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Artist Apply

🎨 CBS SELECT ARTIST SERIES

A Curated Showcase of Elite Custom Bait Painters

The Soft Stencil System gives painters the ability to achieve studio-quality detail with precision, flexibility, and consistency.
Now, we’re highlighting the artists who push that craft even further.

Welcome to the CBS Select Artist Series — a premium, invitation-only collection featuring some of the best custom-painted baits from painters who use the Soft Stencil System.

⭐ Why This Program Exists

To highlight exceptional craftsmanship.

Your paintwork deserves more eyes, more respect, and more opportunity.

To show what the Soft Stencil System can really do.

These stencils were made for pros, and this series showcases their full potential in the hands of skilled artists.

This is not a marketplace free-for-all.
It’s a curated, high-standard artist showcase with the spotlight on quality, originality, and consistency.

🎣 How the Program Works

1. Apply to join.

Submit photos of your best work and a short introduction.
No commitments — just show what you can do.

2. Get selected.

Only a small number of artists are accepted.
This keeps the series premium and protects everyone’s value.

3. Your baits get listed on CustomBaitShop.com.

You choose which baits you offer.
You set your prices.
Your name appears on each listing.

4. You fulfill orders directly.

You ship the bait to the customer.
You stay in control of quality, packing, and timelines.

5. Your designs remain exclusive.

Any bait listed here cannot be sold anywhere else.
This protects customers, protects your pricing, and keeps the Artist Series truly special.

🖌 What We Look For

  • Clean fades, blends, and edges
  • Professional-level finish and durability
  • Consistency across multiple baits
  • Confident use of color and detail
  • Soft Stencil System used in at least part of the design
  • Reliability and clear communication
  • A painter who takes pride in their craft

If you meet these standards — you’re exactly who we want.

💼 What Artists Receive

  • Placement in the CBS Select Artist Series
    A premium, trusted platform for showcasing your work.
  • Your name featured on every listed product
    Customers know exactly who painted their bait.
  • A growing audience of collectors and painters
    You benefit from the credibility and customer base of CustomBaitShop.com.
  • No cost to join
    No fees, no listing charges, nothing upfront.
  • You keep 80% of each sale
    (CBS receives 20% to cover processing, marketing, service, etc.)
  • Total creative control
    You paint what you want, when you want.

📦 Order Fulfillment

When your bait sells:

  • Ship within 3 business days
  • Provide a tracking number
  • Package securely (no rattling, no exposed hooks)
  • Include a card or branding if you wish
  • Communicate clearly if any delays occur

This keeps the experience professional and consistent across all artists.

⚠️ Quality & Conduct Standards

To protect the integrity of the Artist Series, listings may be removed if:

  • Quality decreases
  • Orders are repeatedly shipped late
  • Exclusivity is violated
  • Product photos are misleading
  • Communication becomes unreliable
  • Customers report issues

The goal is to maintain a high-end, trustworthy collection for everyone involved.

💰 Commission Structure

Artist receives: 80%

Paid via PayPal, Venmo, or similar.

CBS receives: 20%

This covers:

  • Payment processing fees
  • Listing & storefront management
  • Customer service
  • Marketing and promo
  • Fraud protection
  • Handling returns/refunds when necessary

This model is far better than Etsy, consignment shops, or online marketplaces.

📬 Ready to Apply?

Fill out the form at the bottom of this page and I'll reach out to you. You'll reply back and submit 3–6 photos of your best work and a quick introduction.

I look at every submission personally. Let’s build something incredible together.

— Adam Groom
Owner & Artist, Custom Bait Shop

📜 Rules & Regulations

CBS Select Artist Series

To protect artists, customers, and the integrity of the CBS Select Artist Series, the following rules and regulations apply to all participating artists.

