Coffee and Cake with Kate Eringa

Our latest Coffee & Cake is with Kate Eringa. We speak to our Key Account Manager on her 4-year journey with Commission Factory.   

Tell us a bit about yourself? 

I've been married for almost seven years and have a very energetic two-and-a-half-year-old son. I get bored easily so I tend to keep pretty active or busy!

I love to get out and explore new places which naturally hasn't happened in a while. Before Covid, I was always planning our next adventure or getaway!  My husband and I grew up in the country and moved to Sydney for work, so we love seeing family as it gives us a nice excuse to head back to the country and enjoy a slightly slower pace of life. 

How do you have your coffee? 

STRONG! Double shot latte or Piccolo 

What is your favourite cake and why? 

No preference, but it must be chocolate! 

What does your job involve? 

I oversee a range of brand affiliate programs. I often look back to analyse campaigns we ran and look ahead to see what clients should be looking into to reach their targets. My goal is to ensure that everything we do in the affiliate channel aligns and feeds into their overarching brand objectives.  

What excites you about your role?    

It's such a dynamic role. I work with very different brands, all of which have really unique and custom needs. No brand is the same, and they all want to push boundaries and drive more than just revenue. I love that every day is different and that there's never a dull moment! 

What do you see as the biggest developments in the industry?    

The last few months have ensured some pretty valuable growth for the industry. Brands are spoilt for choice when it comes to who they work with and I'm finding that publishers are becoming so incredibly diverse in the solutions they can offer to brands. For example, cashback sites can now provide comparisons, codes sites can publish content, and comparison sites can offer codes. Current publishers are diversifying their offerings, and new publishers are popping onto the scene and growing exponentially and providing healthy competition. 

What would you say are the biggest challenges, and how can the industry look to overcome them, in your opinion?    

I'm not sure if this is the biggest challenge, but I have seen it crop up more and more. Brand budgets are no longer keeping up with the small budgets allocated to the affiliate channel. More consumers than ever are relying on online shopping, and now we need to see brand budgets become more agile. Affiliate is becoming a big marketing channel for many brands now and requires its own budget allocation.   

Do you have any interesting facts about yourself that people do not know about you? 

I've trekked Kokoda and would one day love to climb Mount Everest.

Do you have a book, podcast, or film recommendation for our readers?   

Yes! It's a book called 'Never Split the Difference' by Chris Voss. 

Who is your most played artist now?  

If this is the last time' by LANY. It's a tear-jerker for my inner parent. I also love Amy Shark, Halsey and Dermont Kennedy!   

What do you love about the industry? 

It's never the same! Things are always changing, brands and pushing boundaries and publishers are getting bigger and better. 

What's the most surprising thing about the industry? 

How personable it is. I think as an industry, we know each other well. I'm always presently surprised when I see someone I know pop up somewhere.