McAlister-Smith scales preneed without sacrificing quality

Innovation is a given at McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation.

The firm continuously adapts to changing consumer preferences, developing new ways to enhance the experiences it provides to families in Charleston, South Carolina. They even have an in-house concierge team that handles everything from booking caterers to renting Airbnbs.

But preneed was an ongoing challenge. They recognized its importance in educating families and creating a personalized plan in advance. What they needed was a partner who could match their high standards for care and help them sustainably scale.

A Lack of Support Before Precoa

Meeting families’ needs in Charleston means balancing tradition with a growing demand for highly personalized services.

From historic churches to waterfront gatherings, the way families choose to remember their loved ones has expanded, and McAlister-Smith works hard to meet those moments with exceptional quality.

“We accommodate every family’s final wishes,” says Parker Smith, executive vice president and funeral director. “Preneed is very important in terms of personalization so that when the time comes, many of the decisions have already been made.”

Preneed is very important in terms of personalization so that when the time comes, many of the decisions have already been made. Parker Smith EVP & Funeral Director | McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation

The funeral home knew there was more potential to unlock in its market, but the question was how to consistently prearrange a higher volume of Charleston’s families.

It would take proactive outreach through targeted marketing, a proven system for appointment setting, and sales support for their Advance Funeral Planners.

That’s when Precoa came into the picture.

Pro Performance with Precoa

As soon as McAlister-Smith partnered with Precoa, they started seeing results.

“We instantly saw a big shift with Precoa’s Pro model,” says Parker. “The acceleration rate just compounded month after month, and it was really exciting to watch.”

We instantly saw a big shift with Precoa. Parker Smith EVP & Funeral Director | McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation

From generating leads through data-driven direct mail to a steady stream of community education events, Precoa amplified McAlister-Smith’s reach into new corners of their market.

And the momentum didn’t stop there. It flowed directly into the Funeral Planning Center, where consistent follow-ups and quality appointment setting turned interest into action.

“It requires a lot of bandwidth for staff to call every family, every organization, and every church to host an event,” Parker says. “Precoa is a huge marketing arm that supports our people to do what they do best.”

Not only did the firm start seeing more leads and more appointments, but they were connecting with families whose interest had already been sparked. They were eager to take the next step and have meaningful conversations about prearranging.

Precoa is a huge marketing arm that supports our people to do what they do best. Parker Smith EVP & Funeral Director | McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation

Acceleration That Lasts

The early impact was clear, but what stood out most was what happened next.

“Our numbers never sloped off,” says Parker. “While some providers come in and saturate a market until the numbers dwindle, Precoa helped us reach a higher volume and then stabilize it long-term. It’s a sustainable program.”

Our numbers never sloped off. Parker Smith EVP & Funeral Director | McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation

That consistency makes all the difference.

Rather than experiencing spikes and slowdowns, McAlister-Smith’s preneed program continues to perform. They now have a partner they can rely on to support their teams and maintain ongoing momentum.

The result is a serious competitive advantage with operational advantages as well.

“With payroll being so high at many funeral homes, it’s nice to have additional help without adding payroll,” Parker says. “Precoa helps strengthen your team, builds them up, and gives them resources they’ve never had before.”

Precoa helps strengthen your team, builds them up, and gives them resources they’ve never had before. Parker Smith EVP & Funeral Director | McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation

A Better Experience for Everyone

Today, McAlister-Smith is positioned to continue growing their brand and catering to the needs of even more families.

Parker and his team quickly recognized the opportunity to transition two at-need funeral directors into full-time Advance Funeral Planners. With Precoa’s support, they’re able to spend more time meeting with families and educating them on the value of ceremony, ritual, and gathering before a loss.

Just as important, the firm can continue to innovate with confidence, knowing that preneed is steadily working in the background to create even more new opportunities.

In short, the preneed experience has improved for families, Advance Funeral Planners, and the funeral home.

For Parker, the conclusion is simple.

“If you’re on the fence, I say jump over and get on board with Precoa,” says Parker. “It’s an awesome partnership, and it’s an incredible program to be a part of.”

If you’re on the fence, I say jump over and get on board with Precoa. Parker Smith EVP & Funeral Director | McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation