Latest news with #LTK
Elle
21-07-2025
- Business
- Elle
The Surprising Place People Are Turning for Shopping Recommendations
In the age of social media, phrases like 'link in bio,' 'like and subscribe,' and 'everybody's been asking,' have been seared into our vocabulary, especially if you follow influencers with massive online followings. However, a fan base is no longer a prerequisite for sharing and profiting off of your own curated recommendations. Most probably started noticing affiliate links in the early 2010s, when RewardStyle, now known as LTK, entered the scene and allowed bloggers to earn money from their product recommendations through commissions on every sale. More than two decades later, the company counts on 40 million monthly users and drives $5 billion in annual retail sales through its platform. A newer player is ShopMy, which launched in 2020, and is now valued at $410 million after it announced it had raised $77.5 million earlier this year. According to ShopMy, its affiliate rates range anywhere from 4 to 50 percent. In 2025, influencer-driven shopping behavior is a natural result of how much time we're spending on our phones. Online personalities like Leandra Medine Cohen, Tamu McPherson, and Tinx are helping shape what we buy, all within the palms of our own hands. A 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that 62 percent of U.S. adults on TikTok rely on the app for product recommendations. Looking specifically at female users between the ages of 18 to 49 on the platform, that percentage jumps to 74 percent. Now, the affiliate link landscape is changing yet again. LTK, ShopMy, and Amazon Storefront currently allow anyone to easily create commissionable links they can share, regardless of platform size. Meaning, you can click a link to a product recommended by Meghan Markle just as easily as you can one from your co-worker. Many of these platforms are technically invite-only, but you can apply to join. On ShopMy, you can easily be referred by someone already on there. Bryn Poulos, a New York City-based fashion consultant with just under 4,000 Instagram followers, has been on ShopMy for a little over six months. She was encouraged by her friend, jewelry designer Jennifer Fisher, to join, despite not having a major Instagram following of her own. Originally, she did so in an effort to 'get a better hold on finances,' feeling inspired by personal finance creators like Tori Dunlap (@herfirst100k) and Haley Sacks (@mrsdowjones), to invest, save, and develop a new revenue stream. 'At first, you're not really making much if I can really build out my investments through this platform, that's great,' Poulos says, before adding, 'working in fashion, your friends are going to ask you for links all the time anyway.' Poulos familiarized herself with the platform, and started generating commissionable links to share. 'It was mainly things I was wearing,' she explains. 'Then I realized you didn't have to be wearing an outfit to promote it. You could just post the links with the picture of your edits, like you would if you're doing a magazine page or a gift guide. That opened a lot more doors.' It didn't take long for her to climb the platform's tiered system, which rewards users who drive strong traffic and order volume, to the very top (dubbed 'Icon'). This then brought gifting and brand partnerships (she's worked with Coach on two promotions so far). Beyond sharing links and curating products on her profile, Poulos has also found success in using a platform like ShopMy for other aspects of her professional life: As a personal shopper and stylist, she can compile products for her clients there. 'It's one link that they click, and everything's in one place,' she says. The affiliate link appeal expands beyond the fashion industry, too. Take Jess Gray, a sports business executive in Detroit with just under 3,000 Instagram followers, who opened a LTK account almost three years ago. Like Poulos, she figured she should find a way to streamline the process of sharing links to products her friends kept asking her for. She'll post things she loves, as well as things she knows could work for a variety of lifestyles. Recommendations can include the comfiest work-from-home leggings, 'or, if I'm traveling, what I'm packing or what I use on the road,' she says. But there's a clear appetite from her peers: 'The feedback I get is, 'I want more.'' For now, most of the clicks on Gray's links are coming from people she knows. 'But it's growing where there are people that don't know me and might only have interest in me for certain things that I post,' she explains. She herself has followed people on social media that she first discovered on LTK, and vice versa; some are full-time content creators, others are like her, sharing commissionable links on the side, whom she wants to support. (Friends have done similar for Gray, too: 'My best friend will be like, 'Post this on your LTK, so I can buy it. I can click your link, and you get a couple of dollars.'') This personal element brings an authenticity to recommendations, one that we may no longer feel from full-time influencers once they blow up. According to Dr. Jay Sinha, associate professor at the Temple University Fox School of Business and Management, Gen Z, especially, engages with micro-influencers (accounts with between 10,000 and 100,000 followers) more than celebrities or professional influencers because they prize 'real people' who take the time to respond to questions. Plus, with Gen Z, they've grown up on the internet. 