Custom Painter Program - Terms and Conditions

Last Updated: 1/5/2026

Thank you for your interest in partnering with Vertical Jigs and Lures! This program allows you to purchase our USA-made fishing lures at bulk pricing, customize them with your own paint designs, and resell them to your customers.

We've designed this program to be mutually beneficial—you get access to high-quality, American-made lures to showcase your artistic talents, and we expand awareness of our products through your creative work. We want you to succeed and make money, and we're committed to supporting our painter partners.

To protect our brand reputation, intellectual property, and the integrity of our US manufacturing, we need clear guidelines that both parties agree to follow. Please read these terms carefully before applying.

1. PROGRAM ENROLLMENT & APPROVAL

Application Requirements

To participate in the Custom Painter Program, you must provide:

Your name and contact email
Website and/or social media links where you promote your work
Description of your intended use (resale of custom-painted lures)
Information about where you intend to resell our products (online platforms, retail stores, etc.)
Agreement to these Terms & Conditions

Approval Process

We reserve the right to review and approve all applications. Approval is at our sole discretion, though we welcome all painters who are committed to following these program guidelines. Once approved, you'll receive access to bulk pricing through a unique account link.

Geographic Focus

This program currently focuses on painters based in the United States and Canada. International applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

2. PURCHASING & BULK REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Order

Participation in the Custom Painter Program requires purchasing a minimum quantity of lures as specified at the time of order.

Bulk Pricing

Approved painters receive discounted bulk pricing on unpainted lure blanks. This pricing is confidential and may not be shared with non-participants or used to undercut our retail prices.

Products Covered

This program applies to our core products including:

Havoc HD-30 Crankbaits
Ghost Jigs
Vertical Minnow stand-up blade baits
Other products as made available through the program

3. WHAT YOU CAN DO (YOUR RIGHTS)

Customization

You may paint and customize our lures using your own designs, patterns, and color schemes.

Resale

You may resell the custom-painted lures through your chosen sales channels (online stores, retail locations, social media, etc.).

Brand Usage

You are encouraged to reference our brand when marketing your custom-painted lures. For example:

"Custom painted Vertical Jigs HD-30 Crankbaits"
"Hand-painted Ghost Jigs by [Your Business]"
Mentioning Vertical Jigs and Lures in product descriptions and social media posts

This helps both of us—you benefit from our reputation for US-made quality, and we gain product awareness.

Packaging Additions

You may add stickers or labels to the exterior of our packaging for:

Your business name and branding
"Custom Painted by [Your Name/Business]" labels
Barcodes for your retail systems
Pricing or other necessary retail information

4. WHAT YOU CANNOT DO (RESTRICTIONS)

Minimum Pricing

You must not sell custom-painted lures for less than $13.99 per unit. This minimum pricing protects both our brand value and ensures fair competition among painter partners.

Original Packaging Requirement

You must sell all lures:

Fully assembled and functional
In our original Vertical Jigs and Lures packaging
Without covering, obscuring, or removing our logos, branding, or website information from the packaging

No Trademark or Packaging Tampering

You may not:

Cover or obscure the Vertical Jigs and Lures logo or website on packaging
Create packaging that mimics or copies our trade dress
Alter or modify our packaging in ways that misrepresent the product source

Product Integrity

You must maintain the functionality and structural integrity of our lures. Specifically, you may not:

Drill holes or significantly alter the bait structure in ways that affect performance
Add excessive weight that changes the bait's intended action
Modify hardware or components in ways that compromise durability
Apply paint or coatings that prevent proper function

No Pattern Copying

You may not copy, reproduce, or create substantially similar versions of paint patterns that we have designed and currently offer or have offered in the past. We retain all rights to our existing patterns and designs.

We reserve the right to continue designing and painting patterns of our choosing, including new patterns developed by our in-house painters, but we commit to respecting the originality of your work.

No Product Renaming or Misrepresentation

You may not:

Rename our products as your own designs or models
Claim that you manufactured or designed the base lure
Misrepresent the origin, quality, or specifications of our products
Remove or obscure information indicating the lures are made in the USA

USA Manufacturing Representation

Our lures are proudly made in the United States, which is a critical part of our brand identity and value proposition. You must:

Accurately represent our products as US-made when marketing them
Not misrepresent the origin of manufacture
Not imply the lures are made elsewhere

No Overseas Reproduction

You absolutely may not:

Have our lure designs reproduced, copied, or manufactured in any other country
Provide our lures to overseas manufacturers for reverse engineering or copying
Commission knockoffs or imitations of our products from international sources
Facilitate or assist others in reproducing our designs overseas

This is a fundamental program requirement that protects our business and our commitment to American manufacturing.

