Vector Marketing

by Megan Raposa, Vector Marketing sales representative Successful businesswoman Martha Stewart once said, “I think it’s very important that whatever you’re trying to make or sell or teach has to be basically good. A bad product and you know what? You won’t be here in ten years.”  My experiences with Vector and the Cutco product are easily summed up in these words.  Sales is not an easy field to adapt to, but by selling a product that I know is good, I can sell it with assurance and ease.  My family has owned Cutco for more than 10 years now and being that there are seven of us, it’s not hard to imagine how often we use our Cutco knives, shears, and ice cream scoop.  I know firsthand how lasting the product is and how the company stands behind its promises. So, when I make a sale, I can confidently look my customers in the eye and say, “Congratulations, you’re going to love your Cutco! So, obviously I love the product.  But, the experience has been just as good.  This past summer with Vector taught me the importance of staying organized and being professional. Setting my own schedule, it would have been easy to become lazy and slack off. However, each morning that I got motivated, and got working, I found a personal satisfaction that cannot be found in a regular hourly job. There is something so refreshing in earning a paycheck based on my work ethic and skills in salesmanship. I’ve been a babysitter, a gift shop cashier, and a barista, but none of these jobs have succeeded in making me a better, more mature person in the same way as Vector. The best part about working with Vector is that, even though each person works at their own pace, we are all working together as a team. If I had a rough day of sales (and they did happen), I could look to my manager and fellow sales reps for comfort and support. And when I had great days with big sales, there was still that same support and healthy competition without jealousy or bitterness. I learned so many important lessons in my summer with Vector, but there is one lesson that I will take with me in whatever career I pursue: There is no limit to what I can accomplish if I pursue my goals with confidence.

It’s not surprising when you think about it, that during times of recession and economic stress, an increasing number of people consider an entrepreneurial venture.  If you’ve been laid off, for example, one positive response is to take your skills and abilities and start a business of your own doing something you’re passionate about.  But what if you don’t have start up funds?  What if you’re not sure what to pursue? What if you don’t know anything about running a business?  And what if you are still unemployed and you need a source of income? An immediate alternative for you might be direct sales.  Why not sell for a while and sock away some start-up funds for that new venture while learning the basics of running your own business with the support of an established company with great products and great training? As I write this I’m at 30,000 feet, flying from Florida back home to the Delaware Valley.  I went down there to attend a portion of NACCE’s annual conference and to meet with their key leadership.  What is NACCE?  It’s the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurs.  In plain English, it’s an association for community college professors who teach entrepreneurship and are engaged in economic development across the United States.  These programs are growing in popularity and are one important key to creating new jobs and improving the economy. And that’s what I was doing in Florida.  The Direct Selling Education Foundation (DSEF) has partnered with NACCE to develop a certificate in direct selling that can be offered at community colleges across the country for people who are just getting started in direct sales, or those who are considering it.  I’m so proud that Vector Marketing supports this type of philanthropic engagement. By lending my professional expertise, along with financial support, to this exciting new endeavor, we are laying the groundwork for an accessible educational experience that will help people grow and become economically secure.  We know that the people who enroll in the program may choose to work with another direct selling company, but that’s okay.  They’ll learn important skills, develop an understanding of the direct selling industry, and they may eventually start their own businesses that will fuel the economy.  And that helps all of us.

By Jessi Patterson Toledo, OH – Vector Marketing sales representative Punch in at 5pm. Work harder than most. Punch out at midnight. Get the same paycheck as co-workers who contributed far less in the workplace. Don’t you just hate that?  That was my reality before Vector Marketing. Now, I have the opportunity to choose my hours and control the size of my paycheck because with Vector, the harder I work, the more money I can make! Plus, advancing with this company isn’t about seniority, it’s about success.  If I’m successful, I’ll advance, regardless of how long (or how briefly) I’ve been working with the company. Seems too good to be true, right? What 18-year-old has this type of professional freedom? I didn’t believe it right away either until my friends finally convinced me to go in for an interview this past July. Now, I enjoy being able to set my own appointment times.  It makes it easy to work around other family and social commitments. Calling off of work and finding people to cover my shifts at my other jobs was a big hassle, but with Vector, I call the shots about my own schedule. The big selling point for me was the fact that my effort would actually make a difference in my income.  It didn’t matter how well I dried cars or how fast I could make a pizza, my paychecks were always the same. But selling Cutco, the harder I work, the more I earn.  I’m financially independent as a college freshman. My friends envy me and ask how it’s possible; my simple reply is Vector Marketing. I’ve also gained a lot on a personal level. I’ve learned how to work well with customers and truly care about getting them the best products for their homes. I enjoy connecting with my customers and holding conversations with them. Thanks to Vector, I’m confident that I could walk up to complete strangers and start a conversation! (No doubt, a vital skill as I start my first year of college!) I have also learned that the harder I work, the more advancement opportunities Vector offers. It’s unlike anything else out there. I’m already on my way toward advancement with the company. I enjoy standing out from the crowd and going above and beyond expectations and Vector recognizes me for doing so.  The experience I’ve gained and the personal growth I’ve experience as a result of my work with Vector can’t be replicated. (Oh yeah, and it’s fun too!)

