Cutlery is a good business opportunity for those looking to be in retail, especially if they know their way around the kitchen or the dining table. The term cutlery is actually somewhat misleading. For many people, it brings to mind different types of knives (things that cut), but actually has a much broader definition to include any utensil that allows people to eat: forks, spoons, tongs, ladles and more. As a business owner, being a cutlery supplier has an interesting dynamic, as everyone needs a basic set of kitchen cutlery for home needs. This would include both a set of kitchen knives for preparing food and a set of utensils to eat.

However, for some people once they have purchased what they need for themselves, may not buy cutlery for another twenty years. For others, cutlery is a hobby, or a seasonal or yearly purchase, which makes it more of a luxury item targeted at the following groups:

1. Serious home cooks: Chef cutlery is big business. Those who take pride in their kitchen tools will happily pay hundreds of dollars for one knife.
2. Interior decorators: The cutlery has to match the décor in high-end interior designs.
3. Home decorators: Those who like to redecorate themselves sometimes change their cutlery set as they redecorate their homes for the season or to suit current styles.

If you do not want to go into retail, there is another alternative. Commercial kitchen cutlery, sold to restaurants and food development companies, is also profitable, though highly competitive. Selling commercial-use cutlery requires making personal contact with those who make buying decisions at restaurants. It is perfect for those who like person-to-person sales. No matter whether you choose to sell commercial or residential cutlery, consider these steps as you gather inventory.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

When shopping for knives, buy cutlery online

If you want to build your inventory of knives, the Internet is a great resource to find a cutlery maker and their products at a discount. There are numerous wholesale cutlery sellers online. The key is knowing what products to look for and then comparison shop several different online stores.

I recommend: Cutlery prices vary from store-to-store and website-to-website. The good news is there are lots of websites, such as MITECH Trading, CKB Products and Discount Cutlery, which offer cutlery at discount rates. Take your time and investigate each website's catalog to find the best deal before you make any purchases.

Find discount sellers for high-end cutlery suppliers

Never forget that cutlery is a luxury good. There are many people who only want the biggest names and the best products. If serious about selling cutlery, you will need to have products from more than one famous cutlery manufacturer. However, the Internet will make it easier to find them at discount rates.

I recommend: Do your research on what the high-end names are in knife cutlery. In addition, ensure you have a good supply of them or know where you can get them quickly if a customer asks. Use BizRate to find Wusthof knives, a very popular German line, and Market Warehouse to find J.A. Henckels knives.

When building an inventory of utensils, look for wholesale cutlery makers online

The Internet is a great source when looking for utensil cutlery sets to sell. There are numerous makers of kitchen cutlery, all of whom have websites, and many of whom sell through online distributors. As with knives, comparison shop before you buy cutlery.

I recommend: Investigate two different sites. Begin with WEBstaurant Store, a website that sells flatware and other goods to restaurants. They have a large selection of flatware cutlery. Then look at TradeKey.com. Scroll to the bottom and see all of the products, straight from the cutlery manufacturer.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Cutlery has a number of accessories that go along with it, including cutting boards, knife sharpeners, sheathes, carrying cases and mineral oil.
• •  May through August should be one of the better times for selling kitchen cutlery because students are moving into dorms and apartments, and will need knives, spoons, and forks.
• •  Cutlery is a volume business. A good kitchen knife has a lifetime warranty so, to make a profit, you must bring in lots of customers. The good news is that most average quality cutlery accessories wear out and need replacing.