want my clients to know if they want to see me, they know all they have to do is come to our showroom and they will find me there to assist them in away I am able.

In this world of technology and "faceless" communication, I feel we are moving a way from each other, we are forgetting how to connect with each other on a deep and personal level. Here at Forget me not Tombstones, we believe in making these connections with people.

We sit and listen to our clients, hear the stories of their loved ones, how they passed on, how they who are left behind are coping. Its not just a memorial, its so much more than that. I feel completely honoured to be apart of the process, to hear these stories. It is often so hard to find the words to describe to someone how it feels to do a tombstone for a family, because for me it truly is a gift.

That is why I have put a lot of emphasis on our Design LAB lately, I work closely with each client to create the perfect memorial that encompasses the love for a deceased family member.
From just an idea or merely one design component you wish to incorporate, I will create design options for you to have a look at. I will assist you every step of the way of the design process, from conception to reality.

So when you come to Forget me not Tombstones you will be welcomed into a family atmosphere, you might even see clients making a cup of coffee for themselves in the kitchen - we truly are family here. There is nothing superficial about us, we are a family run business and we offer a loving, caring service to our clients.  Our relationship with you lasts a lifetime.

We may not be the biggest tombstone company or the "flashiest" either, but one thing is for sure without a shadow of a doubt, we truly do care, We treat you and your loved one with respect and the dignity you deserve - not only that, we offer cutting edge designs and one of a kind memorials. Creativity abounds here at Forget me not Tombstones.

You are not just a name and number here at Forget me not Tombstones, no matter what product you
buy from us, each client is important and we look forward to welcoming you to the
Forget me not Tombstones Family.


Blessing and Light

Tasch

Tombstone Birthday Specials!

We are having incredible savings at the moment!
It started today and it ends on the 5th of September 2015.
All the prices are up on the website. Our traditional memorials are on special.

Click on our website link below:
www.forgetmenottombstones.co.za

And if you have any questions or require further information please feel free to email us!

We look forward to assisting you!

Blessing and Light

Tasch

Refocusing

Here at Forget me not Tombstones we pride ourselves in being open and honest to all our clients. Our mission is not only to provide a product, but to also provide an individual service to each customer. The work we do has the potential to touch many lives and we take that very seriously.

With the ever increasing competition in our industry and the escalation in fly-by-nights,  as well as a less than ideal economy, tombstone manufacturing has become a saturated market in South Africa.  As business owners we sometimes loose focus on our initial ethos when times become challenging. However, that is the exact moment when you need to hold onto your beliefs and business ethics. Those are the components that made you stand out from the crowd before, and created a large client base.

In the remaining six months of this year, we are refocusing all our efforts and attention to client care and service. As our motto says “Big enough to cope … Small enough to care.”  On a personal note, I have grown greatly as a person since being involved in this industry, and have made life long friends with many of my clients. A tombstone is not only a product to be scrutinised for quality and excellence , but it is the embodiment of the love a family has for a special person that has passed. Here at Forget me not Tombstones, we understand this and feel privileged that each one of our customer’s are selecting us to walk with them on this journey.

The design lab is going to be closely collaborating with our sales department  in order to fine-tune our client services we offer to the public. Design appointments can be set up with us on a Saturday from 9 –12pm. Please feel free to email us to make an appointment, we look forward to sitting with you and brainstorming ideas to create the perfect memorial for your loved one.


We have also just launched our new rose on eco kerbs with white marble stones, which we are selling at R4600.00 – all inclusive.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact us.
We look forward to being of assistance.
Please come visit our showroom to view some of the memorials we offer, sit and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee while you browse our catalogues.




Blessings and Light

Tasch

Inspirational Wording

We haven't posted some new memorial wording for a while now on our blog, so I have made a new selection below, to give you some inspiration when composes your very important message for your loved one.

We think of you in silence
We often speak your name
But all we have are memories
And your picture in a frame.
Your resting place we visit
And put flowers there with care
But no one knows the heartache
As we turn and leave you there.

Tenderly we treasure the past
Memories that will always last
When we cease to think of you
Will be when God has called us too.

Wonderful memories woven in gold
This is a picture I tenderly hold
Deep in my heart a memory is kept
To love, to cherish, never to forget.

Deep in my heart you will always stay
Loved and remembered every day.

It broke my heart to lose you
But you didn't go alone
For a part of me went with you
The day God called you home.

The years may wipe out many things
But this they'll wipe out never
The memory of those happy days
Which we have spent together.

Those we love we never lose
For always they will be
Loved, remembered, treasured

Always in our memory.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any queries or you need assistance

Blessings and Light

Tasch