Twenty years ago Jennie’s father had just passed away (days earlier) when she got a call from Lee Trevail to say that she was out of a job and H Trevail and Sons (a Sydney based coffin manufacturer and at the time Jennie’s employer) would be closing. Days later, Jennie all but purchased the moulds to the coffin hardware and other equipment and started Final Touch Australia (FTA) on the 14th of February 2005.
From our humble beginnings operating out of a small warehouse and a home office with one employee, just herself, and a goal of reaching 5-7 years in business. To the three warehouses and 16 staff it is today. It is humbling to know that our small family business that started 20 years ago has become a household name across the industry in Australia. Even more humbling is seeing our cremation urns in the homes of people we know and love, so they can take their loved one’s home in a way that speaks to their relationship, personality and style.
While it was rewarding to make a difference to the operations of a funeral professional and still is, it wasn’t until the addition of urns that Jennie truely felt connected to the difference our range made in the lives of those grieving. To know that what FTA did, had such an impact on the entire process of farewelling and memorialising a loved one. Since then, with the addition of The Grief Shelf Range and now the Take A Moment range this feeling is even more evident.
Jennie worked in the industry for 11 years before she took on the task of FTA and many times was asked if she was the one assisting Lionel in the business, not the other way around. To which Lionel always responded that it was all her, and that he worked full time elsewhere. He did of course support her unwaveringly before he officially joined the team in 2012 as the business’ third employee and spent countless annual leave days at trade shows, conferences and on sales trips.
It should go without saying that our clients and their families are the driver of everything we do, that we will go above and beyond. So instead of telling you this, I will tell you something we live by daily. A saying that is hanging on the wall of our office. “How do we do it better” not better than others but better than ourselves. Over the last 20 years, Jennie has grown the range and the business, teaching us all the art of humbly assessing the business to continually adapt to the needs of the industry and not just do what we want to.
Supporting Jennie and Lionel in the business is myself Chantelle and my sister Hayley. We are backed by an incredible team which currently is Joanne, Carmel, Nikki, Renee, Tegan, Caitlin, Adam, Sandra, Melissa, Chris, Jordan and Sarah.
While this year is all about celebrating the major milestone that is 20 years as FTA and all that has been achieved, it is so worth celebrating the succession of the business. In July this year, Jennie and Lionel, while still owning the business will retire and I (Chantelle) will be stepping into the very large shoes that is Jennie’s role as CEO.
As a child ofafamily business, I am abundantly aware of its challenges, its privileges and the occupational hazard that is talking business at the dinner table. However, the major privilege that stands out for me is the opportunity to get to know my parents in a whole new way, not just as parents but as friends, colleagues and mentors.
At the risk of ‘big noting’ them, I am extremely proud of the challenges they have overcome, the strength of both their and our relationships, their tenacity, their drive to take risks, their ability to view challenges as just that, the relationships they have formed, their unwavering moral standards and so much more.
Thank you all for being a part of FTA, you have helped us to grow.