No Unauthorized Bulk Resale

You may not:

Resell unpainted lure blanks purchased through this program
Sell our products at bulk/wholesale prices to others
Act as a distributor or wholesaler of our unpainted products
Purchase products through this program for anyone else's use

Professional Conduct

You agree to represent our brand professionally and may not:

Make false, misleading, or defamatory statements about our company, products, or business practices
Disparage our brand, products, or other painters in the program
Engage in conduct that damages our reputation or business relationships

5. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & BRAND PROTECTION

Our Intellectual Property

Vertical Jigs and Lures retains all rights, title, and interest in:

The design and engineering of our lures
Our trade names, branding, and goodwill
Our packaging design and trade dress
Our existing paint patterns and color schemes
Our website content and marketing materials

Nothing in these Terms transfers any ownership rights to you.

Your Intellectual Property

You retain ownership of your original custom paint patterns and designs. We will not copy your patterns, though we reserve the right to continue developing our own patterns independently.

Quality Association

You acknowledge that when you market products using our brand name, customers will associate the quality of your work with our brand. Poor quality workmanship or misrepresentation could harm our reputation. We trust our painter partners to maintain high standards.

6. TERM & TERMINATION

Agreement Duration

These Terms begin when you accept them and continue until terminated by either party.

Termination by You

You may stop participating in the program at any time by ceasing to purchase products under the program terms. You may continue to sell any inventory you've already purchased and painted.

Termination by Us

We may terminate your participation in the Custom Painter Program immediately if you violate any provision of these Terms, particularly:

Selling below minimum pricing
Misrepresenting our brand or products
Having products reproduced overseas
Covering or altering our packaging/branding
Engaging in conduct that damages our reputation

Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

Your access to bulk pricing will be immediately revoked
You may keep and continue to sell any inventory you've already purchased
You must cease representing yourself as an active participant in the Custom Painter Program
If termination is due to your violation, you must remove any disparaging or misleading content about our brand from your website and social media within 7 days of written request

Good Faith Approach

We will not terminate painters who are making good faith efforts to comply with these guidelines. We want you to succeed. If issues arise, we'll communicate with you first to resolve them whenever possible.

7. ENFORCEMENT & LEGAL PROVISIONS

Cease and Desist Rights

If you violate these Terms, we reserve the right to:

Issue a cease and desist letter requiring you to stop the violating conduct
Demand removal of content that misrepresents our brand
Terminate your program participation
Pursue legal remedies for significant violations

No Financial Penalties for Good Faith Violations

We will not seek financial damages for inadvertent or minor violations if you promptly correct them upon notification. However, we reserve all legal rights for willful, repeated, or serious violations—particularly overseas reproduction, brand defamation, or intentional misrepresentation.

Disputes

Both parties agree to attempt to resolve any disputes through good faith communication before pursuing legal action. However, if legal action becomes necessary, these Terms will be governed by the laws of the state where Vertical Jigs and Lures is headquartered, and both parties consent to jurisdiction in that location.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full effect.

Entire Agreement

These Terms represent the complete understanding between you and Vertical Jigs and Lures regarding the Custom Painter Program and supersede any prior discussions or agreements.

Modifications

We may update these Terms from time to time. If we make material changes, we'll notify active program participants. Continued participation after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified terms.

8. OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU

We want to be clear about our intentions: This program exists to help custom painters succeed while expanding awareness of our US-made products. We're not looking to be overly aggressive or legalistic with our partners.

We will:

Support you in growing your business
Provide quality, consistent products
Communicate openly about any concerns
Honor our commitment not to copy your patterns
Work with you in good faith to resolve any issues

These Terms are designed to protect both of us, but our goal is partnership, not conflict.

Questions? If you have questions about these Terms or the Custom Painter Program, please contact us before applying. We're happy to clarify any provisions.

Thank you for partnering with Vertical Jigs and Lures!