Laser Burn Media

Pepperjam, an online marketing company specializing in affiliate marketing, has been sold to GSI Commerce.  And while this news may or may not make the front page of the Wall Street Journal (probably not), it is fairly big news up our way, as Pepperjam is a local company (located in Wilkes-Barre, PA) just down the highway from us.  For a couple of years now, we’ve been watching as Pepperjam kept getting more and more successful.  Additionally, CEO Kris Jones is very active in his community, serving on the board of various local charities, working with up-and-coming entrepreneurs, and speaking at local universities.  So, needless to say, this was fairly big news for us, this morning.

Here’s an excerpt from the GSI Commerce press release (full version HERE):

“GSI Commerce Inc. (Nasdaq: GSIC), the leading provider of e-commerce and multichannel solutions, today announced it has acquired certain assets of the Pepperjam affiliate marketing network and the Pepperjam full-service, interactive marketing agency which specializes in search. The acquisition will expand the breadth and depth of GSI’s interactive marketing services capabilities and its reach into existing and new vertical markets. Pepperjam will benefit from GSI’s scale and market-leading position in e-commerce and marketing services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“The acquisition of Pepperjam is a strategic extension of our marketing services business that we believe will enhance growth opportunities for both GSI and our clients,” said Michael G. Rubin, chairman, president and CEO of GSI. “Affiliate marketing is a powerful interactive marketing tool. Last year, our affiliate marketing channel generated more than $100 million in sales for our clients. By owning our own affiliate network, we believe we can more rapidly drive innovation and service enhancements to our clients while also expanding our marketing services offering to a broader universe of prospective clients. We expect the affiliate business to represent an important opportunity over time.”

We here at Laser Burn Media would like to extend our congratulations to Kris Jones and all of the other great people over at Pepperjam.  Based on what we’ve read about the deal, it’s a win-win situation for both CSI and Pepperjam, which is a good thing.  And while it may not be the biggest Merger and Acquisition news of the week (considering both Marvel Comics and Skype both have new owners…), it is, for us, still very noteworthy.  Congratulations, Pepperjam.

-Dan Cheek
www.LaserBurnMedia.com
dan@laserburnmedia.com