For those of you that have "pro staff" fisherman, if I may, I'd like to ask a few questions.

~ Would you describe your business related process with them? In other words, what each of you provides for the other.
~ Do you offer discounts to them in exchange for the visibility they provide for your rods?
~ Do they provide solid referrals that lead to builds from new customers?
~ Has your experience led to any other issues of which I would want to be aware?

Thanks,
Chad Huderle

Huderle Custom Rods
Prior Lake, MN

Hi I have a great bunch of prostaff these guys are responsible for getting most of my sales.

I hand pick my guys based on how they speak and present themselves which to me take priority over everthing else. They are all top notch anglers each specialising in certain disciplines together we design the best rods for there individual areas of expertise.

I make everything at cost and subsidize that if possible these guys are all over the country and are always happy to meet with locals for me. They really are the face of my business.

Business wise i share pretty much everthing including the direction for the business so they know exactly whats going on.

A couple of things to keep in mind when you pick your prostaff 1/they need to be able to suply me with current trends in there areas 2/ You must be able to trust them 3/ all my guys are prolific forum posters and represent me very well 4/ you have to give them as much support as possible meaning if they supply a lead I jump 5/ they need to be inline with the way you think and not just after free gear if they have big egos they dont belong on the prostaff.

All in all i'm absolutley devoted to my prostaff and would do what ever it takes to keep them happy and this goes both ways. A good prostaff will generate sales for you a great prostaff will transform your business.

Cheers

Mark Newcombe
Old Bar NSW
Australia
markscustomfishing.com
American Tackle Pro-Staff

What Marc said that is the same way I do it

Marc, Bucky, this question is for both of you as I've been considering the Pro Staff route for marketing. Do you pay your Pro Staff a commission or percentage of a sale? Just wondering what their incentive would be to get out and hussle your product for you?

Jerry, I would think the rods built for them at cost would be a very good incentive for that service.

Thanks,
Chad Huderle

Huderle Custom Rods
Prior Lake, MN

No I don't pay them commission like Chad said the rod built at cost is incentive and when I can I will build them extra rods

Thanks guys. I understand, and I build fly rods only. Give a Pro Staff guy a Sage One or a Winston Boron at my cost and especially a one of a kind with feather inlays and so on, I would think it would be incentive enough,,,,but just wanted to ask. Thanks for your input. I appreciate it and I appreciate the professionalism on this site.

I do the same as Mark but wanted to add that in addition to rods at cost I give them my Custom made hats, with Pro Staff on the back, to wear at tournaments. Also I pay for their tournament shirts to be embroided with my Logo on it as well as TCR decals for thier truck windows and on their boats. They truly bring in the majority of my sales.

Tom

tomscustomrods.com

intresting question since this has been talked about quite a bit recently. Some companies just turn a bunch fisherman into "Prostaff" without really knowing who they are. Problems can come of this as you can imagine! I'm in a small market fishing rod wise right now and I have one guy who is my prostaff. I pay him with rods like the others have said and he does get to test prototypes so his input is of value in that respect. He also can speak to people like a regular guy and knows the product line and some of the technical stuff

. You really need to be careful with who you choose as they are representing YOU and YOUR company. I have seen things prostaff have done that is underhanded and damaging to a company. For instance.. You don't want someone who is just looking for FREE stuff. These guys will talk you up but and I have seen it ,will sell blanks or rods out of their trunks undercutting your dealer or you out of the picture!! These same guys will will jump on to the next latest and greatest and bad talk you in the process.

I also Prostaff my self for a blank company and I take it very serious and consider it a job to a point. Someone has put faith in me to represent them and I beleive and use the product! I think that is important as an endorser, Beleive in what you are selling!!

I've got a guy lined up that has been a customer of mine for a few years. Real stand-up guy who acts in a very professional manner and would represent my rods accordingly.

I don't think I'd want to have more than 2 or three guys in this role. Maybe a bass tournament guy to cover that scene. Maybe a walleye guy and maybe an ice fishing guy.

Thanks,
Chad Huderle

Huderle Custom Rods
Prior Lake, MN

I can't stress how important it is to bring quality like minded people on board. I dont pay my guys but i do supply them with rods at less than cost I generate most of my sales through my prostaff so it makes good sense to look after them.

As before I get my guys involved in the design process for a couple of reasons 1/ they are better in thier specific disicpline than me so we work together to build great rods 2/ involving your prostaff gives them a sense of ownership in the product and this goes along way when they represent me.

Watch out for egos they can be very distructive and also be mindful of any other sponsors they may have you need to be aware of any conflicts of interest. I limit my prostaff to specific fields and very limited numbers its not just about winning comps, I would rather have a respected stand up person repping me than some arrogant superstar with 20 other sponsors.

It the old addage i learnt way back at business school, surround yourself with quality people and listen to them.

Cheers

Mark Newcombe
Old Bar NSW
Australia
markscustomfishing.com
American Tackle Pro-Staff

Great advice Mark, couldn't agree more.

Thanks,
Chad Huderle

Huderle Custom Rods
Prior Lake, MN

I have one Bass Elite Pro angler who does business with me. I ran into a problem in that one of his sponsors will allow him to use other rods besides theirs, but there cannot be any labels on it and it must be flat black or white. Therefore, I can't advertise through him. He does give me more work than anyone else, but it hasn't increased business because of the sponsor issue. It's a little frustrating because I know that if he could put my name out there my business would increase.

David Dosser
Coshocton, OH

Hi David,

I have had that problem aswell I have a great young guy who is a top angler and also writes for a couple of publications however we had a sponser conflict so unfortunatly I was not able to bring him onboard I do make rods for him and look after him but I just cant add him as it would open up a can of worms if i did.

My suggestion would be for you to keep him happy as a custmer but keep searching for talented up and coming guys. With comp fishing gaining more and more publicity it wont be hard to find good guys in fact its harder to cut the possible list down but thats a nice problem to have.

Cheers

Mark Newcombe
Old Bar NSW
Australia
markscustomfishing.com
American Tackle Pro-Staff