Perhaps Agency represented in San Diego on Sept. 21–22 at Commerce Roundtable, a partner marketing and ecommerce conference focused on the challenges and opportunities shaping direct-to-consumer (DTC) commerce.
The event brought together ecommerce founders, brand executives, growth marketers, and agency leaders for two days of conversations around customer acquisition, creators, and partner growth.
For Perhaps, growth-stage DTC brands were a priority audience, particularly companies looking to diversify customer acquisition and build performance-based growth strategies beyond traditional paid channels.
What Did DTC Leaders Learn at Commerce Roundtable San Diego?
Commerce Roundtable welcomed more than 750 attendees, with brand leaders accounting for approximately 70% of the audience. The 3:1 brand-to-partner ratio was designed to keep brands at the center of the event and create more opportunities for substantive conversations.
The two-day conference included 20+ ecommerce speakers covering topics relevant to modern DTC growth. Featured speakers included Christian Toetzke, founder and CEO of HYROX, and Taylor Holiday, CEO of Common Thread Collective.
Perhaps Managing Director Jen Root was on the floor, meeting with brands and attending sessions throughout the conference.
Several themes stood out:
- Commerce is moving beyond the checkout. More partners, platforms, and revenue streams are becoming part of the customer journey.
- Creators are a larger part of customer acquisition. Influencers and creators increasingly connect brand discovery with measurable commerce outcomes.
- Partner operations are now more complex. As more parties participate in commerce, payments, attribution, and reconciliation become larger operational considerations.
Jen also spoke with partners and advertisers about how brands can navigate these challenges as commerce becomes more fragmented and AI-assisted tools change how consumers discover and evaluate products.
Why Does Partner Marketing Matter for Growing DTC Brands?
Partner marketing can help DTC brands diversify customer acquisition by reaching consumers through affiliates, creators, influencers, media, and other performance-based partnerships.
Customer acquisition now extends across paid media, creator-led discovery, AI search, social commerce, and owned ecommerce channels. For growing brands, relying too heavily on a single acquisition source can limit reach and create concentration risk.
A full-funnel partner marketing strategy creates another path to discovery and conversion. Perhaps integrates affiliate program management, influencer and creator marketing, and Performance PR into a broader partner marketing strategy focused on measurable performance.
That integrated model is central to Perhaps’ positioning: publishers, creators, Performance PR, Amazon affiliate, and TikTok affiliate can operate as connected partner channels rather than isolated programs.
Where Can You Meet Perhaps Agency Next?
Next up, the Perhaps team heads to Music City Center in Nashville for Shoptalk Fall 2026, where brands, retailers, and commerce leaders will discuss the strategies shaping retail in 2027. Shoptalk Fall runs September 29 through October 1.
In October, the Perhaps team will also make appearances at Content Marketing World in Denver, Colorado, and Advertising Week New York in NYC.
Connect with the Perhaps team to explore a more integrated approach to affiliate and influencer marketing. Say hello at an event or schedule a meeting with the team here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is partner marketing for DTC brands?
Partner marketing is a performance-focused approach that uses external partners such as affiliate publishers, influencers, creators, and media to help brands reach and convert customers. A full-funnel approach coordinates these partnerships around shared growth and measurement goals.
How does affiliate marketing work for DTC brands?
Affiliate marketing allows DTC brands to work with publishers and creators that promote their products and drive trackable traffic or conversions. Partners can include content publishers, review and comparison sites, creators, newsletters, loyalty platforms, and other performance-focused media.
What does a partner marketing agency do?
A partner marketing agency helps brands develop, manage, measure, and optimize relationships with external marketing partners. Perhaps specializes in affiliate program management, influencer and creator marketing, Performance PR, and more, for growth-stage brands.
How can a DTC brand know if its partner program has room to grow?
An affiliate program audit can evaluate a brand’s current network, program setup, partner mix, and growth opportunities. Perhaps uses an audit-first approach to identify optimization opportunities and provide recommendations before brands make a larger commitment.
