Dina Lu's Blog

Vector Marketing is the sole distributor of Cutco Knives, which its sales representatives market to others through in-home demonstrations.

I chose to blog about Vector because a friend referred me to Vector in June 2012. At the interview, I learnt that I would earn $17 per in-home demonstration, starting at a commission of 10%. A three day unpaid training session is required, and sales reps must deposit $100 for a package of knives for the demonstrations.

The reason Vector Marketing has been targeted for unethical practices is its marketing strategy. It is mainly multi-level marketing, with new reps hardly making sales, and few at the top making $100,000 a year (Gunn, Wall Street Journal). Usually, college students are pulled into interviews without knowing much about the details of the job. Sales reps must build their own clientèle, attend weekly meetings unpaid, and pay for their own transportation.

I chose not to continue with Vector because of the company’s reputation. However, according to Marie Artim, Enterprise Rent-A-Car recruitment assistant vice president, Vector Marketing can develop “communication skills, discipline and a work ethic, knowledge of customer service, sales and marketing, and the ability to work on your own” (Gunn, Wall Street Journal).