Next are changing!

[nextchallenger]

Firstly, hi I am Jonny. For those of you who don't know me I work at Next head office up in Leicester as an Online Marketing Executive. Part of my role is to help the Next programmes and liaise with affiliates.

Today, we are pleased to announce that the Next affiliate programmes are changing.

Next and i-level have appointed buy.at and affili.net as the new networks offering the Next affiliate campaigns.

The move simplifies the previous structure of three networks. The two new networks will have identical programmes with identical commission structures.

The new programmes open this Friday 1st February. buy.at and affil.net will contact all existing Next affiliates from Friday. It is of course your choice which network you choose to work with.

Contracts will terminate with Affiliate Window and CJ on Friday 29th February. All links must be changed over within February, so we are offering a little incentive to help the migration go smoothly.

The promotion will run from 1st - 29th February 2008. All links must be moved to either of the new networks by 1st March and you must improve on January’s performance on your new network for a chance of winning up to £1000 worth of Next vouchers.

So how does the competition work?

Well for every additional sale you make on last month’s sales, you will be entered into a lucky dip. If you made 10 sales in January and you make 15 sales in February on your new network, that’s 5 tickets into the draw!

There are 6 prizes up for grabs…

1st Prize - £1000 of Next vouchers
2nd Prize - £500 of Next vouchers
3rd Prize - £150 of Next vouchers
4th Prize - £100 of Next vouchers
5th Prize - £50 of Next vouchers

If you are yet to join the programme, start promoting and you will be given the chance to win £200 of Next vouchers. This prize will go to the best performing new affiliate to the programme.

And the new programmes?

To find out the new programme details and commission structures login to either affili.net or buy.at from Friday and apply.

Banners, text links, email creative, and copy for the new programmes will be available on both buy.at and affili.net’s interfaces.

Next and i-level are happy to answer any queries you may have about the change. You can contact us at nextaffiliates@i-level.com.

I will personally answer any emails to the above address along with Fiona @ i-level. You can also get my personal contact details from my profile here on A4U. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or feedback on the programmes.

Alternatively you can contact,

Ricky Jones @ affili.net - rjones@affili.net or

Roz Fenwick @ The buy.at affiliate network - rosalyn.fenwick@buy.at

Thanks

Jonny

[Barry]

Good luck on the transition and well done on your new network selections.

Thanks for the update.

Ta

[drivetowin]

Jonny

Good of you to post though it would have been even better had you posted in response to the legitimate concerns and frustrations affiliates had over the changes in Next's commission structure.

Perhaps you'd care to reassure us all that the move to new networks will also mean that there will be true two way communication with your affiliates, that you will seek to communicate and not dictate, and while you're at it maybe explain the criteria on which the new networks were chosen (that's not to say there is anything wrong with the networks you have chosen but to my mind and many other affiliates, Affiliate Window have done an excellent job for you in their management of the account and so there replacement appears to be an attempt to brush affiliate concerns under the carpet rather than address those concerns head on).

Open communication on these matters may also help reassure Buy.at and affili.net that they have not picked up the poisoned chalice.

[nextchallenger]

Thanks Barry!

Originally Posted by Barry Good luck on the transition and well done on your new network selections. Thanks for the update. Ta

[fionah]

Hi all, for those who don't know me I'm Fiona Hammond and I work as the affiliate planner for next at i-level. Both Jonny and myself together look after the day to day running of the program so are on hand to anwer any queries you have.

You can contact us both at nextaffiliates@i-level.com - that email address gets sent to both of us so there should always be someone on hand.

Looking forward to getting to know you all!

[Chris Clarkson]

Don't worry Keith,

I can see your post, it's definitely there!

Chris C

[drivetowin]

Thanks Chris

I thought for one moment asking for transparency had made me invisible!

Good to see that nextchallenger is currently viewing this thread (according to the bit at the bottom) but no response......

Silence is golden........

[ian-d]

Appointing buy.at...good times

Removing Awin...bad times

[Julie H]

Keith - I may be half blind without my glasses or contact lenses but I too can definately see your post.

Wait for the tumbleweed to pass through ...

Jules

[Qui Gon Jinn]

Yep Keith, it is definitely there. I can even quote it. Get ready for the charm offensive with prizes & endearing words on previous relationships with a few cliches.

Jonny Good of you to post though it would have been even better had you posted in response to the legitimate concerns and frustrations affiliates had over the changes in Next's commission structure. Perhaps you'd care to reassure us all that the move to new networks will also mean that there will be true two way communication with your affiliates, that you will seek to communicate and not dictate, and while you're at it maybe explain the criteria on which the new networks were chosen (that's not to say there is anything wrong with the networks you have chosen but to my mind and many other affiliates, Affiliate Window have done an excellent job for you in their management of the account and so there replacement appears to be an attempt to brush affiliate concerns under the carpet rather than address those concerns head on). Open communication on these matters may also help reassure Buy.at and affili.net that they have not picked up the poisoned chalice

[leaddo]

Maybe you need to rub the screen for it to appear. I can see it OK too.

[Frostie]

Originally Posted by drivetowin maybe explain the criteria on which the new networks were chosen

I would love to know this and also the true reason that lay behind the decisions to leave perfectly good, proactive, approachable agency last year?

I was more than happy with Next when they were managed by MVi and AWin and formed good relationships with all involved. They were the good old days when commissions were acceptable and communication was second to none, mainly thanks to Sean and Rachel.

[nextchallenger]

Hi Drivetowin,

I am aware of the concerns some affiliates have expressed online. This change in networks does signify change in the way in which we will be communicating with affiliates.

Can I just add that the move away from Affiliate Window was in no way a reflection of their work on the campaign. I haven't got a single bad word to say about Rachel or Kevin. They both worked very hard on the programme and were a pleasure to work with.

The change is a fresh start more than anything. It makes managing this end a lot easier as we will now have two new identical campaigns on two seperate networks. It also signifies a change in communication. Once again I reitterate please do not hesitate to contact me directly if you have any questions or concerns.

Jonny

Originally Posted by drivetowin Jonny Good of you to post though it would have been even better had you posted in response to the legitimate concerns and frustrations affiliates had over the changes in Next's commission structure. Perhaps you'd care to reassure us all that the move to new networks will also mean that there will be true two way communication with your affiliates, that you will seek to communicate and not dictate, and while you're at it maybe explain the criteria on which the new networks were chosen (that's not to say there is anything wrong with the networks you have chosen but to my mind and many other affiliates, Affiliate Window have done an excellent job for you in their management of the account and so there replacement appears to be an attempt to brush affiliate concerns under the carpet rather than address those concerns head on). Open communication on these matters may also help reassure Buy.at and affili.net that they have not picked up the poisoned chalice.

[Barry]

I don't know enough about the politics of this thread to comment on some of the replies . However I am with Ian and Frostie - why are you leaving AW, I thought they were perfect.

Ta

[drivetowin]

Jonny

More than happy to communicate with you directly however as the issues affect a large number of affiliates I'd rather have the discussion here.

So can we assume that the new commissions will be restored to their previous pre-cut levels?