There are plenty of brand names that we use generically for products even when we’re not using the given brand. A few that come to mind are Kleenex, Band-Aid, Escalator, Zipper, and Yo-yo. Try to name those products without using the brand. It’s easy for the first two, but the last three are pretty tough–that’s why they’ve lost their trademark status due to genericization. Band-Aid and Kleenex have protected their trademarks by aggressively pushing people to use terms like “adhesive bandages” and “facial tissues.” So here’s a test: what would you call the stuff that replaces shoe laces on kids’ shoes? I’m sure “hook-and-loop fastener” came right to mind. Well, that’s the business that Velcro is in. The company is based in Manchester, NH, and since the invention of their hook-and-loop fastener in 1941, they’ve been helping kids keep their shoes on and NASA keep their dinner plates from floating away.

Get in the Loop and Get Hooked

Interesting fact from Wikipedia: “Velcro is a portmanteau of the two French words velours (“velvet”), and crochet (“hook”).” Velcro makes a strikingly simple product, but it’s amazing how many different uses there are. Just take a look at Velcro’s Products page and Solutions page to see how many different ways they’ve put their fasteners to work. What I really like about Velcro is that they are entirely focused on solving problems. They want their products to be the way you stick things together if you don’t need them permanently stuck together. If that sounds like fun to you, then you should head over to Velcro’s Careers page. While their page for Students and Graduates is currently void of postings, there are a few jobs that look well suited to a new grad in their current job listings. These include:

• Inside Sales Rep – Construction
• Associate HRIS Analyst
• Assistant Product Manager

I’m not sure what other types of positions they would typically have posted on the Students and Graduates page, but you could reach out to Velcro to learn more if the jobs listed above aren’t good fits for you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

• Velcro.com
• Jobs at Velcro
• About Velcro
• Velcro’s History
• Velcro News

What’s your favorite use of hook-and-loop fasteners?

We've identified Velcro as having career opportunities in the following categories:

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• analyst
• construction
• human resources
• information technology
• manufacturing
• New Hampshire
• product management
• sales

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