Webgains, since 2006 part of the ad pepper media group, reported sales increases of 20% during the first nine months of 2017, totalling EUR 36 million (Q1-Q3 2016: 30 million). Growth was up 29% during the third quarter alone after increases of 24% and 8%, respectively, were reported in the second and first quarter (compared to the same periods last year). The DACH region by far showed the most growth in the third quarter, with sales increasing by 216%.
This brilliant performance owes in large part to the significant uptick in sales that Webgains managed to generate from its existing customers, such as NIKE, Samsung Electronics, Mothercare, Liverpool Football Club, FC-Moto and Momondo as well as new customers, including Hertz, Thrifty, NKD and Lovehoney who also played a role here. The strategic selection of publishers generated outstanding sales for customers in the fashion, mobile, shopping, and travel segments.
According to a BVDW study conducted in August 2017, the affiliate marketing sector grew by about 9% last year. For Webgains, this is bringing higher-than-average gains and, in turn, an opportunity to capture additional market shares due to market growth and the current consolidation trend in the industry. In addition, over the course of the fourth quarter, Webgains will be completely revamping its technology platform and presenting the first prototypes in the area of cognitive advertising and artificial intelligence through a strategic partnership with IBM Watson.
‘With CEO Richard Dennys at the helm, Webgains’ new management will be completely reinventing affiliate marketing,’ says Jens Körner, CEO of the ad pepper media group. ‘The affiliate market is radically changing, both from a technological and structural standpoint. The growth seen so far is a clear indication that we are clearly benefiting from this trend already. We feel confident that we will also continue to grow significantly faster than the market and – if nothing else, due to our innovative strength – benefit from the dynamism of the affiliate market at a higher-than-average level.’