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A Growth Engine, Fully Embedded

How TeePublic Built an Invisible Affiliate & Merch Growth Engine


They needed a growth function, one that could scale with the business, integrate deeply into operations, and deliver consistent results without adding internal complexity.

Instead of building and managing an in-house affiliate and merch team from scratch, TeePublic embedded HKR.TEAM directly into their operation. What followed was an affiliate and creator growth engine that felt fully internal, but ran quietly in the background, without the cost, hiring cycles, or management overhead.

Case Study Snapshot
9+ Years
Growth Partnership
Revenue Engine
Fully Operated by HKR.TEAM
30%+
Cost Savings
teepublic old 4-1

At a Glance

  • Industry: E-commerce marketplace with a creator-driven revenue model
  • Company: TeePublic (Redbubble Group)
  • HKR.TEAM Role: Fully integrated, in-house–equivalent growth engine

The Challenge

TeePublic was growing the merch and affiliate program fast, and the work required a specific mix: thoughtful outreach, consistent follow-up, and steady account management. The bar was high because these reps would be speaking to creators and partners in TeePublic’s name.

 

At the same time, the program had to be cost-efficient. The team wanted to keep payroll lean without compromising quality, tone, or reliability.

 

The Solution

An Embedded Growth Engine That Operated Invisibly

HKR.TEAM didn’t act as a vendor or external support function. We became TeePublic’s affiliate and merch growth operation.

From day one, HKR.TEAM reps were embedded directly into TeePublic’s workflows, tools, and communication rhythms. Outreach, creator relationships, and account management were owned end-to-end, operating with the same standards, tone, and accountability as an internal team.

To TeePublic’s leadership, the function felt in-house.
Operationally, it ran without friction.
Strategically, it scaled without burden.

HKR.TEAM handled:

  • Creator and affiliate outreach at scale

  • Relationship management and long-term retention

  • Day-to-day execution and continuity

  • Hiring, training, and team stability behind the scenes


This allowed TeePublic to focus on strategy and growth direction — while HKR quietly ran the engine.

The Results

Over 9+ years, HKR.TEAM became a consistent driver of the merch and affiliate program. Today, the merch team is fully powered by HKR.TEAM reps. Running the day-to-day, keeping relationships warm, and contributing directly to revenue while keeping costs under control.

 

The impact

  • 30%+ cost savings
  • 7 figures in revenue/month (peak season) generated through the merch program
  • <2% attrition, ensuring continuity and institutional knowledge
  • Predictable, controlled affiliate operations instead of reactive growth
  • Long-term creator relationships maintained without handoffs or disruption

The partnership also expanded into Customer Support: scaling to 100+ CS reps through HKR.TEAM and saving 30%+ on payroll.

If you want to grow critical revenue functions contact us.

The Outcome

TeePublic ended up with a fully functioning affiliate and merch growth engine that:

  • Felt internal

  • Operated autonomously

  • Scaled with the business

  • Stayed stable over time

 

HKR.TEAM absorbed the operational weight: recruiting, training, management, and continuity, while TeePublic retained strategic control and revenue impact.

Roles Hired

  • Creator & Affiliate Relationship Management: End-to-end ownership of creator and affiliate relationships, operating under TeePublic’s brand voice and standards.
  • Growth Lead Generation: Targeted sourcing and qualification of creator and affiliate leads based on evolving business requirements.

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