'It feels more instinctual to just share a link,' says Sinha. Sky Howard, a program manager in Washington, D.C. with around 2,000 Instagram followers, started on ShopMy and LTK as a consumer. Once she started posting more recommendations on her personal social media accounts, she realized she could take advantage of these tools, too. 'I was already sharing links with my friends directly, and with followers and other people who follow me that were genuinely interested in what I was wearing,' Howard says. 'I figured, why not make the most of the influence that I already have in a more intentional way?' Howard describes what she's earned from affiliate links as 'play money'—nice to have, but not enough to make a living. 'I'm open to the possibilities of where content creation and making money online can take me,' she adds. Lindy Segal, a New York City-based writer and editor with 4,000 Instagram followers, joined ShopMy in February 2022, through a referral from a colleague. 'As a freelancer, I'm always looking to see how I can have a side hustle,' she says. She started 'testing the waters' with beauty recommendations, but didn't actively use the platform until she launched a Substack newsletter called Gatekeeping, that now has around 2,000 subscribers, that winter. 'I always say it's a shopping-ish newsletter—there are newsletters that go out that have no shopping links at all, but then there are some that have a bunch,' Segal says. 'I wanted to have affiliate somehow.' ShopMy was the most straightforward way to incorporate commissionable links into Substack. (She's since also opened an Amazon storefront.) Segal thinks it's mostly friends who buy products through her commissionable links, but she's heard from strangers, both on Instagram and Substack, who have purchased from her as well. 'I had a friend Venmo me $10 randomly,' she says. 'She was like, 'I bought these Adidas you recommended. You deserve a kickback.'' She compares the appeal of nano- and micro-influencers to what she calls 'the original influencing': customer product reviews. 'We all read the reviews first,' she says. Howard agrees: 'People believe that they'll get the honest truth about a particular item, similar to a review on a website. I'm the type of person that will read every single review before purchasing something.' So, why not trust the review of someone you know IRL? 'For a long time, people wanted to shop through celebrities or influencers, but now, they're looking at people they know and trust,' Poulos says. Plus, at the end of the day, 'we all have influence,' adds Gray. It's just the scale that varies.
Daily Mirror
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Millie Mackintosh's ‘very comfortable' Nobody's Child midi dress is one of her ‘summer staples'
Millie Mackintosh shared her wardrobe summer staples with fans including a chic black broderie midi dress which has sold out – but her Nobody's Child alternative is still available Sometimes the best summer staples are those that are effortless and easy to style, and can be worn in multiple ways. That's why when Millie Mackintosh shared that she had just three wardrobe essentials to get her through summer, fans were quick to beg for details on her looks. One of her standout pieces was a black broderie midi dress, which hails from LoveShackFancy for £446 – but it's now completely sold out everywhere. However Millie offered up several alternative options on her LTK page which help you get the look for considerably less, including the Black Tiered Lia Midi Dress from Nobody's Child that was our personal favourite. Just like her designer version, the Nobody's Child dress has puff sleeves and a subtle V-neckline which bares some skin whilst still being modest enough to wear anywhere from the office to a wedding. The V-neck features a feminine bow detail at the bottom, with a fitted waist that helps accentuate your shape. Although Millie's LoveShackFancy dress has a more streamlined midi skirt, the Nobody's Child Lia Midi Dress has a tiered design, which gives it some extra volume and movement, making it extra flattering and adding a subtle touch of drama. It's also much more affordably priced at £69, saving you almost £400. The main difference between the two, however, is that the Nobody's Child dress is missing the broderie details of her designer one. If you do want these extra details, we found some other great options like the Cutwork Detail Midi Dress from Boden, which retails for £130. Boden's midi dress has broderie-style cut out details along the hemline and neckline, and fastens with a tie belt around the waist. We also love the Black Broderie Midi Tea Dress which also hails from Boden, but is now on sale at Next down from £155 to £75. Other great options include the Mango Broderie Gathered Cinch Waist A-Line Dress, which you can pick up for £79.99 at ASOS and has a more tailored, fitted silhouette with a flaring A-line skirt. We also spotted another Nobody's Child option, with the £85 Black Broderie Anglaise Sophia Midi Dress having a comfortable shirred bodice, puff sleeves and broderie details throughout. However the Black Tiered Lia Midi Dress from Nobody's Child that Millie suggested also comes in three other colours; red, butter yellow and a ditsy floral pattern, all of which are perfect for summer. It's also available in sizes four to 18. It currently only has one review, which is a five star rating saying: 'Lovely dress very comfortable.'
