Last week Awin and ShareASale hosted their fourth ThinkTank event in Chicago, welcoming 250+ of our advertisers, publishers, agencies, and technology partners to connect, gain insights in the digital and affiliate marketing space, and enjoy face-to-face time in a relaxed environment.
Awin Group US President Adam Weiss said: “In an industry predicated on relationships and developing partnerships, bringing all of our clients, partners, and prospects together under one roof is essential. ThinkTank provided a unique opportunity for learning, networking, and most importantly developing partnerships and optimizing existing ones to drive revenue through our platform. This was my first Awin and ShareASale event since coming on board in February, and it did not disappoint. Each year the team strives to make it more valuable than the last for our customers and feedback we received so far has confirmed it was the best ThinkTank yet.”
If you couldn't make it to this year's event, we have all the details for you below.
Kicking-off #ThinkTankUS with a bang
All ThinkTank participants were invited to our pre-event Welcome Happy Hour at theRoof, with stunning views of Chicago. Guests mingled in a relaxed atmosphere, sipping delicious drinks and enjoying snacks. It was the perfect opportunity to unwind, network, and soak in the vibrant energy of ThinkTank before diving into a full day of sessions and networking the following day.
Driving success with educational sessions from AI to Influencer Marketing
Chief Customer Officer David Lloyd and Adam Weiss began the day by welcoming attendees and sharing an update on what’s been happening at Awin and ShareASale.
They then handed over to Scott Brinker, VP Platform Ecosystem at Hubspot and Editor of ChiefMartec.com for ThinkTank’s keynote presentation, It's The End of MarTech As We Know It (and I Feel Fine). Scott emphasized the importance of incorporating generative AI into business practices at scale, but noted it’s better to start small and test-and-learn as you go.
VP Platform Ecosystem at Hubspot and Editor of ChiefMartec.com, Scott Brinker during his keynote
After a quick coffee break sponsored by intent.ly, the morning sessions were rounded out with 30-minute deep dives on:
- Deploying generative AI to connect with customers across the full purchase journey, featuring experts Nicole Phillips-Bastian of Qatch and Al Ryrie of Help Me Choose A.I.
- Using influencer-affiliate as a means of growing brand awareness versus direct sales, with innovators Andrew Shapiro at Tomahawk Shades and Joe Sanfilippo at Today’s Business
- Securing more C-Suite investment into the affiliate channel, spotlighting insights from EMARKETER’s Max Willens, Performance Marketing Association’s Sarah Beeskow Blay and Revenue Based Marketing Advisor’s Kerry Curran
Cultivating growth through partnerships and networking
The afternoon was dedicated to a ThinkTank highlight, 1:1 networking. During this time, attendees could nurture existing partnerships and new connections, as well as have strategic discussions, troubleshoot and strengthen business relationships in person.
ThinkTank attendees during the 1:1 partner meetings
Additionally, guests enjoyed various perks like a happy hour, complimentary headshots, and chair massages. And, for the first time ever, we introduced a Marketing Podspot, allowing clients to share insights on affiliate marketing and feedback on ThinkTank that will be featured in one of our future podcast episodes.
Celebrating excellence in the channel
To conclude an exceptional day, we gathered at Adler Planetarium for the ThinkTank Network Awards dinner and ceremony, where the Awin Group honored clients for their strategic innovations in the channel. The evening was filled with delicious food, engaging conversations, and, above all, fun for everyone.
ThinkTank 2024 Network Awards Winners
A huge thank you to our clients, partners, and friends who joined us at this year's Awin and ShareASale ThinkTank. We look forward to seeing everyone at upcoming conferences and events like Affiliate Summit East, and CreatorIQ Connect, throughout the remainder of the year.
See the photos from ThinkTank 2024, including the ThinkTank Welcome Happy Hour, and the ThinkTank Network Awards (with more to come in the next few days).
