EI Featured on ESPN

When viewers tuned into ESPN on March 16 they learned what being a die-hard fan was all about.  EI was featured in a nine minute piece on “Outside the Lines,” an Emmy-winning investigative series that examines sports issues off the playing field. (The piece has since gone on to re-air in several edited versions on Sports Center and ESPNews.)

The story began in Europe and traveled to the US, documenting companies that are giving sports fans a way to honor for eternity the passion they have for their teams. The segment profiles EI’s role in the changing world of funeral personalization and planning. It was partially filmed at EI’s headquarters in Farmington Hills last month and at our exhibit booth at the National Funeral Directors Association Expo last fall.

Our CEO, Clint Mytych, was interviewed and viewers heard testimony from two EI customers who purchased Major League Baseball urns, one urn for himself, the other for his father.

Our CEO, Clint Mytych, was interviewed and viewers heard testimony from two EI customers who purchased Major League Baseball urns, one fan for himself, the other for his father. ESPN also sat down with Dennis McGee from Henry Funeral Home in New Jersey, a carrier of Eternal Image products. During the interview, McGee explained why the licensed urns practically sell themselves. To see the piece, visit ESPN.com and type "Eternal Image" into the search box.

From the Investor’s Standpoint

From Jim Parliament

We hit the ground running in 2008 as we continued our energetic efforts to expand our business into the global marketplace that is becoming increasingly more aware of our product line through worldwide media coverage -- most recently our profile featured on ESPN in March.

Each month has seen steady growth and progress as we expand into the second phase of our development:

The year started with the announcement of the filing of our SB2 Registration to the SEC. That same day the company implemented a reverse stock split (1 for 20) in order to better position the stock for OTCBB trading and retired four billion of its authorized shares. In compliance with SEC rules, the company also debuted a new stock symbol, ETNL.

We announced our first joint manufacturing effort with our European partner, Remeire Ltd. of Ireland, which will produce two new branded urns to be crafted from wood designed exclusively for Eternal Image and be made available worldwide.

In February, we announced that we had booked more than $203,000 in open sales orders as our new national sales manager, David DeAvila went on the road to bring our products into ever-increasing industry awareness and acceptance.

The month of March continued the ongoing expansion with announcements of a significant Stock Restructuring by reducing the number of Authorized Shares by more than one billion shares.

In addition, our agreement with Covington International Funeral Supply, one of the largest distributors of caskets and urns in the Midwest distributing to 250 funeral homes throughout Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee was finalized.

As was the agreement to make available our licensed urns for dogs to members of the United States military and their families worldwide through the Army and Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES).

In the end, if earnings and balance sheets were the sole measure of a company’s value, there would be no auction market. It could all be done by computer. However, we are in the “people business” and our products are designed to celebrate lives and bring joyful memories which cannot be calibrated by bits and bytes. Our efforts will be redoubled in the coming months as we continue to grow and mature as a Company and strive to maintain transparency, candor and ongoing progress as key factors in renewing and building investor confidence as we go forward.

Companies Pitching Eternal Image for National Distribution

Being the first to design, manufacture and market licensed branded funeral products has not gone unnoticed by the rest of the funeral industry. That’s why EI has revealed it is being courted by several leading funeral industry companies seeking national distribution rights.

We are giving these propositions very serious consideration,” Clint reports. “We just haven’t made a final decision on whether or not we will entertain any partnerships on the national level.”

Adds VP of Sales, Nick Popravsky, “We are pleased that these highly recognized companies are giving us such careful consideration. These types of talks can only mean that we are moving in the right direction.”

What is driving the interest? Customers are asking for the EI products by name, partially due to our successful media relations program. The company and products have recently been featured on ESPN, National Public Radio, Fox Business News, KYW-AM in Philadelphia and The Detroit News. EI product was also included in a series about trends in the funeral industry on The CBS Early Show.

In Europe, this month’s issue of Total Licensing also features a spread on EI focusing on why Clint and his team chose to break into the funeral industry with the licensing concept. It also mentions Eternal Image Europe and how the company is making its products available to people all over the world. To see the coverage visit the Eternal Image website.

EI is Gearing up and Growing for NFDA 2008

If you saw our booth in 2007, you know it is never too early to start planning for the next National Funeral Directors’ Association Expo – this one in Orlando during October 2008. EI signed a contract this month with NFDA for a 1,600 square foot booth, nearly tripling our space over last year. (We had a 600 square foot space at the 2007 Expo, where it was honored with the “Best of Show” Exhibitors Award for the “Club EI” display.)

“We don’t want to give it away, but let’s just say our booth this year will surpass expectations,” according to Nick Popravsky. “We thought it would only be appropriate to design the theme of the display in relationship to where we will be, sunny Florida.”

Stay tuned for more information in upcoming newsletters about new products and services that will be on display in our exhibit!

Discover the Healing Power of a Loved one’s Passion

A Message from David DeAvila, National Director of Sales

It has been an incredible first 90 days with EI. Seeing the many requests from consumers and funeral homes for our products has shown me the unique responsibility that Eternal Image has in bringing healing to hundreds and even thousands of families across America.

Sales for Eternal Image and the funeral homes that carry our products is not just about moving product. It is also about assisting families with the healing process. Funeral directors are experts at helping families through the grieving process; yet when families leave funeral homes they are still in pain over their loss. Eternal Image caskets and urns aid in the healing process for these families by celebrating their loved one's passion for a favorite team, movie, collectible or faith.

In addition to pre-need and at-need circumstances for Eternal Image products, we are seeing a surge for post-need application of our products. Many families, after finding out about EI, are requesting branded urns to transfer their loved ones' cremated remains into in order to celebrate their passions in life.

We are looking forward to increased demand for the remainder of 2008 as more and more families become aware of our product offerings; more so as we continue to add licenses to our product vocabulary. Together we can help families heal the pain of a lost loved one.