🤫The Affiliate Secret to Retail Media

Happy Tuesday!

This week marks my third at Hello Partner, and time has flown by, busy with insightful industry chats, deep dives, and trend-spotting. 

And from Kevin Edwards’ breakdown of industry best practice to shoppers’ shifting spending habits, there are plenty of actionable industry insights for you to sink your teeth into this week. 

On that note, another one not-to-miss is the US Partnership Awards submission deadline — and the clock is ticking.

If you want to spotlight your excellence in the industry, your last chance is March 3, 2026.

Champions who clinched first place last year include tvScientific, Acceleration Partners and Tombras — the winner of 12 USPA gold trophies. To learn more about Tombras' winning strategies, you can read about them here. 

To get your team in front of the 2026 UPSA judges, download the Entry Kit here.

Now, let’s get on with the news.

In today's newsletter:

• Pick of the day: How Retail Media Is Giving Affiliate a Bigger Stage
• Trending: Shoppers Are Turning Their Backs on Impulse, Cardlytics Data Shows
• Industry Insight: Affiliate is Built on Relationships, Not AI

Pick of the day

Retail Media Didn’t Replace Affiliate. It Gave It a Bigger Stage.

For Hello Partner’s Industry Voice, Jack Davies takes the microscope to affiliate thinking in retail media.

Jack breaks down the commercial foundation, looking beyond last click, and the opportunities within the space.

“The most interesting conversations I am part of today are not about whether affiliate or retail media wins,” says Jack. “They are about how proven performance mechanics can unlock retail media budgets in a way that aligns incentives and protects commercial outcomes.”

Trending

What's hot on Hello Partner right now

Shoppers Are Turning Their Backs on Impulse, Cardlytics Data Shows

Shoppers are ditching impulse spending for smaller baskets and value-led decisions. What does this mean for affiliates? 

‘We're Taking a Much More Multilateral Approach’ Kevin Edwards on Paving the APMA Roadmap

For affiliate marketing, data points to strong growth; now the focus is on best practice, says Kevin Edwards.

Marketers, You're Doing Reddit Wrong

Amidst a recent Reddit feature refresh, Olena Bomko shares her tips on how marketers get the most out of the platform.

Taboola Brings on Ex-Amazon VP Krishan Bhatia as Chief Business Officer

The new appointment comes as the ad platform zeros in on performance and partnerships.

Industry Insight

Stay at the top of your game

This week’s industry insight comes from Hannah Clark, who cautions that affiliate is built on relationships, not AI.

Hannah articulates what we all know well: if you don’t know the industry or how to navigate it, affiliate marketing can be…prickly. 

With the recent Honey accusations, fraud has come into focus — and Hannah argues that PayPal’s browser extension is not the only company whose practices should be examined. 

Hannah stresses that affiliate is all about relationships, and a channel that needs monitoring, nurturing, and real investment. 

As Hannah puts it, you get out what you put in, and part of that is delivering on brand. 

“Every affiliate programme should be tailored to a brand’s tone of voice. It’s not just about turning voucher sites on anymore.”

Amusing Affiliates

Jobs

Get your company in front of 6,500+ affiliate & performance marketers by sponsoring this newsletter!

Browse our full media kit for a range of activations across Hello Partner.

Until next time,

Madaline Dunn Community Editor Email me Connect with me on LinkedIn