Over the last several months I’ve done a lot of travelling, some for pleasure but most for business.  This is pretty typical in my role – but the frequency, number and length of the trips was extraordinary, even for me.  Now that I’m home, sleeping in my own bed, eating home cooked meals and back to my routine, friends and family are asking “How did you do it?”  To me that’s the wrong question.  We all do what we have to do and we manage. We all deal with stressful and challenging situations.  The vital thing to me is to figure out how to do more than just manage.  So, I’m continually looking for ways to keep going strong, even while I’m dealing with the pressures of travel and life in general. Most people who don’t travel much assume that the big challenge of travel is logistics, because that’s what’s obvious.  But, logistics like navigating airport security, getting from point A to point B, making connections, and finding yourself at your destination with all of your belongings is just the beginning.  To me the bigger challenge of continuous travel is mental and physical.  For example, how do you stay “cool” when confronted with a front desk clerk who tells you they don’t have your reservation?  Or, how do you stay warm in that hotel when you can’t find the temperature control?  What about the fact your stomach is still on Eastern Time and saying it’s time for dinner and you still have several hours of meetings left?  If I’m not careful these pressures on my emotional and physical system can overwhelm me and interfere with my efforts. So, I’ve come up with several beliefs and routines that keep me going, no matter where I am:

1.  Once I’ve left the driveway of my home, I assume that everything will work out.  That means if I miss my plane, there will be another. If I’ve forgotten something, I can do without or replace it.  Much of what happens during travel is out of my hands, so I just let go.
2. I am nice and offer a smile to everyone I encounter.  I thank the TSA guy.  I ask the ticket agent how her day is going.  These people deal with irate, cranky, frustrated people all day long, and mine may be the only kind word they hear all day. When faced with someone who is unkind or unhelpful, I respond with extreme kindness and understanding.  I remember that it can’t possibly be personal, because these people don’t even know me.  I make it my goal to put a smile on the face of everyone I interact with.  The results are nothing short of miraculous. 
3. I drink plenty of water.  This helps me adjust to new environments and avoid dehydration which can make me more susceptible to germs.
4. I maintain my routine.  If it’s an exercise day for me at home, I make every effort to get some exercise on the road.  I go to sleep and wake up at my usual time.  I eat what I would normally eat, within reason.  The longer the trip is, and the more consecutive trips I have, the more important this is.  When I deviate from the routine, I always regret it. 

What do you do to stay sane and healthy in the face of stress, whether from travel, or just everyday life?  Share your tips with the rest of us!

by Stephanie Weiser So our finished basement (AKA the family room) flooded a few weeks ago in the monsoon-like rain that we’ve had here lately on the east coast.  A lake formed where my daughter usually plays with her toys.  Thankfully, we had insurance to cover a wonderful event such as this.  So while we’re still out enough money to have taken a really nice, week-long family vacation. it could have been a LOT worse without the coverage. As I’m watching in utter horror as the workers are ripping holes in my walls and pulling up the flooring, one worker said almost in passing “Ya know, If you had ceramic tile down here, you could have just wiped up the water and been done in 20 minutes. I’m sorry. WHAT?!! Now, the basement was already “finished” when we bought the house, so we didn’t pick the flooring, but more and more I’m noticing that the previous homeowners did things just to get it done; if you know what I mean. So basically, this worker was saying that the really low grade, cheap floor that was down there may have saved money up front but in the long run (now, our problem!) it’s going to cost considerably more money (not to mention stress) than if we had just redone the floor to begin with! And that got me thinking about Cutco.  Can you find cutlery that’s less expensive? Yes. But in the long run, with our Forever Guarantee not only will the customers save money because they’ll never have to buy new knives again; and they’ll save the stress and annoyance that comes from trying to prepare a meal with sub-par knives again. The bottom line is that the cheapest is NOT always the best.  And in most cases, the karma of saving a few bucks up front is bound to come back around to bite you or flood you (in my case)!

