Exposure, sales and advertising

Do you think having a Pro-Staff turns more sales for a boat company? I have to wonder how the Polar kraft sales numbers are after doing away with their pro-staff. They were not that well known in this area but seemed to be making a ripple when they were involved with the FLW. After dropping out, it seems they have disappeared. Along that same lines, it seems G3 is getting stronger. For years we have had guys like Steve F. Gary R. and others adding their imput into the design of Lund. With respected names behind your product, I have to think it adds to sales. Did Polar kraft drop the ball for midwest sales?

I have to say that having a pro staff may not seem like much, but to the common lay person, it seems to add a little credibility to the company. If I am in the market for a new boat, I want to know that there is someone out there, pro or otherwise, that makes there living off of fishing that is willing to stake there name on it. Personally, I know that the pro is making money on attachign their name… but I also know that the pro is putting their own name on the line at the same time. To me, it seems like having a name attached lends credibility. Just my opinion though.

Don IMO there is somthing to be said for the pros taff spots. I feel these guys touch a market of anglers that may not other wise look out side of the big brands. However on the flip side of the coin. Savy fisherman that know what they are looking for will do the research and make there own decision. I personlly look to the guys that are great hooks with no ride. What are they running and why? Then it comes down to fit and dollars.

I think you need to have the right “Mix” in any Pro Staff. Tournament anglers are fine, but how many boats to they really sell? Yes, they are driving “Bill Boards” for the product being sold, but their schedule keeps them on the road. In regard to boats, do you think it makes more sense to have Staff members available for on the water demos, and guide trips where you can actually use the product in the environment they are intended for? That is what we (Some of the IDA Staff) did for Crestliner, and are now doing for G3. (How many new Crestliners do you see out there now compared to 5 years ago?)

Is it the right way to do it? Time will tell. One thing for sure is…everyone here knows where to find a a ride in a G3 if they want to. People talk about them when they see them on the water now. We get a lot of people hanging over the gunwales looking in.

Personally, I think Polar Kraft made a mistake. Pulling out like they did sent a bad message to the buying public. “If they pull out on their Staff, would they pull out on me and leave the market?” That is just me.

You guys are the buying public, I am more curious to see what you all think.

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Do you think having a Pro-Staff turns more sales for a boat company?

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Not only a boat company but all companies. Having a Prostaff line up is like having a 24-7 company representative who is surrounded by the people that matter most,…the buyers. If I owned a product based company I know it would be in my best interest to have continuous public relations utilizing a simple scheme titled “Pro-Staff”. Through pro staff not only are you constantly demoing product but you also have set up a basis for in-the-field feed back, which is of high importance for a company who wants a personable feel with they’re customers. So yes, I feel it would be a critical mistake and would raise many unwanted questions of a companies integrity.

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“If they pull out on their Staff, would they pull out on me and leave the market?”

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This was my exact thought when I heard that Polar Craft was dropping their Pro Staff..”are they going under?”

More to the point…tourney anglers generally use their products hard…and a lot. Guides typically use their products 5 days a week and hard.

Speaking personally and taking my reels for example…someday I hope to have ABU Garcia sponsor me. If they don’t…I won’t change because they are a reel I believe in. So finding someone that is not sponsored by a company doesn’t always tell the tale.

I think whats more important than anything is finding a “Pro Staff” or a non official “Pro Staff” that is creditable and asking them why they use what they do.

Moving back to boats…I know that if I was in the market today for a boat, I would talk with someone like Chris Tuckner. Yup, he’s sponsored by G3, but he know all of the brands of boats. G3 might not be the best option for “my” kind of fishing and since I know him personally, I know he would give me the Pro’s and Con’s of each boat that fit my needs.

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IDAcatguides.com

Sponsored by Chris Tuckner

I bought a Crestliner based on fishing with Tuck, James and Dustin. I am Joe Average fisherman and the input was very helpful. I have been very pleased with my Fishawk. This is my fifth season on it. I just got back from some very large water and it was as windy as I ever remember. The C-liner while a little wet when going into the wind peformed as it always does.

Hmmm, I think Prostaff they may bring a product to mind for me, I may even be convinced enough of testimonial alone to try something new for myself, but that would be within a certain price range Probably nothing over $100 on any given day.

Can prostaff sell me a boat? Not a chance, and I highly doubt it’ll do much for most experinced anglers, chances are that have a good idea of what they want or not.
Now their advertising of the boats may steer me to look at one, the boat’s gotta sell itself, and that going to be the bottom line for me day in day out.

I take any advice with a grain of salt, let alone some comming from a Prostaffer, their ties to a company will always make me doubt them somewhat, not saying they’d misrepresent the product/s. More along the lines of what would you expect a Chevy dealer to say about a Ford.

For me the internet makes most of my choices, I can get mulitple feedback from lots of different sources, I think that gives me the truest impression of how well a product works.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there are prostaffer that stick with products they honestly believe in, as sure as I am that there are one out there that believe in stuff enough or long enough to cash a check. Either way I’ll never fault a person for working for a living and doing what they need to do to make ends meet.

I guess to some extent I believe those who go out and buy the products at full price, a little more, of course they can be biased too.

Do you think Kevin Van Dam has helped sell any Nitros?

Who’s Kevin Van Dam? Does he post here?

Nick…I guess I never looked at it that way…if there’s someone out there that would buy a boat on one persons word alone….direct them towards me.. I have some ocean front property here in St Croix Beach!

that was my point exactly BK. being a first time boat buyer I did a ton of research before the purchase. i knew I would do a tin boat. Lunds seemed to be high in price compared to the c-liners. I fished out of 3 crestliners and listened to opinions here on the site. pro-staff or not. i am very happy with my decision.

I think you have to look at the Pro-Staff several different ways. Some pro-staffs are almost all tourney anglers and some are heavier on guides. I personally like to hear first hand from guides what products they believe in. I fish a lot of tournies and know enough “Pro-Staffers” that I don’t always believe everything I hear.

I do however, tend to believe the local guide a bit more when I see him out on the water every time I’m out. I see how his boat handles the conditions compared to mine. I see if he’s screaming at his rod and reel if it breaks, or if he’s high fiving his partner because everything worked the way it should.

As for Polar Kraft, I think they lost one of the best Walleye staffs in the game. They had some pretty good sticks who are top notch guys in both the PWT and the FLW. Bill Ortiz comes to mind. Now, I feel that he’s kind of lost in the mix with Ranger. I remember seeing his boat the last few years and being able to pick him out of the crowd.

Mark Brumbaugh is another. I really think that Polar Kraft was right on the edge of something big, but the company sold and dropped the staff before it could happen. I’m glad G3 is out there doing well and presenting another option. Hopefully we’ll continue to have more options presented to us.