Just to clear the air on that one.
ALL of my staff shooters were customers long before they made my staff. Unlike most companies I do not accept resumes, and employ a bunch of guys to promote my product just because they get free stuff.
Everyone on my staff earned their spot. Rather than accept resumes, my staff coordinator and myself keep an eye out through out the year. We watch for the most loyal customers, ad customers who are representing themself in a professional manner. We then invite those customers to join our staff. Every single person on my staff was already shooting my strings "BY CHOICE" long before they were on the staff. None of them even knew they were in the running for a staff position until they got the invitation.
I know in a lot of cases staff shooter words are just because they are getting free stuff to promote said product. With my staff that simply is not the case. My shooters were already standing behind my product before they were staff. They got offered a staff position because we like to stand behind the people who stand behind us.