Schaaf Consulting announced today that it has acquired PartnerCentric, creating one of the biggest outsourced program management companies in the industry. This move continues Brook Schaaf’s plan for affiliate marketing world domination that began with the founding of Schaaf Consulting with his brother, Forrest, in 2006 and then accelerated with the acquisition of Stephanie Agresta’s OPM company, Affiliate Karma, in December, 2008.
No details have been released of the financial terms of the new deal but apparently PartnerCentric’s founder and president, Linda Woods,Linda Woods will remain as a strategic advisor. Linda has been talking for some time about moving on from the OPM business, so it is going to be interesting to see what she decides to do in the future.
The jewel in PartnerCentric’s crown over the last couple of years has been its management of the eBay Partner Network program, and our understanding is that there have been communications between Brook Schaaf’s team and eBay to ensure that the transition would be seamless, and that eBay would not have any issues.
“If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to success when you’re talking about building relationships with quality affiliates,” said William Martin-Gill, Director of Internet Marketing at eBay. “PartnerCentric’s team of affiliate managers has helped us develop our existing and potential publisher base by working closely with publishers to optimize their sites using our Quality Click Pricing model. They have also opened our affiliate channel to non-traditional publishers. We know Brook and Forrest and look forward to what they’ll bring to the combined entity.”
Along with the eBay Partner Network, the new combined organization will also manage programs for clients such as Quicken Loans, Constant contact and 21st Century Auto Insurance. More details were included on the PartnerCentric information page:
LOS ANGELES, CA (April 6, 2010) – Schaaf Consulting, an affiliate program management firm, today announced it acquired Internet marketing firm PartnerCentric, Inc. The combined entity creates one of the largest outsourced program management (OPM) companies.
The new company, which will be known as Schaaf-PartnerCentric, will be led by Schaaf Consulting CEO, Brook Schaaf, and headquartered in Los Angeles. PartnerCentric Founder and President, Linda Woods, will remain with the new company as a strategic advisor. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"We are excited to leverage the powerful combination of our two companies for the benefit of our clients, our partners and our industry,” Schaaf said. "We will be able to bring best practices of two great companies to the affiliate programs we manage and will continue to deliver innovative, indispensable program management.”
The two companies already manage many of the top-performing affiliate programs, including the eBay Partner Network, 21st Century Auto Insurance, Constant Contact, SnagAJob.com, Moosejaw Mountaineering and Quicken Loans.
“I have been working with Schaaf Consulting since 2007, and I haven’t been this impressed since my best friend’s boyfriend tried to kiss me at prom,” said Kate Runyon, Internet Marketing Coordinator at Moosejaw. “Maybe that didn’t come out right but you probably get it.”
Woods said she agrees that the clients of both companies will be well-served by the experience and expertise to be found within the combined company.
"This is a win-win for our clients and affiliates who are going to gain even more tools and technologies, support and service in order to grow their businesses,” Woods said. "We have enjoyed a long and friendly relationship with Schaaf Consulting, and we all saw the great potential that would come from bringing our two teams together."
Relationship building with affiliate partners has always been a key strength of both companies, which will continue to have a dedicated team managing affiliate development for the eBay Partner Network.
“If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to success when you’re talking about building relationships with quality affiliates," said William Martin-Gill, Director of Internet Marketing at eBay. "PartnerCentric’s team of affiliate managers has helped us develop our existing and potential publisher base by working closely with publishers to optimize their sites using our Quality Click Pricing model. They have also opened our affiliate channel to non-traditional publishers. We know Brook and Forrest and look forward to what they’ll bring to the combined entity.”
About Schaaf Consulting.
Brook Schaaf and his brother, Forrest, joined forces to create Schaaf Consulting in 2006. Los Angeles-based Schaaf Consulting now employs a team of seven full-time workers and manages programs for a variety of top performing clients including Moosejaw Mountaineering, Intuit Websites and Constant Contact. Schaaf Consulting is the winner of the 2008 Ad:Tech Limelight Award for Best Affiliate Marketing Campaign.
Previously, Brook Schaaf was the Affiliate Program Manager for Zappos.com, Shoes.com and Edmunds.com. Schaaf Consulting is a charter member of the Performance Marketing Association, for which Brook serves on the board of directors.
About PartnerCentric, Inc.
Founded in 2004, PartnerCentric, Inc. was among the first Outsourced Program Management companies. Previously, Linda Woods, started her career in affiliate marketing with Commission Junction in 1999, and then became known as a consultant to the industry doing business as Affiliate Goddess, where the concept for Outsourced Program Management was first created. President Linda Woods and her team of affiliate program managers currently manage the affiliate programs of such merchants as 21st Century Insurance, eBay Partner Network and Quicken Loans. PartnerCentric was a finalist for the CJYou Award’s Agency of the Year category in 2009. The company’s headquarters was located in Santa Barbara, CA., until relocating to Chestertown, Maryland last fall.