The partner network for brand-funded, measurable shopper promotions.
Brand Connect™ brings the right parties together around a brand-funded shopper promotion: brand, retailer, agency, activation partner and reward partner.
ShopperProof™ proves whether the required shopper action meets the campaign conditions before the reward is handled through epay.
Connect. Validate. Reward. Measure.
The opportunity
Brands are under pressure to deliver measurable growth. Retailers need more traffic, stronger conversion and deeper shopper engagement. Agencies are expected to create activations that prove their impact. Promotional partners need relevant campaigns and audiences. Reward partners need meaningful transactions. And consumers respond when rewards are relevant, timely and easy to redeem.
Brand Connect™ brings these interests together.
Created by Retail Rush and epay, Brand Connect™ connects brand budgets with retail moments, agency activation, promotional reach, reward mechanics and real shopper participation.
The model is simple: brands fund the promotion, retailers provide the shopper moment, agencies and activation partners drive participation, reward partners add relevant incentives, and ShopperProof™ validates the required shopper action.
Every campaign uses ShopperProof™ to prove whether the required shopper action meets the campaign conditions before the reward is handled through epay.
The result is one connected promotion model where brands, retailers, agencies, activation partners and reward partners work around validated shopper outcomes.
The promotional solution connecting brands, retailers, agencies and rewards
What Brand Connect™ is
Brand Connect™ brings the right parties together around a brand-funded shopper promotion: brand, retailer, agency, activation partner and reward partner.
It connects brand budgets, retail moments, agency activation, promotional reach and reward mechanics around real shopper actions.
It structures the campaign model, partner roles, reward mechanic and validation rules — without replacing the partners that create, activate or operate the campaign.
Brands fund the promotion. Retailers provide the shopper moment. Agencies and activation partners drive participation. Shoppers complete the required action. ShopperProof™ validates the action. Rewards are handled through epay after validation.
This turns promotional activity into validated shopper outcomes.
Brand Connect™ can support AI-enabled partner matching to recommend relevant brand, retailer, agency, activation partner and reward combinations for a specific campaign objective, category, audience, channel or market.
These recommendations can be captured in a Partner Match Report: a practical overview of the suggested partner route, reward options, activation fit, validation logic and next steps.
ShopperProof™ proves whether the required shopper action meets the campaign conditions before the reward is handled through epay.
What Brand Connect™ is not
Brand Connect™ is not a media agency, retailer, payment provider or standalone reward platform.
It does not replace the brands, retailers, agencies, activation partners or reward partners that make campaigns work. Each party keeps its own role, expertise, relationship and approval process.
Retail Rush does not define campaign strategy, buy media or operate retailer channels as part of Brand Connect™. epay does not define campaign strategy or replace the retailer, agency or activation partner
Brand Connect™ connects the parties and structures the campaign model. ShopperProof™ validates whether the required shopper action meets the campaign conditions before rewards are handled through epay or results are counted.
Only validated shopper actions count as measurable outcomes. ShopperProof™ validates and measures the action generated by the campaign; it does not create demand by itself.
It does not replace retail, media, loyalty or platform channels. It works alongside them to help turn campaign activity into validated shopper outcomes.
In short:
Brand Connect™ connects the right partners. ShopperProof™ proves the shopper action. Together, they turn promotional activity into validated shopper outcomes. Where useful, Brand Connect™ can summarise the recommended partner route in a Partner Match Report, covering partner fit, reward options, activation fit, validation logic and next steps.
How Brand Connect™ works
Connect
Brand Connect™ brings the relevant brand, retailer, agency, activation partner and reward partner together.
Where useful, AI-enabled partner matching can support this step by recommending relevant partner and reward combinations based on campaign objective, category, audience, channel and commercial fit. The outcome can be summarised in a Partner Match Report before the campaign moves into creation.
Create
Campaign partners define the mechanic, offer, reward, partner roles, activation channels and validation rules..
Activate
The promotion is activated through retail, media, agency, loyalty, wallet, delivery, brand, digital or partner channels.
Validate
ShopperProof™ validates whether the required shopper action meets the campaign conditions.
Reward
After validation, the reward is handled through epay.
Measure
Performance is measured by validated action, retailer, SKU, channel, partner, reward and cost per validated outcome.
Example campaign
Soft drink brand × grocery retailer × game gift card partner × social agency
A soft drink brand wants to stimulate product trial among young shoppers and families.
Through Brand Connect™, the brand is connected with a grocery retailer, a social or digital agency and a game gift card partner supported by epay. This partner route could be identified and summarised in a Partner Match Report before the campaign partners define the mechanic, offer, reward, activation channels, validation rules and operational requirements.
The campaign partners define and approve the campaign mechanic, offer, reward, activation channels, validation rules and operational requirements before launch.
