A data-backed look at why growth-stage consumer brands are shifting budget from traditional influencers to athlete-led campaigns. With case studies from Honey Stinger, Bloom Nutrition, OLIPOP, and more.
of consumers now prefer peer recommendations over influencer content
0%
higher engagement on posts without discount codes
0%
incremental sales lift from one brand's athlete partnership strategy
What's Inside
11 pages of research, data, and real brand case studies. No fluff, no gated webinar upsell. Just the trends reshaping how brands think about influencer spend, trust, and growth.
01
The spend vs. confidence paradox
Budgets keep climbing, but consumer trust in sponsored content is falling. What the data actually says.
02
Why discount codes are a brand equity problem
How the tactics designed to drive short-term sales are quietly eroding long-term value.
03
The athlete advantage
Engagement rates, trust data, and the NIL opportunity that most brands are still overlooking.
04
Five brand case studies
How Honey Stinger, Bloom, OLIPOP, Painterland Sisters, and Nordic Naturals made the pivot work.
A concise, data-backed breakdown of where influencer spend is failing, where athlete-led partnerships are outperforming, and what consumer brands should do next.