Volume 124 Issue 34
kansan.com
Thursday, October 6, 2011
the student voice since 1904
HOUSING
Rental code to be enforced
— Edited by Stefanie Penn
"This is a problem we have throughout the city," Cromwell said. "We have rules that have to be followed."
MARSHALL SCHMIDT mschmidt@kansan.com
The new policy passed by Lawrence's city commission now allows a public officer to place any violating landlords on probation. At the commission meeting on Tuesday it was decided to immediately enforce a pre-existing code that has been in effect since 2002, which prohibits more than three unrelated people living in a single-house dwelling.
"Before, we would have to file a court compliance. This makes it quicker than going through the legal system," said Brian Jimenez, code enforcement manager for the city.
Landlords are given a 30-day time frame for compliance. Renters who are in violation now face an increased fine that ranges from $500 to $2,500. If the property is found in violation of the policy more than twice in a 24-month period, the landlord's rental license may be revoked.
Jimenez estimates that there have been more than 150 investigations in the past five years for such violations. Jimenez cited reasons for the crackdown to be the current policy's ineffectiveness at deterring violations, which tend to result in a drawn-out court processing with a meager fine of $10.
The revised enforcement policy has residents concerned with how this will affect those who might want to take in needy families who have no a place to stay. However, the clarification was made that the enforcement only applies to those who actually rent their properties.
The provision will also inform landlords and renters of the new code when they sign license and lease agreements.
Occupancy was defined as a person living in a dwelling for more than 14 days out of every month. The enforcement of a maximum of three unrelated persons only applies to a residence that is determined to be a single-family dwelling, which mostly includes houses and duplexes. Single-family dwelling zones are found throughout the city, and residents should check to ensure they are living with the legal number of unrelated people in their home. The commission also recommended looking into a way to hold out-of-town landlords accountable to the enforcement.
SHARP SELLERS
Mayor Aron Cromwell was satisfied with the measure.
ON THE CUTTING EDGE
Students earn money and gain sales experience with Vector Marketing
LUKE RANKER
lranker@kansan.com
Weston Smith found a way to make money by cutting money. At his job with Vector Marketing, he regularly slices pennies in half to demonstrate the sharpness of CUTCO scissors.
He and other KU students have found an alternative to working a regular part-time job. The New York-based CUTCO Cutley offers full and part-time jobs through its sales division Vector Marketing. CUTCO produces high quality, American-made kitchen knives and outdoor accessories.
Smith, a senior from Burdett, said he enjoys working at Vector because it gives him experience, and it's easy do with school.
"You schedule your own time," Smith said. "If you want to schedule it around tests you can, or if you just want to take the day off you can."
Vector employees make sales by doing in-home demonstration with products. Sales pitches can run anywhere from 45 minutes to a few hours. Smith said demo appointments are set up through current CUTCO customers so there is no telemarketing or door-to-door sales. Employees start off with people they know and ask them for referrals to other potential customers.
Smith started selling CUTCO in August. He said he made close to $1,000 in one week when he first started. His sales vary week to week based on how many demonstrations he does. Because he's back in school, he's done less than he did over the summer. Smith said he averages about five demonstrations a week, which amounts to about $250.
Smith's income is either commission or base pay — whichever one is higher. Rusty Benson, a senior from Overland Park, said the company offers a base pay so customers don't feel pressured to buy and employees don't feel pushed to sell a lot. When Benson started at Vector over the summer, base pay was $15 per hour, but during the fall it is lowered to $12.
"The first appointment I did I made
commission," Benson said. "It was, like, an hour and a half long." He said for that sale he made $49.
Hannah Russell, a junior from Gardener, said while in high school she received a letter from Vector in the mail describing the job, she applied online. She said part of the reason for the base pay is to help compensate employees for travel and other expenses. Russell said she began selling to neighbors in Gardner but branched out and began selling in other cities like Overland Park.
"I had clients who lived a few blocks away to several who lived all the way in Johnson County", Russell said.
Benson and Smith both said they never really had a negative experience with customers, but once one of Benson's customers cut herself with a knife. Russell said that out of the 250 to 300 appointments she's done, she has only had one negative experience.
"I was verbally attacked," Russell said. "Not just for trying to sell something, but also because I was trying to gain experience that way."
