Leaked emails list 11 retailers including Amazon that suspended programs with a top affiliate platform used by influencers and digital publishers

• At least 11 retailers including Amazon suspended their affiliate programs with the top influencer and digital-publisher e-commerce platform Skimlinks.
• A spokesperson for Skimlinks, which works with publishers like BuzzFeed, HuffPost, and Hearst, as well as influencers on YouTube and Instagram, confirmed to Business Insider that Amazon's affiliate program was on hold.
• In emails viewed by Business Insider to Skimlink's members, the platform listed 11 other retailers besides Amazon that had temporarily suspended their affiliate programs with Skimlinks.
• Affiliate revenue has become a growing source of income for some digital creators as brand campaigns get put on hold. But that could be threatened if retailers continue to cut their programs.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

At least 11 retailers including Amazon suspended their affiliate programs with the top influencer and digital-publisher e-commerce platform Skimlinks, Business Insider has learned.

A spokesperson for Skimlinks, which works with publishers like BuzzFeed, HuffPost, and Hearst, as well as influencers on YouTube and Instagram, confirmed to Business Insider that Amazon's influencer affiliate program was on hold.

But Amazon isn't the only brand to suspend its program.

Skimlinks sent out emails in late March informing its members that a slew of brands had temporarily suspended their affiliate programs with Skimlinks, at a 0% commission, according screenshots viewed by Business Insider.

Here's the list of brands that temporarily suspended their affiliate programs with Skimlinks, according to the late March email updates:

• Amazon
• Patagonia
• Victoria's Secret
• Ticketmaster
• Marriott
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qatar Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• Air France
• Momondo
• Kayak

Skimlinks declined to confirm the list of brands, but indicated that Ulta and Ralph Lauren had reinstated programs. Skimlinks also said that while 267 merchants had paused their programs, the platform had added 395 new ones since March 25.

It's unclear whether the 11 temporary suspensions listed in the emails are only with Skimlinks or impact all affiliate programs. But some of these suspensions seem to be widespread.

RewardStyle, another top affiliate platform for influencers, has seen some retailers cut programs. At least 10 brands, including Macy's, Patagonia, and Victoria's Secret, suspended their affiliate programs with RewardStyle, according to a blog update for members on March 24 viewed by Business Insider.

Walmart also suspended its programs with affiliate platforms MagicLinks and Rakuten, Business Insider learned. The Information reported that Walmart suspended its affiliate programs with some digital publishers as well.

Influencers and digital publishers who use these affiliate programs earn a commission from a sale through a special link provided by the platform, which leads to a third-party online store. They typically earn between 5 and 20% of an affiliate sale, according to an industry professional in influencer marketing. There are a number of factors that play into the percentage.

These program suspensions come at a time when affiliate revenue had been growing as a source of income for some digital creators, as brands pulled back from influencer-marketing campaigns due to the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

RewardStyle saw a spike in sales in March and a 30% increase in the number of influencer campaigns it set up that month to drive e-commerce sales for brand partners.

But that bump could be threatened if retailers continue to cut their programs.

If you're an influencer who uses affiliate programs or someone with knowledge on these programs, contact the author at aperelli@businessinsider.com or DM on Twitter @arperelli.

For more on how the influencer industry has been affected by the coronavirus, check out these posts on Business Insider Prime:

• Walmart has suspended its affiliate programs with some top influencer platforms, cutting off a growing source of income for some digital creators: Walmart has suspended its influencer affiliate programs with the top e-commerce platforms MagicLinks and Rakuten.

• 10 retailers like Macy's, Ralph Lauren, and Victoria's Secret suspended their affiliate programs with a top influencer platform: At least 10 retailers, including Macy's, Patagonia, and Victoria's Secret, suspended their affiliate programs with RewardStyle, according to a blog update on the popular influencer platform.

• Fitness influencers have seen a surge in sales of direct-to-consumer workout services, as brand deals slump amid the coronavirus pandemic: These membership-based programs don't require any fancy equipment and are offered in the form of an app or virtual program online.

• An influencer-marketing agency made a 68-page report on how the coronavirus could change the industry. Here are the 5 key takeaways.: The average cost of sponsored content may drop, according to a recent report, depending on the length of the coronavirus and its overall impact.