BRIGHTENING up the Big Chill is boosting business for an Oxford firm.

Sales at Colourful Coffins, in Cowley, have jumped by 30 per cent each year for the past three years, thanks to the popularity of its personalised picture caskets.

And the family firm, launched 10 years ago, broke through the £1m barrier last year.

But new managing director Chris Lima, who takes over from founder Mary Tomes, wants to grow turnover even more.

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Colourful Coffins, which supplies its unique caskets to funeral directors all over the UK, is taking on three more staff, including two apprentices in design and production.

Handing over the reins to Mr Lima will allow Mrs Tomes and her husband Kevin to concentrate on design.

Mr Lima, former managing director at Milton Park-based Simon Hegele Logistics, said the biggest challenge is convincing more funeral directors to offer the offbeat coffins to grieving relatives.

He explained: “Most people are still not aware that personalised coffins are available, so we need to raise public awareness.

“Funeral arrangers are the gate keepers and we have to overcome their worry that people may not want these products.

“But one of the most rewarding things is seeing how much families get from being involved in designing a coffin for someone they have lost and how it helps them with the healing process and the comfort they take from it.

“It plays a part because it puts a positive aspect to the bereavement process.”

The firm, which employs 15 people, will launch a range of order of service and condolence books to match casket designs and plans to start a Facebook page for families.

He added: “Families are very happy with our product and we know this because they talk to us via email and on the phone.

“What we want to do is create a safe place where they can share their experiences.

“We have the ability to play an important part in changing the way the public views the difficult subjects of death and funerals and to me that’s a very exciting prospect.

“We have a very strong brand and I want to build on that, while also doing things a little bit differently.”

 

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