With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we are starting to think about family gatherings, holiday parades, feasting on turkey, and the taste of warm pumpkin pie. This is also the time of year when we are driven to reflect on the many blessings that have been bestowed upon us.
While our nation has made significant strides in the battle against COVID-19, challenges remain prevalent in the personal and professional lives of all Americans. Perhaps a silver lining that has come out of the pandemic is we have become a more gracious society, at home and in the workplace.
Trigard has overcome numerous obstacles and enjoyed some definite successes in 2021. Throughout this journey we have been reminded time and time again of the importance of gratitude. On behalf of the Darby family, I’d like to share why we are thankful this year and express our appreciation to all those who share our vision to be a strong, viable, innovative leader.
The Trigard Team
Over the course of the last eleven months, we saw a large increase in production and can attribute a good portion of it to the pandemic. From manufacturing, to Human Resources, to marketing and customer service, the Trigard team has really stepped up to the plate to ensure our customers continue to get what they need, when they need it.
As a company, we have grown by adding equipment, people, and even facilities to better manage our new volumes, all requiring additional education and training. This fall we implemented a temporary second shift and offered overtime to make sure our key products were made efficiently without compromising quality. Our family has been amazed by the staff’s “whatever it takes” attitude and willingness to adapt to new processes.
Trigard products serve a great purpose, and we are fortunate to employ a group of people who proudly respect that purpose. Our family owes a debt of thanks to everyone who worked countless hours, sacrificed vacations, and missed family events to meet demand. In a world where devoted employees are hard to find, we are thankful to have the internal support to get us through these prosperous, yet difficult times.
Burial and Urn Vault Dealers
Trigard burial vault dealers were clearly stretched thin in 2021. Many plants serviced two to three times more than normal volume during the daylight hours only to turn around and pour vaults well into the evening. While our dealers recognized increased sales and revenue, they remained focused on providing the same level of service their funeral home clients had come to expect when the market was more predictable.
Vault service personnel exposed themselves to unknown risks early in the pandemic when little was known about the virus’s true danger and transmission possibilities. They further demonstrated their commitment to the industry by supporting the needs of local communities. When COVID was at its peak, they provided bulk deliveries to the areas that were most impacted.
We would like to acknowledge all of the vault dealers who have gone above and beyond this year. We are thankful for our new partners who have come on board and for those we have long-standing relationships with, many of which date back several generations.
Family
After living through over a year and a half of Covid, one sure thing we are grateful for is family. We know of so many who have lost loved ones, and we do not take the health of our family for granted. Although some have gotten sick, we have come through with a resolve to live life to the fullest.
There isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t encourage, motivate, and challenge one another for the betterment of the company. We are blessed to have the privilege of working with family, and more importantly we are thankful to be alive to serve others.
Happy Thanksgiving!
As we pause to think about everything we are thankful for, the well-being of all those who impact the different aspects of our lives are certainly top of mind. We would also be remiss to not express appreciation to the healthcare professionals for remaining devoted to compassionately caring for all those near and dear to us.
In closing, the Darby family would like to extend our tidings to you for a happy Thanksgiving. We wish nothing more than this end-of-year season to bring you and those you love togetherness, hope, and happiness.