Getting ready for college is hard!  Well, isn’t that the understatement of the century? College is just weeks away and I don’t have a comforter, a proper wardrobe, or even the slightest idea of what I want to do or who I want to be. Wow. It looks even worse in black and white. I am 18 and I still feel like I have no idea which direction I’m going. Needless to say, I feel unprepared. But then again, I am not so sure that it is really about knowing exactly what I want, but rather, that I know that I want something and that I want to love what I do. So I have decided that this is the summer that I will do all of the things that I love to do – spending time with friends, doings crafts, going to the beach, reading, and simply having fun. And so far, I have succeeded. This past month has been consumed by fun – well, and some working too. But all the working I have been doing between babysitting and working for Vector Marketing has actually been quite rewarding. I’m learning how to be an adult, fulfill obligations and still make time for “me.”  Earning my own money has made me appreciate every dollar, (despite what my parents think) which will certainly come in handy when I’m on a budget at school. Not only that, but I feel like I have developed a stronger work ethic and time management skills, which can only help me when I find myself juggling freedom, new friends, classes and extracurriculars in a few weeks. So maybe I am more prepared than I think. Maybe I am ready for college. I may not have the right bedspread, or the right clothes, but I think I might have the right mindset: Work hard and do what I love. Now all that’s left is one (or maybe two?) major shopping spree.

Recently, I finished reading Seth Godin’s book Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?. It does a great job articulating a feeling that has been developing within me over the past couple years as it challenges the reader to become great, or a ‘linchpin’, in their given industry through art creation. I’ll let the book delve into that concept if you choose to read it, but one chapter in particular stood out to me. In the chapter called ‘The Powerful Culture of Gifts’, Godin clearly explains to the reader the right way to give and receive gifts and the true power of gift giving is available only when the giver acts out of a place of genuine love. Another way of putting it is ‘no strings attached.’ When we give gifts and expect something in return, by nature, we are no longer giving a gift, but are participating in a mere economic transaction. He states: “You go the extra mile to please a small customer, or build an online forum to teach your customers how to get more out of your products (for no extra cost)… It works even more profoundly on an internal basis. Someone who is not in your department steps in and helps out during a crunch…You brainstorm a new idea with another salesperson. In each case, there’s no reciprocity, no guarantee of repayment. Instead, there’s an ever-enlarging circle, a circle where gifts are valued and passed on.” I am a witness to the profound impact a culture of giving in the workplace can have on the morale and loyalty of its people. Next week marks my ninth year working with Vector Marketing and one of the reasons that I have chosen to stay for this long is because of the selfless attitudes of my co-workers, managers, factory workers and even upper management. When people have each others’ backs when it comes to projects and freely share ideas without caring who gets credit for them, a mutual respect and bond develops that is practically impossible to break. It creates a mindset in the people to work harder than what they’re paid, act as if they’re owners of the company and to continually produce a better product. For example, I often rely on our people in Olean, NY (yes, Cutco Cutlery is American made) to produce some sort of report or project that helps me in my position. When it could be very easy to complain about the amount of work they already have (and the requests keep coming), I’ve never been met with complaints. As one person in our data analyst department put it to me, “Our jobs wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the field.” This genuine gratitude and understanding is contagious. I am continuously challenged in my role to extend that same gratitude to others who ask things of me that might add to my to-do list. When I was a brand new rep nine years ago, a more experienced rep in my office offered to take me field training. (I went with him to watch how he interacted with customers) There was no monetary compensation from the company for this person. Because he wanted to help me succeed, and he had no reason to want to see me succeed, he gained my respect, my trust and my friendship. Through experiences like this early in my career, I developed a sense of how important my selflessness is not only for the success of others, but also in my personal development. As Godin concludes this chapter, he mentions that a quid pro quo doesn’t really work when it comes to art creation. It’s impossible to create real art (read: give a wholehearted gift) when conditions are attached. An unconditional gift is the unequivocal act of love. Vector promotes an atmosphere where individuals give freely and the people have a real love in seeing others become successful inside and outside the business. I cannot imagine a working environment any other way.

