|
A Swiss army knife without a blade? Don't laugh. It's something Victorinox, maker of the ubiquitous pocket tool popular with campers, climbers and sportspeople, is trying out to reverse a slump in business after the September 11 hijacked aircraft attacks.The attacks triggered bans on pocket-knife sales at many airports, and travelers have since shunned anything that could arouse suspicion -- especially after many were forced to hand over sharp implements in their carry-on luggage before boarding.Sales of the company's army knives -- recognizable by the white cross on a red shield logo -- fell by almost a third in the final three months of 2001 from a year earlier.Founded in 1884, the Victorinox company in central Switzerland is the larger of two official makers of the army knife it first delivered to the Swiss military in 1891.Victorinox insisted only knives that can be opened with one hand posed a real security risk, and not the knives with up to 34 different appliances that travelers around the world have worn down their fingernails prying open.To revive flagging sales, it is rushing out a new product that adds a clock, alarm and timer to the celebrated gadget; developing a children's knife with rounded blades; and selling knives in packages that cannot be opened by hand.The child's knife with rounded blade is already in production. "Even pocket tools without blades are being offered, although these have not met much interest in the past. This may change in the future," a spokesman said.In a bid to get airport impulse customers to change their shopping habits, the company now gives pocket-knife buyers a brochure reminding them to pack their knives in check-in luggage rather than trying to carry them on board aircraft.(Agencies)
瑞士军刀风光不再，9·11后销量锐减
没有刀锋的瑞士军刀？ 开玩笑吧？不，这是真的。目前著名的瑞士军刀制造商Victorinox的确正在尝试这样的新产品。Victorinox牌瑞士军刀享誉全球，深受野营、登山和体育爱好者的喜爱。但自从9·11恐怖事件发生后，瑞士军刀的销量急转直下，因此制造商正在想尽办法扭转这种局面。9·11事件后，许多机场都明令禁止出售小折刀，特别是在许多乘客被迫交出随身行李中的尖锐器具后，乘客们都尽量避免携带任何有可能引起怀疑的小器具登机。带有白色十字的红色盾牌是Victorinox瑞士军刀的标志，然而这种远近闻名的军刀在2001年最后三个月中的销量比2000年同期下降了近三分之一。1884年成立的Victorinox公司坐落于瑞士中部地区，是瑞士两个官方军刀制造商中较大的一家公司。该公司从1891年开始向瑞士军方提供瑞士军刀。Victorinox公司坚持认为只有那种用一只手就能打开的刀子才具有真正的危险性，而像该公司生产的瑞士军刀则不在此列，因为当使用者带着这种具有最多时具有34种不同功能的军刀环游世界的时候，往往会为了撬开刀子把指甲都弄崩了。为了改变目前不理想的销售状况，Victorinox公司正在赶制一些新产品，例如在原有设计基础上安装时钟、闹钟和计时器等装置；为孩子们设计圆形刀刃的军刀；还有一种特殊包装的军刀，这种包装徒手是打不开的。其中儿童圆刃军刀已经投入生产了。Victorinox公司的一位发言人说："我们现在出售的产品还包括无刃折刀，尽管过去这种产品销路并不太好，但是将来会有所改变的。"一些乘客在机场即兴购买了军刀后就会随手放在身上登机，为了改变这种习惯，Victorinox公司为购买瑞士军刀的顾客分发一本手册，提醒顾客在购买军刀后将其放入托运行李中，而不要随身带着军刀登机。
|
|
|
|
