Cutco
Encyclopedia
Cutco Corporation, formerly Alcas Corporation, is the parent company of CUTCO Cutlery Corp., Vector Marketing
, KA-BAR
Knives Inc. and Schilling Forge. Its primary brand is also the name Cutco.
The company was founded in 1949 by Alcoa
and Case Cutlery (hence "Al-cas") to manufacture knives. The management purchased the company from Alcoa in 1982, and the company acquired Vector Marketing Corporation in 1985.
In early 2009 Alcas changed its name to Cutco, the name of the primary product.
of cutlery
and kitchen accessories directly marketed to customers through in-home demonstrations by independent sales representatives who are almost exclusively college students. More than 100 kitchen cutlery products are sold under the Cutco name, as well as a variety of kitchen utensils, cookware, sporting and outdoors knives, and flatware.
Although the products are not typically purchased in retail stores, Cutco has opened three of its own retail stores: Indianapolis, Indiana
, Okemos, Michigan
, and Erie, Pennsylvania
. All of the knives are produced in Olean
, New York
, United States
, although a few products (such as the garden tools, the ice cream scoop, and garlic press) are made in China
.
See Vector Marketing
.
's annual Pro-Am Sell-A-Thon, an annual sales competition for college students. Cutco is particularly active near its home base of New York, and the Foundation has contributed to St. Bonaventure University
, Southern Tier Catholic Schools, Friends of Good Music, Jamestown Community College
, Comstock Hospice Care Network, Alfred University
, Olean General Hospital and the Allegheny River
Valley Trail.
Vector Marketing
Vector Marketing is the domestic sales arm of Cutco Corporation, an Olean, New York based cutlery manufacturer.-History:Vector Marketing Corporation and Cutco Cutlery Corporation are wholly owned subsidiaries of Cutco Corporation. Formerly known as Alcas Corporation, the company was created as a...
, KA-BAR
KA-BAR
KA-BAR is the contemporary popular name for the combat knife first adopted by the United States Marine Corps in November 1942 as the 1219C2 Combat Knife , and subsequently adopted by the United States Navy as the U.S. Navy Utility Knife, Mark 2...
Knives Inc. and Schilling Forge. Its primary brand is also the name Cutco.
The company was founded in 1949 by Alcoa
Alcoa
Alcoa Inc. is the world's third largest producer of aluminum, behind Rio Tinto Alcan and Rusal. From its operational headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alcoa conducts operations in 31 countries...
and Case Cutlery (hence "Al-cas") to manufacture knives. The management purchased the company from Alcoa in 1982, and the company acquired Vector Marketing Corporation in 1985.
In early 2009 Alcas changed its name to Cutco, the name of the primary product.
Products
Cutco is a brandBrand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
of cutlery
Kitchen knife
A kitchen knife is any knife that is intended to be used in food preparation. While much of this work can be accomplished with a few general-purpose knives – notably a large chef's knife, a tough cleaver, and a small paring knife – there are also many specialized knives that are designed for...
and kitchen accessories directly marketed to customers through in-home demonstrations by independent sales representatives who are almost exclusively college students. More than 100 kitchen cutlery products are sold under the Cutco name, as well as a variety of kitchen utensils, cookware, sporting and outdoors knives, and flatware.
Although the products are not typically purchased in retail stores, Cutco has opened three of its own retail stores: Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Okemos, Michigan
Okemos, Michigan
Okemos is an unincorporated community in Meridian Charter Township, Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes and does not have any separate legal existence as a municipality. Local government is provided by the township...
, and Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
. All of the knives are produced in Olean
Olean, New York
Olean is a city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. Olean is the largest city in Cattaraugus County, and serves as the financial, business, transportation and entertainment center of the county. It is one of the principal cities of the Southern Tier region of New York.The city is...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, although a few products (such as the garden tools, the ice cream scoop, and garlic press) are made in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Vector Marketing
Vector Marketing
Vector Marketing is the domestic sales arm of Cutco Corporation, an Olean, New York based cutlery manufacturer.-History:Vector Marketing Corporation and Cutco Cutlery Corporation are wholly owned subsidiaries of Cutco Corporation. Formerly known as Alcas Corporation, the company was created as a...
.
Cutco Foundation
Cutco established the Cutco Foundation in 1996 to contribute to communities in which Cutco has a substantial presence. The Foundation has donated to Pi Sigma EpsilonPi Sigma Epsilon
'ΠΣΕ ' is the only national, professional fraternal organization in sales, marketing, and management in the United States. The fraternity was developed by four members of the Sales and Marketing Executives association of Atlanta, Georgia...
's annual Pro-Am Sell-A-Thon, an annual sales competition for college students. Cutco is particularly active near its home base of New York, and the Foundation has contributed to St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University is a private, Franciscan Catholic university, located in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students....
, Southern Tier Catholic Schools, Friends of Good Music, Jamestown Community College
Jamestown Community College
Jamestown Community College is a two-year college in the SUNY system. JCC has two campuses in Chautauqua County, New York, located in Dunkirk and Jamestown. A third campus serves Cattaraugus County in Olean. A fourth site is located in Warren, Pennsylvania...
, Comstock Hospice Care Network, Alfred University
Alfred University
Alfred University is a small, comprehensive university in the Village of Alfred in Western New York, USA, an hour and a half south of Rochester and two hours southeast of Buffalo. Alfred has an undergraduate population of around 2,000, and approximately 300 graduate students...
, Olean General Hospital and the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
Valley Trail.