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Interview with Lee Nielsen

Oregon Memorials, Platinum Member

2-CCW: - What makes Oregon Memorials special in the memorialization industry?

We have been known for industry innovations with software, manufacturing, and products. Gordon instilled in his kids the same forward looking critical eye, and now with the second and third generations in place and operating OM and EGM, the innovations continue with products and processes that continue to impact the industry.

Nationwide, few stone companies can offer the diversity, depth of experience, and commitment delivered from Oregon Memorials. Understanding, caring, dedication, innovation, and excellence is our business.

• 250-plus years of combined sand blasting, craftsmanship, and fabrication experience
• State-of-the-art sandblast systems
• Custom design and cutting programs
• 6 full-time art department staff   

3-CCW –What trends do you see in memorialization?

 -It is interesting talking about trends. We could go on about cremation. That is a horse that had better be broke, have a saddle, and be ridden by now. It’s a reality and we have made steps for the last several years to provide new innovative ways to serve that ‘trend’ , and continue to expand and create our cremation offerings.

The trend I find most interesting is the trend to personalize memorials. We are producing more custom artwork and providing more custom shapes and styles for memorials than ever before. We have worked hard to educate our customers regarding the advantage of engaging families at a level conducive to creating these personal unique memorials. This trend is exciting and challenging. It forces us to come to the literal use of our motto “If you can imagine it, we can create it in stone”©.

4-CCW –How do you see Oregon Memorial positioned in the current market?

 -We have a position that is dynamically unique in the industry. Our competition sells retail to the public. Oregon Memorials deals in partnership with funeral homes and cemeteries. This eliminates the potential for conflict when a retail customer wants to put a memorial in YOUR cemetery. 

Another position alluded to earlier but bears repeating is the position of the Bronleewe family. This 2nd generation currently running Om and EGM, has been raised in a cemetery where their home became the HQ for Oregon Memorials, and later a FH. While there are many family memorial dealers in the US with generational experience, not many have had the unique ability to have grown up digging graves by hand, officiating funerals, making pre-arrangements, going on first calls, doing cemetery maintenance, etc. A couple brothers are still licensed funeral directors and one is a licensed embalmer. It has provided OM a “family first” mentality from a very deep level, something that multi-generational stone manufacturers just cannot duplicate. I believe it gives OM a distinct and rare position when it comes to serving our customers and their families.

5-CCW – What are the advantages of dealing with Oregon Memorials on both a personal and product level?

 -Great question…all the granite memorial dealers have access to the same rocks from the same quarries. So what then?? It comes down to service and experience with competitive pricing. We understand the impact of memorialization and strive to fulfill the trust that families and our customers put in us to create memorials that establish a “Legacy for Eternity™”. The advantage is not in the rock, it is in what you do with that rock and how you serve the families; essentially what you do with what you have been given.

 We feel we have a degree of personal engagement, attention to detail, a breadth and depth of experience that is unparalleled, and a commitment to excellence that is unrivaled. OM’s long time customers know this, and new ones discover this right away.

I will say one other thing about products. We have a new product to which we have a patent pending. There are only 6 people in the world that know how to accomplish this and one of them is a 3rd generation Bronleewe, the other 5 are our partners.  We call it Glass Art Imaging. Essentially it is the equivalent to tattooing granite. Where once black was the only color available to etch, now we can put any image on any stone in any color, and it’s permanent. We put a 50 year warranty on it. This is just another example of the industry innovations produced from OM.  We have just completed a Stations of the Cross project using GAI in Oregon. As you can see it is stunning in detail and design.

6- CCW –Why should Members purchase from Oregon Memorials?

 - If we haven’t given you enough reasons yet… how about because we are proud platinum members of CCW!!!

7-CCW –What do you like about CCW?

- I can say this: while many associations are losing members and vendors, it is a breath of fresh air to come to CCW each year and feel like we are getting a good ROI. Becoming a Platinum Member was a no-brainer for us. We really appreciate the connection it gives us to the group. When we were faced with decisions about which groups to support, continuing with CCW was easy. Other groups often make vendors feel like they are just paying the bills; CCW remains supportive and engaged with vendors.

8- CCW –If some members can’t make it to see you next year in Seattle (April 19-23, 2010, [shameless plug]) what is the best way to contact you?

- You can call 800-767-7866 and talk to our amazing customer service department, or visit our website www.oregonmemorials.com.