CPA network brought on board to drive online sales of lines including menswear, kidswear, Rihanna and Chelsea Girl

LONDON, UK, 15th July 2013 – River Island, the leading high street fashion retailer has recently launched its affiliate marketing campaign with leading global CPA (Cost Per Acquisition) network Rakuten LinkShare to reach online shoppers around the globe. Having had a presence on the British high street for over 60 years and with stores throughout Asia, the Middle East and Europe, the brand now embraces the international benefits of e-commerce with an affiliate marketing programme spanning the UK, US and Australia. This includes full integration with River Island’s multi-currency site.

River Island’s CPA programme, which will be managed by Biglight, will focus on working with fashion bloggers and publishers such as FashionBeans, rewardStyle and ShopStyle to offer discovery shopping experiences as well as style editorial, web exclusives and limited edition products. The brand is working with trusted advisors at CPA network Rakuten LinkShare to promote digital content, editorial and creative video, as well as offering bloggers access to exclusive events, gifting and review opportunities.

The brand is already leading the way in exciting shopping experiences with a pop-up shop in Ibiza and interactive seasonal campaign videos. To further this multi-channel shopping environment the CPA programme will support River Island’s kids range for boys and girls aged 3-12, as well as its current fashion lines, Rihanna and Chelsea Girl. Its growing menswear offering will also be promoted. Furthermore, new products will be added to the programme each week as fresh trends are completed by the retailers’ in house design team.

Josie Roscop, Marketing Director at River Island said, “The online channel is increasingly valuable to international consumers who want to buy from brands outside their home country. We want to not only enable those shoppers to buy but also to make sure that the shopping experience they have is entertaining, personalised and exciting.”

Steve Borges, Co-founder of e-commerce agency Biglight commented, “We will be working with River Island to create exciting digital content to encourage consumers to click through and ultimately make a purchase. This will include exclusive videos of Rihanna, collections of the hottest items in each category and seasonal promotions. This digital content, partnered with Rakuten LinkShare’s network, will combine to create a compelling multi-channel offering.”

Alex Cornford, Director of Sales and Client Development, at Rakuten LinkShare commented: “British brands are experiencing a boom in popularity abroad and retailers are looking to tap into this through the online channel. A CPA network provides the opportunity for huge reach online while still being cost-effective as retailers only pay for sales the programme drives. With the right partnerships, River Island can expand their online audience on a global scale.”

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About Biglight
Biglight is a specialist ecommerce agency, with a particular focus on fashion. Biglight’s services include international affiliate marketing, content creation, photography, customer insight, eCRM, business optimisation and change management. We are very proud to have been chosen by leading brands and retailers, such as Arcadia, Aurum, ASDA, French Connection, Hunter, New Look, Monsoon Accessorize, Radley, River Island, Office, UGG, Uniqlo, Urban Outfitters and White Stuff to achieve their international ecommerce ambitions. Biglight was founded in 2004 and is based in Kentish Town, north London.

About Rakuten LinkShare
Rakuten LinkShare is part of Rakuten Marketing which provides online retailers and other businesses with expert online marketing services and solutions. Its affiliate marketing network and retargeting solutions can acquire new customers, increase revenue and drive overall results while achieving target return on ad spend. Rakuten LinkShare’s clients include some leading UK retailers such as AVON, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, French Connection, Karen Millen, Kurt Geiger, LEGO, Lipsy, Miss Selfridge, Monsoon, Republic, Schuh, Superdry, Charles Tyrwhitt, Topman, The White Company, Wallis and UNIQLO. Rakuten LinkShare was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in New York City, with offices in San Francisco, Chicago, London, Tokyo and Sydney. For more information, please visit: www.linkshare.co.uk.

About Rakuten Marketing
Rakuten Marketing is an international CPA network dedicated to the ecommerce industry. The Rakuten Marketing umbrella brand was introduced in 2013, to offer greater global integration across its affiliate, retargeting and search brands. Through leading affiliate brand Rakuten LinkShare and retargeting and display experts Rakuten MediaForge, Rakuten Marketing offers combined CPA services to retail brands across the US, UK, Australia and Japan.

Contacts:
Rakuten LinkShare
Carol Rashti
+ 44 (0) 20 7427 8123
carol.rashti@linkshare.com

Hotwire
Eleanor Armitage
+ 44 (0) 207 608 4665
Eleanor.armitage@hotwirepr.com

Additional Resources
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