A firm of undertakers is causing a stir in the suburbs by showing off its coffins in a brightly-lit shop window.
The company – called Go As You Please – have a tartan casket in the display and promise to make coffins in any style the “customer” wants, including Nessie, an Irn Bru can or a Buckfast bottle.
The firm’s no-nonsense approach to the business of death has raised eyebrows in the Willowbrae area of Edinburgh where they recently opened their first branch north of the border.
Based in what was recently the office of the SNP’s former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill, the shopfront has been described by some locals as “in bad taste”.
One wrote on the firm’s Facebook page: “This funeral parlour has just opened in Edinburgh and I have to say their window display is dreadful. It is full of coffins. Very poor taste.”
But one of the bosses of the Newcastle-based firm insist they mean no disrespect and simply hope to change people’s perceptions about funerals.
Jason Ridley said: “When families come to see us they are in a distraught state. Funerals can be a celebration of life, that’s why when they look at the coffins, they can see it’s a celebration of their loved ones life and who they were.
“We offer traditional but also personal designed coffins so if a family want to choose a unique style they can.
“We’ve made one before for the family of a deceased man who loved fishing which featured rods and salmon and on another occasion, a snooker table style one.
“We’ve made a wine bottle one for someone who loved wine as a hobby. The whole coffin looked like a crate with the bottle inside it. We can make pretty much any coffin with photos and logos to give personal touches.”
He added: “Who knows what the future holds, there could be a Nessie one. The world’s your oyster when it comes to what we would do.”
Go As You Please, founded 15 years ago, typically charge £300-£400 for their coffins.
Jason said: “A lot of storefronts look dark and dingy but we want to look light and welcoming.
“We’ve had a little bit of negativity from people coming past because we are not what they’re used to. I knew there would be though. We’ve had a couple of people come in and say it doesn’t look good or that it’s slightly disrespectful.
“Our whole ethos is to be open and honest. People’s perception are changing.”
