Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen gain the advantage by being proactive

Adam Thielen believes everyone should have a plan. So when he and his wife Theresa bought Hoffman Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Crematory in 2019, they wanted to make sure their preneed program was active.

“I’ve been a funeral director for thirty years, and it is so much easier when families have preplanned,” Adam said. “When you are sitting across the table from families who have not, the difference is night and day.”

The Thielens wanted a preneed partner who cared about families as much as they do, one they felt proud to have representing their brand, and who consistently creates quality preneed experiences—and they found it all with Precoa.

Concerned About Preneed Before Precoa

The personal touch at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen is what sets them apart in the eyes of families. The funeral home receives constant positive feedback, and this is reflected by dozens of 5-star online reviews.

Unfortunately, that same level of quality and personalization had not carried over to preneed.

“Our previous provider approached it more like car sales,” Theresa said. “Their marketing led to lots of cancellations, and people would call us with concerns. Things weren’t being clearly explained, which was a problem because it’s our name going out there.”

And that name is important. As Iowa’s oldest funeral home, Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen has been serving the families of Dubuque for over 175 years.

“We want the families who preplan to be taken care of just like our at-need families,” Adam said. “Could Theresa or I sit down with every family and provide that level of care? Absolutely. But there are just not enough hours in the day for us to do it all.”

When the Thielens first heard about ProActive Preneed®, they were curious to learn more. Adam believes that being proactive is a competitive advantage.

A proactive program is good for families and good for the funeral home. Adam Thielen Owner | Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home

Getting ProActive

Adam sold preneed for years before partnering with Precoa. He had a solid understanding of products, processes, and what makes a good program. This also meant he had a lot of questions. When Precoa came to visit, he asked them all, and every question got answered.

“Precoa’s level of knowledge is impressive,” Adam said. “There was never a single ‘I don’t know, but I can find out’ response. All my questions were answered on the spot.”

So Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen signed with Precoa, and they noticed the difference right out of the gate.

“You see from that very first meeting how Precoa truly cares about families in the same way we do,” Adam said. “It wasn’t just a quick sale, but a long-term commitment to caring for families. People were no longer calling to cancel. It may sound silly, but with Precoa’s support and how they just take care of everything, it feels like they’re part of the family.”

Within a year, Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen had more than 2x their preneed volume.

It’s truly a night and day difference. With all the ways Precoa helps, it’s not just preplanning that they improve but every aspect of our business. Adam Thielen Owner | Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home

Consistent, Repeatable Results

With Precoa, Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen are reaching more families in their market.

Some are already familiar with the funeral home’s brand and ready to preplan. Others may be undecided and need days, weeks, or even years of sensitive nurturing. The advantage with Precoa is that the program is built to manage every kind of lead and inspire action at every level of interest. There is absolute consistency each step of the way, starting with the marketing.

"Being proactive is a huge advantage, and Precoa's message is very consistent,” Adam said. “They care about funeral service and celebrations, and they promote your brand. Everything they do is first class."

“I saw it at the very first ‘lunch and learn’ Precoa hosted,” Theresa said. “I loved the message that was being delivered and how the presentation was put together. I was inspired.”

Complete Preneed

The Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen name carries with it an important legacy. It’s one the Thielens want to build on as they keep progressing the level of care and personalized service they provide.

“Everything at the funeral home has been remodeled, and we’re focused on providing even more exceptional experiences for families,” Adam said. “With Precoa, we’re doing preneed the right way. And we’re doing it better.”

“With our updated facilities and our updated marketing, Precoa goes along with our overall image,” Theresa added. “Precoa’s approach is always positive, and being proactive helps more families get to know us on a more personal level.”

The Thielens look forward to continuing to grow and getting to know more families with support from Precoa.

“It is truly a night and day difference,” Adam said. “With all the ways Precoa helps, it’s not just preplanning that they improve but every aspect of our business. We’re not a huge funeral home, but we’re at a one-to-one ratio with at-need and preneed. That’s unheard of in a town of 60,000 like Dubuque, Iowa. It’s unreal.”