Cutco: Difference between revisions
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Employees can only begin to attempt sales after purchasing or borrowing a sample set of Cutco knives to show customers. Some Vector programs allow representatives to attain a sample set free of charge, while others offer the set at a 70% discounted price or security deposit of $135 pretax. The $143.10 paid for the sample set will be refunded upon the return of the knives if so chosen to do so. |
Employees can only begin to attempt sales after purchasing or borrowing a sample set of Cutco knives to show customers. Some Vector programs allow representatives to attain a sample set free of charge, while others offer the set at a 70% discounted price or security deposit of $135 pretax. The $143.10 paid for the sample set will be refunded upon the return of the knives if so chosen to do so. |
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== Misc == |
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CUTCO was recently featured on The History Channel program "Modern Marvels" in a show titled "World's Sharpest." http://www.cutco.com/company/video.jsp?play=modern_marvels |
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April 18, 2007 CUTCO joined the fight against heart disease and through 2008 will donate a minimum of $200,000 to The American Heart Association. CUTCO has teamed up with the powerful Go Red For Women movement to fight this disease. |
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==Advancement== |
==Advancement== |
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Revision as of 22:00, 21 May 2008
| File:Cutco logo.png | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Kitchen accessories |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Headquarters | Olean, New York |
| Products | Cutlery |
| Revenue | Over $200 million |
Number of employees | over 800 |
| Website | www.cutco.com |
CUTCO is a brand of cutlery and kitchen accessories directly marketed to customers through in-home consultations with independent sales representatives who are almost exclusively college students.[1][2][3] The products cannot be purchased in stores. Cutco is owned by Alcas and has been in business since 1949. All its knives are produced in Olean, New York in the United States, although a few products (such as the ice cream scoop and the metal heads of the flatware) are partially made outside the US.[1] More than 100 kitchen cutlery products are sold under the Cutco name, as well as a variety of kitchen gadgets, utensils and flatware.
Product
Cutco claims that their cutting edge is sharp. The company also claims to polish and resharpen all Cutco products if they are mailed back to the company. Some features include a modified serrated edge Cutco calls a "Double-D" edge and ergonomic handles. Cutco also offers a "forever guarantee" that "Cutco is the last set of knives you will ever have to buy."
The Double-D Edge describes an edge with V-shaped serrations separated by recessed straight segments of blade. The company claims that the recessed edge is protected from dulling caused by cutting on an unsuitable surface due to small cutting length that touches a hard surface such as a cutting board while the blades do the actual cutting. Unlike other serrated knives, Cutco knives can be mailed back to Cutco for professional resharpening for only the charge of shipping and handling.[4][5]
Handles are made of Thermoresin (injection-molded thermoplastic).
The blade of the knives are made of High Quality Surgical Stainless Steel, grade 440, which are made of the similar to the scalpels that hospitals use. The reason for the use of this high quality steel is to ensure the strength and sanitation of the knives.
Vector Marketing
Vector Marketing is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Alcas Corporation and does all of the marketing of the Cutco products.
Recognition
Vector Marketing offers scholarship opportunities, trophies, bonuses, pins, shirts, awards, free products, conferences (recognizing rep. performance), trips, and even national attention. Vector Marketing deeply cares about the representatives they launch and enjoys recognizing them for their success.
Awards
- Winner of 2002 [Union Label & Service Trades Department, AFL-CIO] Labor-Management Award
- Winner of 2002 Share Our Strength "Frontier Award" for its contributions fighting hunger
Memberships
- Direct Selling Association (DSA)
- Direct Marketing Association (DMA)
- Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Controversies and criticisms
Cutco and its marketing arm, Vector Marketing, have been the subject of varied controversy. Vector Marketing's employment tactics have been targeted for criticism, specifically for deceptive recruitment practices. Vector was sued by the Arizona Attorney General in 1990, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in 1999, and was ordered by the state of Wisconsin not to deceive recruits in 1994. Each time their legal trouble revolved around allegedly fraudulent recruiting tactics, and each time Vector settled and promised not to mislead their recruits anymore.
In the early 2000s, Vector made what they called "transparency" changes to become more upfront about what they offered representatives. Vector asserts that many of the people who were in upper-level positions with Vector 10 to 15 years ago when most of the criticism occurred no longer work with the company. Groups of former Cutco employees or contractors argue that these changes have not altered Cutco's business practices.
The company tells recruits they can make significant profits, but depending on multiple factors, they may only make a few hundred dollars a month. Like many sales positions profit depends largely on the sales reps.[6].
Employees can only begin to attempt sales after purchasing or borrowing a sample set of Cutco knives to show customers. Some Vector programs allow representatives to attain a sample set free of charge, while others offer the set at a 70% discounted price or security deposit of $135 pretax. The $143.10 paid for the sample set will be refunded upon the return of the knives if so chosen to do so.
Advancement
Offices run by the various District Managers and Branch Managers employ assistant managers to assist there offices and promotions based on sales. Vector Marketing claims that every person in the firm went through the training program and advanced through the ranks with everyone starting as a representative.
References
- ^ Chu, Kathy, College students learn from job of hard knocks: Door-to-door sales draw thousands every summer, retrieved 2007-10-12
- ^ Davis, Jana, What is 'Work For Students' anyway?, retrieved 2007-10-12
- ^ Hardgrove, Caitlin, Sophomore wins award, retrieved 2007-10-12
- ^ Cutco Forever Guarantee
- ^ Cutco Sharpening Policy
- ^ Guardian