When a premier independent purveyor in the food and beverage vertical—one with family roots dating back to 1963—made the strategic decision to enter the eCommerce space in 2024, they were driven by a desire to bring their exceptional products directly to consumers. Known for their high-quality offerings and rich legacy, expanding online represented the next exciting chapter in their story.
As part of this digital evolution, the company identified affiliate marketing as a key growth channel to increase awareness, capture new customers, and build lasting brand loyalty. To achieve that vision, they sought out not just a network platform, but true strategic partners who could bring both expertise and innovation to the table.
The Power of Partnership
That’s where the collaboration between Rakuten Advertising and JEBCommerce began. In the summer of 2024, the teams united to craft a brand-new affiliate strategy from the ground up. Rakuten Advertising brought to the table a powerful mix of best-in-class technology, tracking capabilities, and service features—while JEBCommerce contributed years of hands-on affiliate management expertise and strategic insight.
From day one, this partnership was rooted in collaboration, communication, and the understanding that sustainable affiliate success doesn’t happen overnight. It requires patience, continuous testing, and the flexibility to adapt as the program grows.
Laying the Groundwork for A Strategic Summer Start
With a clear plan and shared goals, JEBCommerce began executing a tailored affiliate strategy utilizing Rakuten Advertising’s robust platform features—particularly focusing on publisher recruitment, activation, and program visibility. The client remained agile and open throughout the process, demonstrating flexibility as the team tested new approaches and worked to build a solid foundation for long-term growth.
The early months were intentionally focused on building momentum, setting expectations, and fine-tuning the program. While initial growth was modest—by design—it laid the groundwork for what was to come.
Holiday Momentum into Q4 Breakthrough
By Q4, the program was ready to scale. Thanks to the groundwork laid during the summer, the affiliate channel was in prime position to capitalize on holiday-driven consumer activity. The results spoke for themselves:
- Revenue: +1410%
- Orders: +1221%
- Productive Affiliates: +90%
- Active Affiliates: +27%
- Conversion Rate: +939%
These staggering gains showcased how quickly an affiliate program can grow when launched with a thoughtful, test-and-learn approach—and with the right partners driving strategy and execution.
Setting a New Baseline: Q1 2025
As 2025 began, the focus shifted to consistency and sustained performance. Comparing Q1 2025 to the program’s initial four months highlighted just how far the channel had come:
- Revenue: +702%
- Orders: +530%
- Productive Affiliates: +20%
- Active Affiliates: +19%
- Conversion Rate: +737%
- Channel ROI: 10:1
These results reflect not only the success of the holiday season, but a new, higher-performing baseline set by the team’s strategic efforts.
Looking Ahead: Growth Through Collaboration
As client's affiliate program matures, all three partners share a unified vision for even greater growth for the current year. With a solid foundation, a flexible and responsive brand partner, industry-leading technology, and strategic agency guidance, the team is poised for another standout summer and beyond.
This case study stands as a testament to what’s possible when expertise, technology, and collaboration come together—with patience, persistence, and partnership at the core.
