Rapidly Growing Food and Beverage Brand Gets an Affiliate Refresh

Background

The pandemic has profoundly impacted consumer shopping behaviors, especially in the food and beverage industry. Traditionally reliant on retail partnerships, these brands have now pivoted towards online and Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) sales to find continued growth and diversification throughout their revenue streams. According to Statista, this vertical market is projected to reach $162.1 billion in revenue in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.15% from 2024 to 2029. This growth emphasizes the increasing importance of a robust online presence and effective DTC strategies.

Summary

An up-and-coming beverage brand was making waves in the industry but had difficulty finding success within their affiliate program. Margins were tight, and the budget had to be reserved for other channels, making the affiliate program an uphill climb. JEBCommerce stepped in after careful consideration by offering the Accelerator service that allows brands to rely on the 20 years of agency experience that we provide at an economical price point. The focus was on fundamentals, relationship building, and best practices which are commonly overlooked on new affiliate programs. In a short 9 months, the program exploded and saw a huge increase in revenue, productive publishers, and quality traffic to the brand site.

The Challenge

This particular brand had launched their affiliate program with ShareASale, a quality and trusted network partner of JEBCommerce, so that they prepared for success from a network perspective. While ShareASale, as part of the global affiliate platform Awin, provides robust support and resources, the brand didn’t have a dedicated inhouse account manager or team running the day-to-day operations and relationships with affiliates. With JEBCommerce's dedicated management and strategic expertise, the brand was able to unlock the full potential of their affiliate program, achieving remarkable growth and success in the competitive market.

This collaboration yielded a variety of long-term wins and reversed many of the issues that had impacted growth and sustainability including:

• Stagnant Program: Reliance on 2-3 affiliate partners
• Outdated Creative Assets: Ineffective and unappealing promotional materials
• Lack of Diversified Commission Strategies: Uniform and non competitive commission structures
• Limited Communication: Infrequent and inconsistent engagement with affiliates
• Flat Revenue: No significant growth despite other channels performing well

The Solution: JEB's Accelerator Service

Understanding the need for an economical yet effective solution, JEBCommerce introduced the Accelerator service. This product leverages our award-winning experience, processes, and affiliate knowledge to address and fix fundamental issues in a brand's affiliate program, ensuring profitability and success without requiring substantial marketing budgets.

Implementation

Over the first six months of 2024, our team applied the following strategies to revitalize the client’s affiliate program:

1. Program Optimization: Updated creative assets, program descriptions, and brand messaging to align with current market trends and consumer preferences.
2. Diversified Commission Structures: Introduced tiered commission rates to incentivize top-performing affiliates and attract new ones.
3. Enhanced Communication: Established a regular cadence of communication with affiliates, including newsletters, webinars, and one-on-one check-ins.
4. Recruitment and Activation: Actively recruited new affiliates and re-engaged dormant ones, leveraging our extensive agency relationships.
5. Performance Monitoring and Adjustment: Continuously monitored program performance, making data-driven adjustments to strategies and tactics.

Results

Leveraging our Accelerator service yielded remarkable results within nine months:

• Revenue: Achieved 103% Year-over-Year (YoY) growth
• Orders: Increased by 102% YoY
• Productive Publishers: Expanded by 77%
• Quality Clicks: Grew by 27%
• Conversion Rate (CR): Improved by 57%

Conclusion

This case study underscores the transformative impact of a well-managed affiliate program. Through strategic optimization and dedicated management, JEBCommerce successfully revitalized the client's affiliate channel, driving significant growth and positioning the brand for continued success. The Accelerator service proves that with the right expertise and approach, even brands with limited marketing budgets can achieve remarkable results.

Want to find out how JEBCommerce can help your brand achieve similar success? Our Free Affiliate Program Audit will reveal what your program needs to be successful.

Key Takeaways

• Affiliate Management: Requires dedicated focus and strategic execution
• Program Optimization: Involves updating creative assets and diversifying commission structures
• Consistent Communication: Essential for maintaining and enhancing affiliate relationships
• Data-Driven Adjustments: Key to continuous improvement and success

Contact Us

Ready to transform your affiliate program? Reach out to us at gethelp@jebcommerce.com or fill out the free audit request below and let’s develop a customized plan tailored to your business’s unique needs and objectives.