When my son Mike first went to work for Vector, I was very skeptical. Initially I worried that the job was a scam designed to get kids to have their parents buy product. I was concerned, and I certainly did not expect him to get the training he got, along with many other benefits of this experience. It was amazing to watch his people skills and confidence grow by the week. Over the course of his first year with the company, he became much more positive, persistent, and goal-oriented than he had ever been. He moved beyond our family and friends within a couple of months and began developing his own referral resources. His skills and his sales grew steadily, as did his motivation to succeed. At the end of his first year, Mike had major surgery. The amount of support he got from Vector people was incredible. They all stayed in touch and encouraged him throughout his surgery and recovery process. This is when I began to see that the Vector culture might promote caring and cooperation as well as personal success. Over the past year, we have opened our house to sales reps who needed a place to stay when in the Chicago area. Three people have stayed with us. Each one of them had overcome big hurdles in their lives and came away from the experience with energy and a positive attitude that was truly impressive. I felt lucky to have had the chance to meet these wonderful people. I hope they will each return and that I will have the chance to get to know other Vector reps. As a result of our experience with Mike and our contact with these other reps, I now see Vector as an organization driven by and filled with people who are notable for positive persistence in pursuit of their goals, and the willingness to help others reach their goals. Mike will be running a branch office this summer and has already received many offers of help and support from managers and others who have “branched”. He is fortunate to be part of such a great organization and we are lucky to have the chance to know some of the people who make it great. Do you know someone who has been surprised to discover the value of the Vector experience?  Leave a comment and tell us about it!

  I stole from Vector. Big time.  Every day, I walk around with a handful of lessons in my back pocket, which I call on regularly.  I picked up these life lessons as a young college student.  They were disguised as advice for success as a Vector sales representative.  Little did I know they’d pay dividends years later.     Here they are, in no particular order.  My first Vector manager and mentor, Dan Casetta, taught each of these lessons to me.  When you read these lessons, you’ll probably see it was no coincidence that Dan is a leader of leaders.     1.   Your Income Will Seldom Exceed Your Level of Personal Development Dan reminded me daily that my business, my career and my life would usually reflect the level at which I worked on myself. Simple enough, I thought. Vector became my teacher, my number one tool, for ongoing personal development.  The income followed – no complaints! 2.   There Is Always A Way In my role today as the owner of a training company, I see everyday, that the difference that makes the difference is attitude.  And the attitude that creates success is an attitude of there is always a way.  When everybody else says no – say yes. When others say we can’t – say we can.  Vector showed me how to become a solution finder, not a problem dweller. 3.    Life Gives To The Givers and Takes From The Takers The world has a perfect accounting system.  I am still amazed today at the power of doing more than we are paid to do.  Some would call it a spiritual principle, others would say it’s a great way to live.  When we give more value than we ask for in reward, the world pays attention. Vector made this part a little too easy, by giving me a world-class product, with unmatched value. Leave a comment about the life lessons you’ve learned that are helping you succeed, we’d love to hear from you!

Vector Marketing is actually a company with a conscience. If all you did was listen to the news, you’d believe every company was heartless. The truth is that many companies are good corporate citizens – but that doesn’t make a juicy news story, does it? At Vector, giving back has always been central to our culture both corporately and on the sales level – even before it was the “sexy” thing to do. As a privately held company, the owners have flexibility regarding how and where they invest their charitable dollars. And I’m proud that Vector helps out in the Olean community, as well as in many of the towns where we have local offices. Plus, that value has trickled down to the employees and sales team. There are lots of instances of sales representatives donating profits and giving tremendous amounts of their time to many worthy causes whether it’s donating goods to soup kitchens or clothing for people returning to the workforce. It’s very common at conferences to see a canned food drive or a community service project on the agenda. This makes me feel good. From supporting the local hospital in Olean, NY where we are headquartered (if you’ve never heard of Olean, it’s because it’s a very small town about an hour and a half south of Buffalo) to supporting the Make-A-Wish foundation, The Front Row Foundation and academic causes like DECA and PSE (the national co-ed marketing, sales, management and selling fraternity), Vector is committed to helping make the world a better place. All you have to do is be around here a short time to hear this phrase: “In order to be successful, you must first help others to succeed.” This goes for professional development too. This is a SALES company. Let’s face it, in some companies, the sales representatives keep their secrets tight to the chest but at Vector, our tops sales people actually go out of their way to SHARE what they’ve done to reach their success so that other reps can replicate it. I’d have a hard time working in a place that wasn’t in line with my personal ethics. For me, I feel great knowing that those running this company have a heart. The sense of community that this company has built inside and outside our walls is very old school. If you ask me, it’d do us all some good to get back to “old school” a little more often.