She said the man had approved her appointment, but when she arrived, he told her that selling knives was the wrong way to gain experience for her major.
Experience was the primary reason Russell began working for Vector in the summer of 2008. At the time she was a business major and thought a sales position would be an excellent way to gain work experience. She left Vector a year ago when she changed her major to international studies, but she said she built a lot of relationships while working at Vector that she still has today.
"I wouldn't take back the experience I had there because of how much it helped me." Russell said.
As posters and fliers appeared on campus advertising "Work for students" with a website using the same line, speculation about what Vector Marketing is rose.
When Benson first heard about Vector through a friend who worked there, he
SEE VECTOR PAGE 3
NICK SMITH/KANSAN
Wes Smith, a senior from Burdett, displays his KA-BAR along with other CUTCO knives and accessories. Smith schedules at-home appointments to demonstrate the products he sells.
Making the grade and selling makeup with Mary Kay
Pamela Carper, a freshman from Topeka, poses with her Mary Kay makeup. Carper has been selling since July 2010.
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
Heads turn as a pink Cadillac passes by. These uniquely colored cars are known to belong to the Mary Kay makeup sellers, but who would expect a college student to step out of one of these beauties? For Pamela Carper, a freshman from Topeka, this is a goal she is determined to reach.
ALEXA RUSH arush@kansan.com
Carper is not the stereotypical Mary Kay saleswoman. Despite mostly working with women much older than herself, she feels completely comfortable in her work environment.
"Being young has its perks, like having access to the newest products before anyone else," Carper said. "The older women are a blast. They have so much fun, look beautiful and are great role models to myself, as well as each other."
Carper's passion began when she was eight years old and attended a Mary Kay party with her mother. After years of helping and watching her mom run her Mary Kay business, Carper signed up to start her own Mary Kay business when she turned 18.
"It was a no-brainer," she said. "I absolutely love the company and what it stands for, so I wanted to be a part of it."
Mary Kay was started by Mary Kay Ash in 1965. The company was
designed with the intent to allow women to experience unlimited success. Although Mary Kay has a strong reputation for its makeup, lipsticks and eye shadows are not the only priorities for the business. The company encourages women to live by the golden rule as well as Ash's personal philosophy: "God first. Family second. Career third."
"I love that the company's foundation is on the golden rule," Carper said. "There aren't any quotas to reach, it isn't about competition and whenever you're around the women of Mary Kay, you can't help but be happy"
Juggling classes, the social atmosphere and her business can be a challenge, but Carper is determined to make it work. Her roommate, Hillary Willson, a freshman from Las Vegas, Nev., said that living with a Mary Kay saleswoman isn't as hectic as it may seem.
"She doesn't work all the time, which is great because we can hang out. And she's let me try some of the stuff and even done my makeup a few times," Willson said. "It's not like she has Mary Kay products scattered all over the room invading our space, But her desk, which is supposed to be the 'study desk,' is in fact the 'Mary Kay desk'."
One of Carper's customers, Carlee Kyle, a freshman from Topeka, said Carper is an amazing business
woman and naturally good at what she does.
"She's always on top of things. If I need a product last minute, she can always manage to find it for me," Kyle said. "She knows what the job requires and gives it her all."
According to Carper, the business is not only easy to manage, but it's good money and free gifts are given to employees on a monthly basis. Carer believes that being a Mary Kay consultant is a great opportunity and reliable job for any college student.
"When the economy went down, the Mary Kay demand actually went up, because as much as the economy sucks, women still want to look good," Carper said. "I haven't had a problem with selling even with this economy."
After college, Carper hopes to make a career out of her Mary Kay business. She plans to get that pink Cadillac.
"Having a full-time career in Mary Kay pretty much consists of three hours a day of working at home in PJs." Carrier said. "I want a life where I can do what I want to do. If I want to travel, I will. If I don't want to work that day, I won't. I want to have a life like this while making women feel good about themselves."
Edited by Alexandra Esposito
CLASSIFIEDS 9 CNYPTOQUIPS 4 SPORTS 10
CROSSWARD 4 OPINION 5 SUDOKU 4
All contents, unless stated otherwise. © 2011 The University Daily Kansan
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