Case Study: OluKai achieves 10x referral growth with Friendbuy

OluKai grows referral revenue 10x with Friendbuy

OluKai, a premium Hawaiian footwear brand, faced the dual challenge of rising paid media costs and a brand identity that prohibited heavy discounting. They needed a sustainable growth channel that wouldn't erode their premium positioning. Partnering with Friendbuy and its referral program software, they sought to systematize the word-of-mouth that was already their largest, yet untracked, acquisition channel.

Friendbuy implemented a brand-native referral program anchored in the Hawaiian concept of ʻOhana, which reframed the experience as an invitation into a community rather than a transaction. This solution activated their loyal customer base, resulting in a 10x growth in referral program performance. The referred customers proved to be higher quality, with a 25% repeat purchase rate compared to 16% for non-referral customers, effectively building a self-sustaining acquisition engine for OluKai.

OluKai