Loyalty to pro staff/team deals?

[Basseditor]

I've been with one particular rod manufacturer for more than 10 years. I like the whole atmosphere of the company and of course, the products.

 

I've never explored a new sponsorship opportunity because I have a sense of loyalty. I'm sure I could find a better deal monetarily, but I don't try. 

 

Is it foolish not to explore other opportunities? On the other hand, they asked me to help line up to 5 new team members now.

 

I helped quite a few new team members join over the years, but I've exhausted my contacts. I don't want to make a public announcement but I want to recommend good people. How would you do this? You can PM me, if you want.

[WRB]

You maybe loyal but...the reality is company managements change without a second thought to you. Look out for yourself at the end of the day.

Tom

[Deleted account]

If it's a hobby, yeah, if it's a business, then no on loyalty.

[Junk Fisherman]

I think it comes down to whether you are happy with the company.  I like the expression "Don't f with happy."  If it is really important to you, ask for more compensation.  You could also casually investigate if there is another company that you think you'd feel the same about and if so, you could ponder making a move.  But I would definitely say you are not foolish if you are happy with your arrangement.  Good luck.  

[Woody B]

What do your "really" get from the company?   (I don't have a clue how these things work)  

I fish for fun, I sponsor myself, and I use whatever brands I want to use.  

[Mike L]

Since you have a recruit clause in your contract, start with…

Your local club population,

Co-anglers at tournaments you enter,

Interview employees at the local tackle

shops you frequent,

Start talking fishing to other people at any outside function you attend,

Look for ways to expand your circle of friends locally. 
 

You’d be surprised how many avid anglers would jump at the chance to be sponsored. That’s not the problem. 

 

Most don’t understand how it works. Depending on how your contract is written you’d have to be careful and talk to them yourself instead of just submitting random names. 
They will have to be prepared to fulfill any obligation also. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike
 

 

[GRiver]

15 minutes ago, Woody B said:

What do your "really" get from the company?   (I don't have a clue how these things work) 

I don’t know anything about them either. I know a guy that fished them when he was younger, said it was pretty cut throat and dog eat dog kinda deal. 
The tournament fisher people ( trying to be politically correct) that come by the dock are all seem ok. 

[Cgolf]

I fish for fun but do have two products I represent, but they don’t ask me anything beyond posting pictures. Since I don’t tournament fish I don’t look for more sponsors and wouldn’t sign on for one that looks for product placement in a shop or recruiting other people, but that’s just my fun fishing situation. 
 

Since it sounds as if you are getting paid, either cash or product credit, are you able to renegotiate to something different then recruiting new team members since you are running out of good brand ambassadors to recruit? I would hope they would work with you, but if not it might be time to move on. The downside is that you have to invest in setups from another brand which likely won’t be free. 

[casts_by_fly]

I'm not sponsored by anyone but my wife, so can't help with that aspect.  However, knowing your worth is always important whether it is sponsorships, workplace pay, or some other area.  What you choose to do with that information is up to you, but if I were underpaid by a significant amount vs the industry average or what I could get by moving, I'd want to know that and weigh it against your current circumstance.

 

As an example, the company I work for typically has lower base pay but higher bonus pay.  In a boom year you will make significantly more than most any other place.  In a bust year you will make less than you could elsewhere.  If guaranteed steady highest pay is your determining factor then you'd look elsewhere.  I have chosen to stay (I could leave for a job 25% higher base tomorrow) because my workload is great and flexible and the boom bonus years are great (this year is shaping up).  Regardless, I know what my worth is elsewhere and have made a conscious decision in what I'm doing.

[Mike L]

If you’re a tournament angler there are many more opportunities to be recruited. 

What you do for them and how often you do it can be negotiable but to a point. 

A lot depends on your success and exposure to different local, regional and of course national trails. 
 

Many Nationally known retail chain stores are pretty straight forward about what they expect and what they will offer. 
 

However, As you advance your brand, which in my opinion you are, your options become more abundant so in turn your rewards if that is your only purpose. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[TOXIC]

First, let me say overall the fishing industry at the management and sponsorship level is extremely small.  I have seen it many times where the guy you pizzed off yesterday is your boss today.  I’ve had it happen to me.  It’s very easy to get a bad reputation when you jump from company to company for a better deal.  The only ones who can somewhat get away with it are the touring pros.  I could list all of my current/past sponsors and be totally comfortable with how my relationship with them either ended or continues.  I can give you an examples of companies I was with for over 15 years and after they were sold the entire pro staff could never get a response from the new owners.  Likewise I have been with companies who, when sold, trimmed pro staff dropping some touring pros but kept me on.  Why? Because the name of the game is selling product and not predicated on how you finished in your fruit jar or club tournament on Saturday. There’s soooo much that goes into the sponsorship side of the industry that I could write pages from the lessons I have learned over the years.  

[Basseditor]

I appreciate the responses. Good stuff.

[txchaser]

I don't think it would be offensive to say something like:

"hey I've been with you for ten years, I don't have any intent of looking around as you've been good to me, but I do need to ask if I should be asking for a different deal. I'd be sore if it turns out if I should have been pushing all the time for something. So just let me know if yall think I have a deal that fits with the work I do, or if there's something different available" 

[slonezp]

If you're not generating them $$$ then why should you expect them to generate you $$$. I learned many years ago that I couldn't make a living fishing. I broke even a few years. Hard to get excited about that. 

[Hammer 4]

My rule of thumb is, look out for # 1, cuz no one else will, 99% of the time.

[Columbia Craw]

A good name is to be valued more than fine gold.  There was a time I admired many nationally known bass pros.  However, I lost respect for many because of their lack of loyalty.  I also lost respect for manufactures that failed to recognize and or maintain their pro staffs.  One such company treated many anglers who were friends of mine so badly I do not purchase their products or subsidiary’s products.  That’s just me. 
I don’t pet a cat that sh$@s in my shoes.

[Mike L]

5 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

A good name is to be valued more than fine gold.  

If more people thought like this, we’d all be living in a better place. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[WRB]

Looking back at how bass fishing progressed the majority of fishing rods, reels, boats, engines, sonar, Trolling motors and lures were American made products. Mono Line was American made by DuPunt for example. 

All the above are now off shore commodities. Reels were always off shore like Garcia Abu Ambassadors until about 20 years ago. 

Today we consider made in Japan a higher class product for reels, line, lures, etc. 

Boats and Mercury outboard engines are still American made.

What does this have with product loyalty.....everything!

You need to know who is paying you by first name basis, someone you know and trust,  not a consortium or holding company that doesn’t have your interest in mind. 

The era is disappearing where you as a loyal angler means something.

Tom