Well, if you represent pressies4princesses, one that’s established, makes customers happy and is in it for the duration.

Anyone can buy some stock, throw up an OS Commerce website and sign-up with an affiliate network to immediately start driving traffic to their (empty) store. It’s too easy. But, that isn’t all there is to building a successful retail business.

There’s plenty of horror stories and hate online about fly-by-night gift and gadget retailers. Typically, they launch with a lot of noise, a slick website and go straight for affiliate marketing as a shortcut to market share. They stick around for a year to 18 months before going bust or being sold and merged into more established businesses. But, sadly, often not before leaving a swathe of dissatisfied customers smarting in forums.

Pressies4princesses is new to affiliate marketing, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that we are just another of these sorry tales in the making. You may not have heard of us before. I mean, we’ve got pretty good search engine rankings, but we can’t be everywhere - that’s where you come in! You might be wondering what sort of outfit we are; whether it’s worth inflicting us on your users/ visitors?

Well, first off, we’ve been trading for over 3 years. And, have been online for over 6. We are pure play internet, with no shops or catalogue to steal your conversions. Best of all, we are profitable - at least have been every year since start-up - and responsible and reputable.

Net Alternative, the partnership that trades as pressies4princesses, is a member of the Giftware Association. The GA/ Giftware Association is the trade association for the UK gift and home industry and has been supporting and promoting this sector of the British economy for over 60 years.

Online security is a top priority for shoppers and serious businesses take their concerns seriously and do their utmost to reassure and protect. That’s why we use 3 year Verisign Certificates for pressies4princesses, not the cheaper and lesser brands. Verisign is the most trusted and recognised SSL certificate provider.

SSL Certificates are essential, but they don’t protect users from human errors in design and coding. That’s why we also subscribe to and are tested daily by McAfee SECURE . McAfee SECURE web sites have passed a set of daily security scans that helps address security concerns like hackers stealing confidential information. McAfee SECURE shops are safe shopping destinations.

Security aside, shoppers want to know they are dealing with a reputable store that’s going to treat them fairly. That’s why pressies4princesses is also a SafeBuy registered and assured retailer. The SafeBuy Consumer Code of Practice has successfully completed the first stage of the OFT’s Consumer Codes Approval Scheme.

So, you see, we are not chancers who just dropped in (for a while) to lose some money. We think we have a great little gift business that’s getting better all the time, because we keep pushing change. But, the best way to find out, is to start promoting pressies4princesses as your main retailer of gifts for women today!

A quick update on what’s really selling well this Christmas.

Fair Trade Cranberry Velvet Scarf. Added last week and an instant hit. Aiming to get more stock on an overnight on Monday.

Nougat Mirror Compact. What an great stocking filler. What woman wouldn’t want one in their handbag?

Fair Trade handbags, particularly the Buckle Bag and Grey Felt Amelie

All Nougat bath and beauty gift sets, but especially the “It’s all about me” one.

Handmade Red Tagua Necklace from the Felicity Gail range of artisan UK handmade jewellery.

Pressies4princess is the “gifts for women” specialist. Our gifts are chosen by women for women. Perhaps that’s why 50% of our buyers are women and returns are so minimal.

Affiliates can access a broader product range and wider audience by promoting us alongside the bigger players. You won’t find handbags and handmade jewellery at many of the other gift specialists!

Seeking high returns? Our male shoppers often buy for that special someone, so they typically spend more. Individual sale commissions over £40 have already been paid this season! Affiliates should target our exclusive handmade jewellery ranges to grab these.

For volume target our stocking fillers. There are plenty in store - from novelties to chocolates to teddies and tea and sympathy. Our range is a refreshing change from all those gadgets!

Achieve higher volumes by targeting female buyers this Christmas. Fact is, women buy for more friends and relations than men. Female friendly and virtually gadget-free, pressies4princesses attracts and converts women strongly.

Benefit from a customer incentive every single day until Christmas. Starting November, we are running a different incentive daily - from free delivery, free gifts, multi-buys, product deals, tiered discounts, affiliate exclusives to best seller reductions, money-back coupons and more. Don’t miss out – start promoting pressies4princesses today!

Media coverage like the BBC’s Primark Panorama, have put Fair Trade into fashion shoppers’ minds. Awareness of the exploitation rife in the fashion industry is on the increase.

Thankfully, there is a simple solution; buy and supply Fair Trade. Awareness of Fair Trade is fairly well established, since the big retailers got behind the food brand. People are generally aware it’s ‘better’, which is why we opted for Fair Trade (BAFTS approved) for our newest handbag range.

Apart from being Fair Trade, these handbags are beautifully made and very ‘on trend’. Handbags have been a great seller for us. The typical price point (at around £30) is great for giving to friends. So most are bought by women buying for female mates, sisters and mums. Girls also can’t resist buying for themselves!

Plus, this Fair Trade addition complements the existing Nkuku album, journal and frame range and Samantha Holmes Alpaca fashion, which is sourced under Fair Trade principles.

Fair Trade is a great angle for affiliates looking for a story behind a link. And, with these exceptional new products you can be confident of high conversions.

• Fair Trade range at pressies4princesses
• Fashionable handbags at pressies4princesses

The God’s Gift Test is fun, clickable and your chance to lodge 60 day cookies - thousands of them. The God’s Gift Test is a bit of fun based upon real science. It separates the players from the plonkers and spills the beans on the secret science behind what women want out of men.

For affiliates, it’s also a great opportunity to link to something interesting and lodge plenty of speculative 60 day cookies. That’ll just about take you into the Christmas buying period.

How many participants will convert? Who knows?! But, clickthrough is probably going to be way higher than a boring old 1% banner. This is a numbers opportunity.

And, because pressies4princesses draws in thousands of visitors a day through search, conversions may be higher than you might think. With so many relevant first search page spots for gift related terms, who’s to say some of you referrals won’t stumble back in and buy somewhere familiar?

Admittedly it’s a curve ball, but when the rest of your affiliate links are all sell, sell, sell, something different might just be the antedote your visitors need!