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Two Dallas-Based Businesses Earn Spot On Coveted ‘TIME100 Most Influential Companies'
Two Dallas-based businesses have earned a spot on the 'TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2025' list. Colossal Biosciences and LTK were both included on the coveted list, but for very different reasons. This year's TIME100 marks the fifth year the publication has highlighted companies across six categories: Leaders, Innovators, Disrupters, Titans, Pioneers, and Impact Award recipients. Earlier this year, The Dallas Express reported that Colossal Biosciences wowed the world when it announced it brought back the dire wolf from extinction using state-of-the-art technology. The groundbreaking biotechnology firm also holds the distinction of being the first company based in Texas to be valued at more than $10 billion. TIME Magazine noted that animals long thought lost to history 'are getting a second chance, thanks to Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences.' And it is not just extinct animals that Colossal Biosciences is aiming to revive. 'Just as important, the company is using similar technology to help protect the red wolf, the Asian elephant, and other species currently clinging to life,' the profile said. LTK, a tech platform focused on helping creators and brands monetize content via shoppable links, was also recognized on the prestigious list. The app, co-founded by Amber Venz Box, is considered the largest influencer marketing platform in the world when measured by revenue. 'LTK's bread and butter is its own shopping app, revamped this year to be more video-focused. It connects 40 million plus shoppers—including 38% of U.S. Gen Z and millennial women—each month to more than 8,000 retailers, who rake in more than $5 billion in annual sales through the platform,' read the profile on the Dallas-based phenomenon. According to the company, hundreds of creators have earned $1 million or more through LTK. While it is no longer based in Dallas, another company with roots in the city was also included on TIME's 100 Most Influential Companies of 2025. Poppi, now based in Austin, is the low-sugar soda that skyrocketed to popularity in recent years. In fact, the Dallas-born soda brand was sold to beverage behemoth PepsiCo, Inc. earlier this year for nearly $2 billion.
Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Millie Mackintosh shares genius £15 Amazon rotating beauty organiser
Former Made in Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh has shared some of her favourite home Amazon products and gadgets - including this handy makeup organiser for just £15 There's nothing worse than rummaging through makeup drawers and bags looking for one specific product while you're in a rush. However Millie Mackintosh has shared her secret to staying organised thanks to one handy Amazon find. Many of us may be guilty of having a designated makeup drawer or box that has probably seen better days - with products that are thrown in and never getting taken back out again. But now you can have a more of an organised chaos when it comes to all of your favourite beauty, makeup and skincare products for just £15. The former Made in Chelsea star swears by the Auxmir Makeup Organiser, which is perfect for storing and displaying everything in once place. Posted on her LTK page, the cosmetic organiser comes with nine adjustable laters, with a 360 degree rotation that comes with its own stand. It would look great on any vanity table, in the bedroom or even in the bathroom, keeping your beauty accessories and dressing table well-organised and tidy. Shoppers who have also bought the organiser have shared how it's transformed their makeup organisation. One person wrote: "This is a great product! Easy to put together, looks nice and good quality. I literally cannot believe the difference it has made to my dressing table. This is perfect as the different size compartments are handy and works for my different size products. The rotating feature is also great." While a second said: "Great product, easy to assemble and sturdy - it only comes with 4 shelf inserts I wish it came with a couple more to further maximise storage for smaller items. Otherwise it's great." A third penned: "I was amazed how simple this was to assemble. It clips together really easily and the little silicone elastics help to secure it in place and tighten the shelving. The top section has an opening on it to allow tubes of make up/toiletries to be stored in thus section. I have personally used it to store my face creams and it has been ideal for that. I was really impressed with just how much you can fit onto this shelving unit. It spins so smoothly and stands on 4 little dumpy feet for secure grip on the surface." Debenhams also have a similar version, with a staggering 80% off currently. Originally £69, the Living and Home cosmetic organiser skincare display box is just £13.79. With two layers of storage boxes and a transparent, it can transform any beauty table or dressing room. It's just one of the many items Millie has been sharing from her favoruite Amazon finds. She also posted the Lumie Bodyclock, a revolutionary alarm clock with a gradual sunrise to wake you naturally, leaving you feeling refreshed and wide awake. It cleverly mimics sunrise and sunset colours using mixed LEDs.
Daily Mirror
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Danielle Armstrong's stunning holiday co-ord is still available for under £50
Former TOWIE star Danielle Armstrong has found the perfect floral co-ord to take on your next getaway, and you can still shop her exact look for under £50 If you're looking for something easy and breezy to take on holiday, a co-ord is always a great choice. Not only do you have an instant outfit ready to go, but you can easily mix and match each piece with other things, giving you plenty of different looks without taking up too much room in your suitcase. One we spotted recently was worn by Danielle Armstrong whilst she was on holiday, with the former TOWIE star showing off the outfit on her newly-launched LTK page. Her exact look – H&M's floral co-ord – has already been her best-selling look from her outfits so far, making it a definite must have. The H&M co-ord includes the £19.99 Tie-Strap Smocked Top and the £27.99 Frill-Trimmed Maxi Skirt, meaning you only need to spend £47.98 to copy Danielle's look. Despite its affordable price tag, the full set is still in stock in all sizes, except the XS size in the skirt. Although Danielle opted for the black floral print version, you can also get the set in a white and pink floral print too, which is perfect if you want a softer, more romantic look. The top has a shirred stretchy design that's comfortable and supportive without being too tight (because who wants tight, clingy fits in the heat?) and has a flattering slim fit. Meanwhile the skirt has a covered elasticated waistband that keeps it streamlined and sleek whilst still giving you plenty of stretch. It has a maxi length with an A-line silhouette that flows nicely, giving you plenty of movement and keeping it breezy and comfortable. Whilst there's no denying that the co-ord looks great together, you can so easily pair it with plenty of other pieces in your wardrobe (or your suitcase). The Tie-Strap Smocked Top for example would work with denim shorts, some wide leg linen trousers or even a pair of jeans on cooler days, whilst the Frill-Trimmed Maxi Skirt works beautifully with everything from an oversized T-shirt to a crisp white shirt, or simply thrown on over a bikini for around the pool. The H&M co-ord is made from Enzing Ecovero viscose which keeps it lightweight, but if you want something more natural River Island's Yellow Sleeveless Floral Cami Top (£29) and the matching Yellow Floral Maxi Skirt (£36) are both made from 100% cotton. This means it's breathable and sweat-wicking, keeping you cool and comfortable in the heat. If you want something bolder, New Look's Red Shell Print Poplin Tiered Midi Skirt (£32.99) and the co-ordinating Red Abstract Print Tie Strap Cropped Top (£23.99) are ideal. The bold red colour makes a statement, and they can dress it up and down depending on the occasion. However if you want to take a leaf out of Daniell's style book, you can shop the Tie-Strap Smocked Top and the Frill-Trimmed Maxi Skirt at H&M now.
