Importance of knife sharpeners

Merchandising knife sharpeners requires education - education that starts with the knife. The effectiveness of fine cutlery depends largely upon the cutting edge's sharpness. A knife becomes dull because the extremely thin edge folds over. One way to keep a knife sharp longer is to use a sharpener that creates a stronger, longer-lasting edge.

Two types of knife-edge maintenance devices exist - those that straighten an edge (steels), and precision angle-guided abrasive sharpeners (stones) that create a new edge. The traditional butcher's or sharpening steel can straighten a bent edge, but it requires skill and practice to use it effectively. For customers who don't have the skill to use a sharpening steel, advanced electric and manual sharpeners with diamond abrasives and precision guides can help them produce perfect results every time.

A close-up drawing or photo of a knife's edge is a great way to show customers the importance of knife sharpeners. The illustration should depict a small angle or a hollow-ground weak edge, and show how it fails when it folds over. A second illustration should reveal how a weak edge can break off or become too tightly folded to unfold. Be sure to include a diagram that illustrates a properly formed edge. Your vendors should be able to provide you with the necessary materials to create this educational diagram.

It's also important to discuss the abrasives used to sharpen knives. They range from Arkansas sharpening stones to diamonds, which are generally considered the most efficient sharpening abrasive. Diamonds not only sharpen quickly and efficiently, they also do not detemper the blade. Demonstrate the proper angle at which a knife should be sharpened and explain the importance of precision knife guides and avoiding abrasives that detemper or overheat the blade. The emission of sparks during sharpening is a good indication that the blade is being overheated.

Sharpening Tips

Customers who participate in your in-store demonstration may feel confident about sharpening their own cutlery, yet when they return home, may often forget important parts of the process. To eliminate that problem, create a 3- by 5-inch laminated Sharpening Tip Card that outlines sharpening tips. One side could highlight the sharpening steel, the other, manual and electric sharpeners. Present these to customers after each demonstration or cutlery sale. Your vendor can help create this take-home piece by providing small illustrations that depict the proper techniques for knife sharpening.

Sharpening: Make it a Regular Event

Holidays ranging from Thanksgiving to Father's Day to family celebrations and beyond all present perfect opportunities to promote knife sharpeners. To stress the importance of using sharp knives all year-round, send an e-mail or a postcard to customers on your mailing list, inviting them to bring their favorite knives in for a free Sharpening Demonstration. Target customers who recently purchased cutlery, but who did not buy a knife sharpener. Two months after their cutlery purchase, send them a note or an e-mail reminding them that in order to keep those knives working properly, they'll need to sharpen them.

Schedule a weekday and a weekend time to accommodate your customers, and have a knowledgeable staff member present who is dedicated to the job of sharpening their knives. During the sharpening process, show the customers how easy it is, and stress its importance. Before they leave, present them with a coupon or other incentive to purchase a knife sharpener that day - or within a week.
Sharpening sections within the store often account for more than 15 percent of total cutlery sales. By creating a focal point around the sharpening section, retailers will enjoy greater sales in both the cutlery and sharpener categories. Dedicating space to knife sharpeners in the cutlery section will not only add more interest to the cutlery category, but it will also encourage more sales of both sharpeners and cutlery.

Within your Sharpener Display, show a variety of different models - sharpeners that sharpen both straight and serrated edges, manual and electric models, stones, and steels. Also, you should always make literature and educational materials available, while providing access to knowledgeable staff is always a plus for making sales.

Knives-Sharpeners Information Posted By: Blueshoots.com

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