Independent Advantage
INDEPENDENT ADVANTAGE
INDEPENDENT ADVANTAGE (IA)
Independent Advantage (IA) was founded in 1995. It is the culmination of an initiative started by a number of owners of independent casket companies (spearheaded by our own C.J. Thacker) to counter the growing incursion of corporate owned firms in the funeral industry.
These visionaries realized the many advantages inherent in working as a group rather than individually to secure lower prices for purchased goods, to coordinate advertising campaigns, and to compete effectively against the industry’s “big guys”. Today, IA is comprised of 17 member firms. The list of members includes:
- Balanced Line Casket Company Inc. Cambridge City, IN 800-382-6934
- The Haven Line Industries Schuylkill Haven, PA 800-222-3431
- Reynoldsville Casket Company, Inc. Reynoldsville, PA 800-441-8224
- Southland Casket Company, Inc. Atlanta, GA 800-241-0032
- Sumter Casket Company Sumter, SC 800-552-5251
- Thacker Caskets, Inc. Clinton, MD 800-637-8891
- Century Casket Company Westland, MI 734-728-3200
- Esser Manufacturing Company, Inc. Houston, TX 713-224-8526
- Hoffman Burial Supplies, Inc. Peoria, IL 800-397-1567
- J & R Manufacturing Long Island City, NY 718-729-4555
- E. C. Manger & Son Company Green Bay, WI 800-626-4377
- Midwest Casket Company Salt Lake City, UT 801-328-9849
- The Northwestern Casket Company Minneapolis, MN 800-869-1357
- M. Solomon Casket Company Cranston, RI 800-521-1006
- Sound Casket Company Everett, WA 800-735-7274
- J. I. Astley Associates, Inc. Pickering, Ontario, Canada 800-263-4616
- PBF Manufacturing Company, Inc. Phoenix, AZ 800-437-2556
Because of their combined strength, the IA member firms can meet and exceed the services offered by the Corporate owned casket makers. The IA “personal touch” is appreciated by Funeral Directors, and the cost savings to customers can be appreciable.
IA sponsors at least 3 meetings per year for its members at which important issues of mutual concern are discussed. Committees present their prepared research on a variety of previously assigned topics, and outside speakers are invited to share their valued perspectives regarding key matters of the day.
>> For more information about Independent Advantage please visit our web site at: www.independentadvantage.com
