FAQ's |
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| Q: What kind of work is this? |
| A: At Vector Marketing, everyone starts in the same entry-level position as a sales representative. Vector Marketing's sales representatives schedule appointments and introduce prospective customers to CUTCO through one-on-one, in-home demonstrations. Our products have been sold in just this way for over 55 years, and more than 14 million customers enjoy and use Cutco in their kitchens every day. A representative's primary activities include:
- Setting appointments with potential customers through personal contacts and referrals.
- Presenting Cutco products to prospective customers and taking orders.
- Reviewing personal performance with the local office manager through meetings and over the phone.
- Attending advanced training sessions and conferences that are regularly offered to increase knowledge and productivity.
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| Q: Do I need experience? |
| A: Vector Marketing provides training, so no previous experience is required to work with us. New representatives participate in training, normally over three consecutive days, at a local Vector Marketing office. This initial training seminar is designed to instill confidence in the trainee who may have limited work experience. While the training is unpaid, most participants consider it to be a worthwhile and productive use of their time. Vector Marketing's training program is interactive and engaging, with a focus on role-playing and building confidence. Regular conferences provide another opportunity to sharpen skills, such as goal-setting, time management, phone skills, referral generation, and financial management. |
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| Q: What are the qualifications? |
| A: Sales positions offer the potential for great rewards; they also demand resilience and commitment. In our experience, successful representatives have several common traits:
- Initiative
- Self-motivation
- Flexibility
- Accountability
- Positive outlook
- Learns quickly
- Takes direction
Students who have a low tolerance for risk, or who must earn a guaranteed income may become quickly frustrated in a sales position, where earnings can be uncertain and largely dependent on effort. On the other hand - if you are looking for a challenge, a chance to build new skills and want to stretch your limits - Vector Marketing is a great place to start. Applicants must be 17 or older and high school graduates. |
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| Q: What's in it for me? |
| A: In addition to the practical business experience Vector Marketing provides, the work offers other tangible and intangible rewards. Vector Marketing offers a base pay per appointment, regardless of whether a purchase is made. There is no minimum number of appointments or sales required to receive the base pay. Commissions on sales are paid weekly. Reps are guaranteed to average at least the base pay for appointments completed regardless of sales made. This program enhances the confidence of a new representative while also maintaining comfortable purchasing environment for our customers.
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| Q: How do I get appointments? |
| A: As with any type of business, representatives get started with people they know. In training, representatives learn how to get referrals (a key element of any business transaction). This is how representatives grow their business. Does this mean that within a few days or weeks, reps are meeting with people they don't know personally? Yes. Our referral program is based on a "friends of friends" approach which has proven to be quite effective. Field trainers are available to take newer reps on appointments and provide coaching. In addition, reps learn how to qualify a prospect's likelihood to purchase, which optimizes the potential for a sale. |
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| Q: What work schedules are available? |
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Because reps are independent contractors, they set their own schedules and determine how many appointments they will conduct in a given week. There is no minimum number of hours a sales rep must work, and a representative's schedule can vary from day to day. It's not uncommon for a rep to work consistently at the beginning of a semester for example, and then take off to study for finals. |
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| Q: Are there any start-up costs? |
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Upon completion of training, representatives receive a fully refundable Cutco sample set that has a retail value of $472. In exchange, the company collects a security deposit of $135 (plus local tax where applicable). The deposit is first explained during the interview process. Upon accepting the position, each representative then receives a take home piece that describes the deposit. During training, the deposit is reviewed once more in order to ensure complete understanding.
The security deposit is refunded in full, at any point, when the samples are returned. Representatives may also choose to keep the samples for their personal use at no additional cost. The deposit is held and refunded by the corporation, not the local office. |
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| Q: What does it take to be succesful? |
| A: The most successful people make a commitment to the effort, respond to training with a positive attitude, and communicate frequently when they need assistance.
Sales positions offer the potential for great rewards; they also demand resilience and commitment. People who have a low tolerance for risk, or who must earn a guaranteed income may become quickly frustrated in a sales position, where earnings can be uncertain and largely dependent on effort.
On the other hand -- if you are looking for a challenge, a chance to build new skills and want to stretch your limits, sales can be a great first step in becoming an entrepreneur. |
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| Andrea Anderson |
| "You're running a mini-business...there's a lot of opportunity for personal growth." |
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| David Bostick |
| “Vector Marketing stroked my entrepreneurial side. It showed me that I could not only sell, but that I was really good at it.” |
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| Richard White |
| "Vector Marketing is a great place to start. They provide excellent sales training, and Rutgers students have really thrived at Vector..." |
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