Case Studies

Finish Line x TopCashback

Sustaining YoY Growth

The Results

Finish Line, TopCashback, and Rakuten Advertising’s partnership achieved remarkable year-over-year growth in 2023. The partnership found success through consistent communication and ongoing program optimization on the TopCashback platform, alongside Rakuten Advertising’s reporting and analytics programs. Together, we helped Finish Line achieve:

+15%

ROAS increase

+22%

improvement in conversion rate

+62%

revenue increase

+44%

traffic boost

About the Brands

Finish Line is a leading athletic retailer offering the best selection of brand-name footwear, apparel, and accessories. With a keen focus on global accessibility and staying at the forefront of trends, Finish Line proudly offers an extensive range of renowned brands across their online and brick-and-mortar storefronts.

TopCashback, a pioneer in the cashback industry since its UK inception in 2005, expanded to the US in 2011 and now operates in China, Europe, and Australia. Offering the most generous shopping rewards on over 7,000 merchants, including cashback, coupons, deals, and a browser extension, TopCashback provides customers with additional savings across desktop, mobile, and app channels.

The Story

The partnership between Finish Line, TopCashback, and Rakuten Advertising has seen sustained growth while working together, but for 2023 we wanted to take the partnership to new heights, focusing on sustaining momentum and achieving new levels of success.

Tasked by Finish Line to achieve specific business goals, TopCashback employed its strategic playbook to effectively support a wide range of advertiser objectives, frequently exceeding performance expectations. With Rakuten Advertising’s strategic guidance, tools, and analytics, the Finish Line and TopCashback teams have successfully reached and connected with audiences through effective collaboration.

The Rakuten Advertising Solution

In 2023, our strategy centered on key Finish Line categories—Apparel, Shoes, Accessories, and Sports & Fitness—while capitalizing on pivotal promotional periods for the brand. Finish Line and TopCashback met regularly, maintaining constant contact to analyze sales, traffic, and ongoing promotions. Leveraging the Rakuten Advertising Insights & Analytics platform, they adapted their strategies in real-time based on performance analytics, ensuring maximum impact and success.

The teams used strategic promotions and product launches to boost exposure during Finish Line’s key promotional periods, enhancing existing momentum. They successfully optimized cashback rates on specific days to attract members while meeting ROAS goals. Utilizing Rakuten Advertising’s tools, they measured the impact of these strategies in real time. By also focusing on non-promotional days, they drove consistent performance, making 2023 the most successful year yet.