1. Eligibility Requirements

To participate, artists must:

  • Demonstrate professional-level bait painting skill
  • Use the Soft Stencil System in at least part of their designs
  • Provide clear, accurate product photos
  • Commit to consistent quality, consistency, and communication
  • Agree to all terms listed in this document

2. Exclusivity Requirement

All baits listed on CustomBaitShop.com must be:

  • Exclusively sold through CBS
  • Not sold on Facebook, Instagram, auction groups, marketplaces, your own website, or any other sales platform
  • Not offered privately, discounted, or “off-menu” to other buyers

This prevents customer conflicts, pricing issues, and duplicate inventory problems.

If a bait is discovered being sold elsewhere, the listing will be removed immediately and the artist may be removed from the program.

3. Ownership & Artwork Rights

  • Painters retain full ownership of their artwork and designs.
  • CBS retains the right to use product images for marketing, advertising, email campaigns, and promotional materials.
  • Designs created by artists will never be shared, copied, resold, or reproduced by CBS without explicit permission.
  • Submissions must be 100% original. No replicas of other artists’ work or copyrighted patterns.

4. Order Fulfillment Requirements

When a bait sells, the artist must:

  • Ship within 3 business days
  • Send a valid tracking number
  • Pack securely to prevent hook, paint, or hardware damage
  • Properly label the outside or inside of the package
  • Communicate promptly about any delay or issue

Repeated late or problematic shipments can result in removal from the program.

5. Shipping Standards

Artists must use:

  • Protective bags or sleeves
  • Sturdy mailers or boxes
  • Hook protection (tubes, foam, caps, etc.)
  • Adequate padding for larger baits

The goal:
No rattling, no loose hardware, no exposed hooks.

If a bait arrives damaged due to poor packaging, the artist is responsible for replacement or refund.

6. Quality Standards

Every bait listed must meet the following:

  • Clean edges, crisp patterns, and intentional detail
  • No runs, bubbles, fisheyes, or overspray
  • Smooth clearcoat without pits or orange peel
  • Even, durable coverage with no flaking
  • Properly prepped blanks and hardware
  • Strong, secure hardware placement
  • Consistent color and quality across multiple baits

CBS may remove listings that fall below this standard.

7. Pricing Guidelines

Artists may:

  • Set their own prices
  • Adjust prices over time
  • Offer premium pricing for complex patterns
  • List multiple price tiers

However, artists may not:

  • Undercut the CBS listing elsewhere
  • Sell identical baits cheaper on any other platform

This ensures fairness and consistency for all artists.

8. Commission & Payment Terms

  • Artists receive 80% of each sale.
  • CBS receives 20% to cover fees, processing, handling, marketing, fraud protection, and customer service.
  • Payouts are made via PayPal, Venmo, or similar.
  • Payouts occur once the order is fulfilled and confirmed shipped.

If a refund or chargeback occurs due to artist error, the artist’s payout is reduced accordingly.

9. Communication Requirements

Artists are expected to:

  • Respond to messages within 24–48 hours
  • Provide tracking numbers promptly
  • Notify CBS of stock changes or updates
  • Communicate proactively about delays or issues

Clear communication keeps the system running smoothly.

10. Removal From the Program

CBS may pause or remove an artist for:

  • Repeated late shipments
  • Quality decline
  • Failure to respond to communication
  • Selling the same bait outside CBS
  • Customer complaints or refund patterns
  • Misrepresentation of products
  • Violating any of the rules listed on this page

Removal is not personal — it protects the experience for customers and other artists.

11. Reinstatement

Artists who are removed may request reinstatement after:

  • Addressing all issues
  • Providing updated samples or quality improvements
  • Demonstrating reliability and communication
  • Agreeing to follow all updated rules

Reinstatement is reviewed case by case.

12. Program Adjustments

CBS may revise:

  • Commission percentages
  • Artist requirements
  • Shipping expectations
  • Listing standards
  • Eligibility rules
  • Quality standards
  • Communication guidelines

Updates will be communicated to all active artists.

13. Agreement

By participating in the CBS Select Artist Series, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Rules & Regulations.