A shopper buys a participating soft drink product at the grocery retailer. ShopperProof™ validates the purchase against the campaign conditions. After validation, the digital game gift card is handled through epay.
The result
A retailer-safe, partner-powered, brand-funded promotion that drives verified retail purchase, rewards the shopper with a relevant digital incentive and gives all partners measurable performance insight.
Why it works
The reward is relevant for shoppers, the agency drives activation, the reward partner adds value, and the purchase is validated before the reward is handled through epay.
Campaign launch remains subject to commercial, operational and compliance approval by the relevant partners, including the campaign mechanic, reward use, retailer participation, activation channels, validation rules and settlement process.
ShopperProof™
Validation, reward-control and measurable shopper outcomes
ShopperProof™ is the collaboration between Retail Rush and epay that powers validation, reward-control, redemption, settlement and measurable shopper outcomes.
ShopperProof™ proves whether the required shopper action has been completed according to the campaign conditions and then manages the reward handling through epay.
Retail Rush contributes partner orchestration, campaign logic, shopper validation, governance, reporting and performance measurement.
epay contributes reward issuing, redemption, reconciliation, settlement, financial processing and commerce infrastructure.
Built for partner ecosystems
ShopperProof™ can work with existing agencies, retail media networks, coupon platforms, loyalty providers, wallets, fintech apps, cashback platforms, delivery platforms and commerce partners.
Depending on the campaign setup, ShopperProof™ can work as a white-label layer, embedded module or connected validation, reward and measurement layer alongside existing partner platforms.
It supports existing partner platforms without replacing the channels, relationships or campaign execution they already provide.
ShopperProof™ can validate actions such as:
- purchase
- receipt upload
- SKU/EAN product match
- coupon claim
- registration
- redemption
- repeat purchase
- partner or platform action
Who uses ShopperProof™
Brands
Prove which campaigns drive validated trial, purchase, repeat purchase or acquisition.
Retailers
Turn retail media and shopper promotions into validated, outcome-based activation.
Agencies
Show which media, content, influencer, QR, social or performance campaigns drive validated shopper action.
Activation partners
Make claims, coupons, cashback, sampling and co-promotions measurable and reward-controlled.
Platforms
Add brand-funded shopper activation without replacing the existing user experience.
Reward partners
Provide relevant incentives that are handled only after validated action.
Shopper activation models
One ShopperProof™ layer. Multiple ways to activate.
Retail-led does not mean retail-only.
It means putting commerce proof at the centre of every activation model.
Shopper intelligence
From campaign reporting to better partner selection
Brand Connect™ turns promotional activity into reusable shopper and partner intelligence through ShopperProof™ validation, reward-control, settlement data and performance measurement.
Brands, retailers, agencies and promotional partners can understand:
- which channels drive validated actions;
- which retailers, regions or SKUs perform best;
- which rewards work best by audience, category or objective;
- which agencies or activation partners drive the strongest outcomes;
- what the cost per validated action is;
- where to scale the next campaign.
This intelligence can also support AI-enabled partner matching for future Brand Connect™ campaigns and improve future Partner Match Reports.
Partner ecosystem
Clear roles. Connected partners. Measurable promotions.
Brand Connect™ connects brands, retailers, agencies, activation partners, reward partners, data partners and epay in one measurable promotion model.
Brand Connect™ structures the campaign model and connects the ecosystem. ShopperProof™ validates shopper actions, controls reward release and measures outcomes. epay supports reward issuing, redemption, reconciliation and settlement where relevant.
Each partner keeps its own commercial role, operational responsibility and approval process.
Ecosystem roles
epay network scale
Scalable reward, commerce and settlement infrastructure
Within ShopperProof™, epay contributes scalable commerce infrastructure and network reach across:
- brand partners and payment methods
- connected touchpoints
- retail and commerce partners
- countries and markets
This gives campaigns a scalable foundation for reward fulfilment, redemption, reconciliation and settlement across markets, retailers and channels.
Combined with Retail Rush’s agency and activation partner network, Brand Connect™ can recommend and connect commercially relevant partners for each campaign. These recommendations can be captured in a Partner Match Report.
epay network in short:
Brand partners and payment methods
Connected touchpoints
Retail and commerce partners
Countries
Create your next Brand Connect™ campaign
Build your next brand-funded, measurable shopper promotion.
Want to connect brand budgets, retail activation, agency execution, activation partners and consumer rewards in one measurable campaign?
Talk to Retail Rush about your next Brand Connect™ promotion — from partner identification and activation to validation, rewards, settlement and measurement.
Not sure which brand, retailer, agency, activation partner or reward mechanic is the best fit? Start with a Partner Match Report.
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