Amplify Q3 retail sales: Crucial affiliate tactics for brands in the summer merchandise industry
Capitalising on Affiliate Marketing Strategies for Retail Brands in Q3 2025
Affiliate marketing continues to be a significant strategy for retail brands, particularly in Q3, contributing to 56% of affiliate transactions in the previous year. As we approach Q3 2025, here are some top strategies to help retail brands capitalise on seasonal trends, build strong affiliate networks, and prepare for sustained success throughout the year.
Focus on Trending Products
Retail brands should focus on products priced between $10–$50 that offer strong value perception and cater to summer or early fall needs. Products like portable blenders, mini air purifiers, silicone food storage bags, and foot peel masks perform well due to their seasonal relevance and viral potential.
Leverage Affiliate Partnerships
Attracting the right affiliates is crucial for Q3 growth. Programmes like Commission Factory’s Recruitment Package can help identify high-performing partners and boost engagement quickly.
Creative Content and Viral Demonstration Videos
Drive conversions by showing product benefits through engaging videos, especially on platforms like TikTok. Demonstrations like "watch this peel in 5 days" for skincare or airport-themed ads for travel bags can increase appeal and shareability.
Bundling and Cross-Selling
Offer multi-packs or complementary items to encourage larger purchases, aligning with consumer browsing and planning behaviour observed in Q3. For example, foot peel masks with moisturizing socks.
First-Party Data and CRM
Develop creative customer relationship management journeys that use first-party data to personalise offers and increase lifetime customer value, helping to sustain traffic beyond initial affiliate clicks.
Planning Beyond Q3
Use the typically slower Q3 period to optimise backend systems, negotiate contracts, and refine financial and marketing strategies to prepare for the critical Q4 shopping season.
Key Statistics
- FMCG spending was up in Q3 2024, rising to 3.7%, up from 1.2% in Q2.
- Instagram is the preferred platform for most affiliate influencers, with 45% using it to promote campaigns and products.
- Travel search volumes in 2024 for EMEA regions went up 10% in Q3, both in MoM and YoY.
- 54% of consumers purchase a product if an influencer has positively reviewed it.
- Programmes using platforms with real-time analytics experience a 25% higher click-through rate.
- Conversions increase by up to 30% when geo-targeting is active for affiliate marketing campaigns located near student areas.
- Consumer YoY spending for non-essentials rose from 0.6% in Q2 to 0.8% in Q3 in 2024.
- In 2024, UK brands spent £1.7bn on affiliate marketing, which accounted for 10% of ecommerce retail driven that year.
- TikTok affiliate posts average a 5.2% engagement rate, rising to a huge 30.1% for creators under 50K followers.
- 81.4% of services advertised by affiliate marketers are B2C products or services.
- Affiliate conversion rates increase from 20% to 50% when focused on seasonal campaigns.
- Email campaigns can yield high conversions, with 30% of new marketers seeing their highest conversions from these campaigns.
- 26.5% of all retail sales are now happening online as of July 2024.
- 70% of UK shoppers said they were actively looking to get more value from their weekly shop in September 2024, and 35% were hunting for supermarket loyalty scheme savings.
- Blog posts continue to generate tons of traffic for affiliate links, 30% more than that of social media posts.
- 60% of online shoppers click on affiliate links when looking for product reviews.
- Segment both your audience and affiliate partners for better performance.
Together, these strategies enable retail brands to capitalise on seasonal trends, build strong affiliate networks, and prepare infrastructure for sustained success throughout the year.
- By focusing on trending products like portable blenders and foot peel masks that cater to summer or early fall needs, retail brands can take advantage of their seasonal relevance and viral potential, contributing to their success in Q3.
- Retail brands can effectively build strong affiliate networks during Q3 by identifying high-performing partners through programmes like Commission Factory’s Recruitment Package and by segmenting both their audience and affiliate partners for better performance.
