In this episode, we sit down with Jeff Smith, a third-generation funeral director and the visionary behind Smith Family Funeral Homes and Arkansas Cremation. Jeff’s journey is nothing short of remarkable—he has more than 10X’d his family’s business in Central Arkansas, built both traditional and cremation-focused funeral homes, and created a small death care empire.
In this episode, we sit down with Jeff Smith, a third-generation funeral director and the visionary behind Smith Family Funeral Homes and Arkansas Cremation. Jeff’s journey is nothing short of remarkable—he has more than 10X’d his family’s business in Central Arkansas, built both traditional and cremation-focused funeral homes, and created a small death care empire.
With 10 years of NFDA’s Pursuit of Excellence awards, his company is set to be inducted into the NFDA’s “Hall of Excellence” for their consistent achievement - a true testament to their dedication and impact in the industry.
Join us as we delve into Jeff's entrepreneurial spirit, the secrets to scaling multiple businesses, and his unique approach to funeral service. This conversation is packed with insights and inspiration you won’t want to miss!
Timestamps
(00:00) Intro
(01:06) Welcome to Direct Cremation Podcast
(02:03) Welcome Jeff Smith!
(02:41) Jeff's deathcare journey
(08:17) Jeff purchasing multiple funeral homes
(15:21) The consistency across Jeff's funeral homes
(21:20) Characteristics to look for when acquiring new funeral homes
(23:32) The thought process behind operating Arkansas Cremation
(32:56) Different levels/packages of direct cremation
(37:19) People becoming less traditional
(39:01) Jeff having multiple acquisitions in 2020-2021
(44:50) Jeff's pre-need life insurance company
(49:04) What's next for Jeff?
(50:01) The story behind the name "Cyrus"
(51:31) What's next for Cyrus Works?
(53:26) Post-covid consumer trends
(56:54) What Jeff thinks deathcare will look like in 10 years?
(01:04:37) Where to find Jeff Smith
For Innovative Funeral Directors Blazing a Trail.
A podcast for funeral home owners where we talk about trends & opportunities we see in the funeral home industry. We bring on death care professionals and cremation experts to share what they know.
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Want to start a cremation brand yourself? Learn how the some of the biggest cremation brands do it at https://www.partingpro.com