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Plasticworld Rubbermaid bounced onto the scene in 1920, when five Ohio businessmen formed the Wooster Rubber Company to make toy balloons. Sales fell during the Great Depression, so in 1934, Wooster Rubber began production of Rubbermaid products, having bought that name from another Ohio businessman. Rubbermaid survived the government's ban on civilian rubber use by producing supplies for the Army. Nevertheless, in the mid-1950s, following the advice given to Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate, Rubbermaid turned to plastics. In the 1980s, the company began a large-scale program of acquisitions, boosting growth. New ownership, new name In recent years, however, Rubbermaid has been plagued by high costs, high prices, and revived competition. The company responded with a cost cutting plan - but to no avail. Its legacy ended in 1998. The maker of laundry baskets, preschool toys, trash containers, sink-stoppers, and other nifty plastic products was consumed by the manufacturing giant, Newell, for $5.8 billion in stock. "The reasons aren't mysterious," says Geoffrey Colvin of Fortune in a 1998 article. "Under Wolfgang Schmitt, CEO for most of the past seven years, the company became terrible at the basics of manufacturing and marketing....In the classic mode of CEO in over his head, Schmitt announced a big restructuring at the end of 1995, and when that didn't work announced an even bigger one early this year." "Three strikes and you're out" Rubbermaid generated little - if any - sales growth in the 1990s. Its decision to be bought was one born of desperation: "It was clear they felt this [merge] was their choice after missing the numbers for three years in a row," said one insider. "Three strikes and you're out." Through the merger, Rubbermaid's name will change: the new company will be called Newell Rubbermaid. Rubbermaid's strategy list has also shifted. It has decided to focus more attention on its Web site; in particular, it will present a new online product category every 18 months. A mammoth named Newell The Newell take-over means that eleven of Rubbermaid's plants will shut down, several businesses will be sold, and overseas production will expand. Meanwhile, an early 1999 tax-free stock swap valued at more than $5 billion may end the disappointing revenue results of Rubbermaid's last seven years. What gives company insiders such optimism? "Newell is ferociously efficient," reports one. Moreover, the company is prolific, producing such quotidian items as frying pans, pencils, picture frames, bathroom scales, hardware, stationary, and office supplies. Although Newell has kept a lower profile than Rubbermaid, it is certainly as ambitious. Its major manufacturing labels include Anchor Hocking, Airbrake, Cussionaire, Mirro, and WearEver.
Rubbermaid lists hiring information and job openings for its divisions on the careers section of its Web page, www.rubbermaid.com. Each division hires separately, however, so be sure to get the appropriate address before sending any resumes. Resumes can also be submitted online to the company's database. Job openings are generally in the following areas: Corporate Headquarters, Home Products Division, Little Tikes Division, Graco Division, Commercial Products Division, Worldwide Division, and Rubbermaid Sales Corp. MBA students interested in international business should contact Rubbermaid for information on their Global Leadership Development Program, which trains young executives to work overseas. Of the Rubbermaid interview processes, one insider emphasizes, "They are intensive and thorough, but also relaxed and face-to-face." Another says that "the company spends a great deal of time training the management staff in the hiring process, so [interviewers] tend to be very good at asking the right questions - they are very challenging questions."
Dress up on occasion One individual concludes that his coworkers "work very hard, but are usually friendly." People at "the management level tend to work 45 to 50 hours a week, although the work week is considered to be 40." Dress code, answers another, "is business casual across the corporation, but business dress is standard for important meetings and/or supplier and client interactions." The verdict on diversity: undecided "The company has an exemplary reputation in regards to diversity not only in their hiring practices, but also in their treatment of associates," brags one insider. However, another informant remarks, "I haven't heard anything about minority issues as far as jobs go. But we do have a lot more black operators than white operators, and you will have some race-related thoughts if you have a minority leader or supervisor. Some say there is racial favoritism, but I don't think it's too bad." Benefits and uncertainty In terms of benefits, employees have a "401k plan, profit sharing, and quarterly bonus checks." Insiders report a "fairly good insurance program: dental, health, prescription drugs, and some vision care. Dental is weak, but everything else is good. Also, Rubbermaid will pay up to $800 a year for schooling." Still, after the Newell-Rubbermaid merger, insiders are unsure if the steady state of affairs will remain the same. "Because Newell has bought Rubbermaid, we don't know what's up. The environment could be different. The benefits and pay might change. Anything is possible." Cut your teeth at Rubbermaid Training is "strenuous," but always "cutting edge" and "worthwhile." One individual coos, "I've learned more in a month here then in all the years I spent in school. I've seen a lot of new equipment and heard a lot of new ideas." Another insider concludes: "All in all I think Rubbermaid is a good place for a young career professional to 'cut their teeth.'"
Human Resources
Housewares;Hospital furniture;Toys;Office Products;Garden supplies
Mattel; Spalding Holdings;Tupperware More Company Profiles For more career information, go to Vault.com ©2000, Vault.com Inc
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