Entry 280-2

Talking Sponsorship with Todd Witt

Part 2: The Unseen Pro

Question: Todd, yesterday you revealed some of your responsibilities as a Strike King pro. How would you advise fishermen to get started as a regional Strike King Pro?

Witt: Strike King has many manufacturers’ representatives. At any tackle store where you see Strike King’s products, ask the owner to give you the name and the number of the representative in your area. These reps need help with in-store promotions and many other activities to sell Strike King lures. So, I suggest you meet with the manufacturer’s rep in your area and ask what you can do to help. Tell them you’re interested in a sponsorship and will perform whatever tasks you can to learn how to promote and sell Strike King’s products.

These reps are trained professionals. To be sponsored by Strike King, you must learn to do the tasks these reps perform. One of the best ways to get started is by helping the reps promote and sell Strike King lures. Most fishermen don’t consider the role lure representatives play, the job of a rep, or how the rep got started. Most regional pros were willing to start at the bottom of the fishing and tackle industry and work their way up. Like any other craft, you must learn to work for nothing while learning your craft before you’re worthy of sponsorship. You must prove to Strike King that you can help them, not only by placing well in tournaments, but also by selling products.

Question: Do you fish tournaments, and how important are your tournament wins to getting sponsored by Strike King?

Witt: Tournament wins are always nice to have on your resume, but you don’t have to win every tournament in which you compete. You must be a good fisherman to help promote Strike King’s lures and prove you can catch bass using Strike King’s lures.

Question: If there are two people applying for Strike King sponsorships and one of these people has won 15 of the last 20 tournaments he’s fished while the other angler hasn’t won as many tournaments, but has been working with the reps, performing shows and stocking shelves, from your experience, which of these two fishermen will Strike King pick to be a regional pro?

Witt: More than likely they’ll choose the fisherman who’s been doing the most to help the representative. Strike King is a business. The people who help them get their work done are far-more important than a fellow whose only claim to fame is winning a bass tournament. If you look closely at the national pros, you’ll see they spend time with the press and in show booths with customers. Much of their work for the company isn’t what you see on TV. Most of the work of a national pro isn’t seen by the general fishing public. Strike King needs worker bees and not just show bees.

For instance, at the Bassmaster Classic, Strike King had two retail booths and one factory booth. It took many people to set-up and operate these booths during the show. The Strike King regional and national pros put in long hours setting up and working those booths for the next week. I’m not saying winning a tournament isn’t important. It is. But you must be willing to do the other, unseen tasks pros do unbeknownst to the majority of the public every day.

Next: Me and the Media

Contents:

• Part 1: From a Fisherman to a Pro
• Part 2: The Unseen Pro
• Part 3: Me and the Media
• Part 4: From a Press Guy to Fishing Buddy
• Part 5: Steps to Getting a Sponsorship