By evolving its content commerce strategy with CJ, REVOLVE scaled performance marketing globally without compromising on pricing or brand identity.
55%
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186%
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+46
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| Incremental lift in CR% (click-to-action conversion rate) |
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higher mobile app conversion (from Instagram vs. mobile web)
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new affiliate partners onboarded incl. 14 content/influencer platforms |
Background
REVOLVE is redefining the fashion discovery and shopping experience for Millennial and Gen Z consumers. Known for its trend-driven curation and premium lifestyle positioning, the brand has become a go-to for consumers seeking fashion-forward discovery and inspiration. REVOLVE operates a multi-brand model, offering a mix of premium third-party labels and in-house brands. To continue to scale globally, REVOLVE seeks to reach high-value, first-time buyers in new markets with a focus on full price sales. While Affiliates were already a core digital performance marketing channel, with content commerce playing an increasingly critical role in search, brand equity, and discovery, the REVOLVE team saw an opportunity to do more.
Challenge
Growing a premium fashion retailer and lifestyle brand across new markets demands precision. REVOLVE had already built a strong affiliate base through traditional channels. To fully realise its global ambitions, REVOLVE increasingly focused on an affiliate approach designed for content-led expansion, deeper localisation, and high-value customer acquisition at scale.
In short, REVOLVE sought authoritative, localised content that could perform across these new channels.
REVOLVE wasn’t aiming for marginal gains. The team wanted to:
- Achieve at least 20% revenue growth in the channel
- Drive a mix of 21% of transactions coming from new-to-file customers
- Expand significantly globally.
Affiliate marketing has long supported REVOLVE’s content and international marketing strategy, but shifts in technology and buyer behaviour have made that role more pivotal than ever. REVOLVE sought a more flexible model, deeper partnerships, and performance aligned tightly to brand and market goals.
Connect:
Rebuilding affiliate for content, control, and scale
REVOLVE set out to build an affiliate model to support full-price sales, local relevance, and mobile-first discovery. CJ helped REVOLVE to expand its affiliate model to support content-led growth, new markets, and performance alignment at scale.
AI-powered discovery tools surfaced creators and publishers that aligned with REVOLVE’s voice, audience, and growth priorities. CJ focused on performance storytelling and platform fit, with new partner activations that included:
- Community-led creator networks focused on lifestyle and social conversion
- Video-first affiliate platforms with high retail engagement
- New global influencer networks and infrastructure offering structured, scalable activations across markets
To support this shift, CJ deployed a mix of strategic tools:
- Situational commissioning to flex incentives by region, audience, or product
- Mobile optimisation and deep linking to improve mobile journeys and conversion from Instagram to app
- Real-time fraud protection and partner vetting to safeguard performance quality
With discovery optimised, incentives aligned, and high-impact partners in place, REVOLVE’s affiliate programme was optimised for AI and future ready. It was ready to lead.
Amplify:
Driving performance through content, commissioning, and conversion
With content now primed to drive full-funnel growth, CJ focused on performance. Strategic placements, AI-powered tools, and targeted partner activations delivered higher visibility, stronger conversion, and deeper alignment with REVOLVE’s premium positioning.
New platforms were activated across multiple formats, spend was tied to outcomes, and mobile journeys were optimised to support higher-value behaviours. To balance the partner mix, CJ focused on reducing overreliance on any one platform and expanding reach through influencer networks and content-led publishers.
CJ delivered:
- A broader mix of content partnerships, enabling curated storefronts, editorial-style placements, and stronger brand alignment
- Strategic commissioning configured by audience, region, and product type, with higher rewards for new customers and house-brand sales
- Mobile conversion uplift with app journeys from Instagram delivering 186% higher conversion than mobile web
- Higher order values driven by smoother app experiences, with AOV rising 19%
- Performance alignment across placements, incentives, and KPIs, supporting expansion into menswear and beauty without weakening brand control.
Grow:
Expanding the programme with global reach, vertical growth, and brand-aligned KPIs
With the performance engine running, CJ helped REVOLVE scale in a way that protected brand equity while delivering volume, reach, and relevance. Growth wasn’t a trade-off, it was brand-aligned, outcome-driven, and measurable across every region.
- Vertical diversification, supporting growth across menswear, beauty, and in-house brands
- New-to-file acquisition, reaching 25% of total affiliate transactions, ahead of the 21% target
- Mobile monetisation, converting high-intent users with stronger journeys and higher order value
- Strategic KPIs, aligning affiliate outcomes with brand equity, customer quality, and full-price sales
Client testimonial
“REVOLVE is the next-generation fashion retailer targeting Millennials and Gen Z through continuous creative innovation. As a partner, CJ brought the ideal mix of strategic expertise, tech-driven tools, and a truly collaborative spirit. Their approach enabled us to drive high-value, first-time buyers across all key markets, while tailoring campaigns to reflect local voices and lifestyles. The content commerce programme not only supported acquisition but also strengthened our overall go-to-market strategy, boosting awareness and elevating REVOLVE’s brand presence globally. The results speak for themselves, surpassing our ambitious targets.”
Sorah Hyong, Performance Marketing Manager, REVOLVE
The results
The impact was clear:
- 186% higher mobile app conversion from Instagram versus mobile web
- 19% uplift in mobile average order value, driven by mobile optimized customer journeys
- 46 new affiliate partners onboarded, including 14 content and influencer platforms
- Stronger programme integrity, with efficiency gains from CJ’s fraud prevention and partner vetting tools
- 55% incremental lift in CR% (Click-to-Action Conversion Rate) when compared to non-affiliate channel shoppers
This wasn’t a short-term push. It was a structural reset that positioned affiliate marketing as a global driver of brand-consistent growth.
