The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into force on May 25, 2018, fundamentally changed how businesses handle personal data across the European Union. It gives individuals greater control over their information and requires companies to implement transparent, secure, and well-documented data practices.
Meanwhile, successful brands like Sephora, Chewy, and IKEA are quietly building a different kind of growth engine—one that costs nothing upfront and only pays out when sales actually happen. They’re using affiliate programs, and the results speak for themselves: 81% of brands now run affiliate programs, with affiliate marketing contributing 5-25% of their total revenue.