While we loved basking in the glow of sunny summer August days, we’re most excited about the uptick in consumer attitudes toward the economy, and you should be too!
According to The Confidence Board, after three consecutive monthly declines, the Consumer Confidence Index got a nice boost of 7.9 points, reaching 103.2. Additionally, the Present Situation Index and the Expectations Index both enjoyed gains. In short, although inflation concerns still exist, they are lessening, and purchase intentions are increasing as consumers have a positive outlook on the future.
So, just as we do each month (check out July’s post here), we’ve analyzed affiliate data from Skimlinks (a Taboola company), which synthesizes data from thousands of publishers to show what products are selling and why, and rounded up the top three affiliate marketing trends from August. Below, we’ll break down each one and discuss how you can use them to prepare the most attractive content pieces and boost your sales and commissions for the upcoming months.
Here’s a quick overview of the trends before we dive into more detailed insights:
- Consumers are speeding toward electric bikes
- Mattress sales skyrocketed with Labor Day sales
- Abercrombie & Fitch takes over consumer feeds and fills shopping carts
Electric Bikes Cruise to Popularity
Gas is becoming more affordable, but months of rising costs at the pump, increased car prices, and consumers’ ongoing desire to go greener and cleaner have propelled electric bike sales to reach new heights this year.
Recent reports predict the e-bike industry will be worth $49.7 billion this year, with a CAGR of 10.2% from 2022 to 2027. The e-bike market has evolved drastically over the past few years. New brands entered the space, more affordable options are available, and improved designs have changed the biking experience.
Early launched Labor Day sales caught the attention of consumers. Adults may have been looking for new modes of transportation as they head back to the office, and parents might have bought them for kids to ride as they return to school. This trend will likely stay around for the next few months, with e-bikes topping many holiday wish lists.
Key Takeaway: Publishers should produce content for those looking to buy their first e-bikes, focusing on different types, features, brands, and price points. Think about creating guides for people who might want to use them in the city, replacing other commuting options and others interested in hitting the trails or heading off-road.
Advertisers can start to build brand awareness and bring consumers into their funnel, preparing them for upcoming or early holiday deals.
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Don’t Sleep on Mattresses Sales
Mattresses became a top priority for people during the pandemic – consumers bought almost 36 million beds. They remained popular with shoppers earlier this year, although they fell off our top trends list over the last few months. However, Labor Day sales have reignited interest, especially for top-selling brands like Saatva.
Mattresses can generate excellent commissions for publishers, with the average queen mattress price ranging between $1,050-$2,050. COVID pushed more shoppers to buy everything online, including mattresses. Now 71% of 18–35-year-olds and 50% of 36–55-year-olds are most likely to purchase mattresses online, providing an excellent opportunity for e-commerce brands to boost sales.
As people prepare their homes for upcoming holiday guests, interest in new mattresses should remain strong.
The Takeaway: Home improvement articles about décor and items like mattresses always attract plenty of consumer attention, so investing in creating content around that topic will pay off. Publish guides featuring top brands and include reviews and product comparisons.
E-commerce advertisers should target younger consumers who are most likely to click and buy online.
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Abercrombie & Fitch Takes Over
Abercrombie & Fitch was the definition of cool in the 1990s and early 2000s but fell from grace due to its exclusionary business strategy, as documented in Netflix’s White Hot: The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch. The fashion company underwent a significant rebrand, and by 2018, Business Insider dubbed it ‘the biggest retail comeback of the year.’ Now A&F’s new approach to size-inclusiveness, body-positivity, and down-to-earth looks won over parents and kids as they shopped for their back-to-school wardrobe.
The brand’s jump in popularity, especially among Gen-Z, was likely spurred on by a smattering of young influencers modeling their favorite looks on TikTok where #abercrombie has amassed over 440 million views.
Key Takeaway: Fashion publishers should tap into the brand’s popularity, promoting hard-to-resist deals from its sale section and planning content for the upcoming holiday sales.
Although we’re past the peak of back-to-school shopping, parents will continue to fill kids’ closets, so promote everything, including jeans and sweatshirts, cute dresses for school dances, and outerwear.
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Ride These Trends into Next Month
Armed with these affiliate trends and insights, you now know which products and brands to promote and who to target to make the most of your marketing budget.
Remember that while consumers feel more optimistic about the economy, many are still looking for deals and bargains, so work corresponding language into your headlines to pique interest.