Do More With Less: How vertbaudet is Unlocking Efficient Growth Through Referral Marketing

Marketers everywhere are under more pressure than ever to drive bigger results with fewer resources. What would you give for a channel that exceeds your expectations and you only have to manage a fraction of the time? 

Leading online childrenʼs retailer vertbaudet has shown that success isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter. By partnering with Mention Me, they’ve launched a best-in-class referral programme that delivers high-quality customers and requires minimal day-to-day management. In fact, they only spend an incredible 2 hours a week on their programme, while still driving highly impressive results.

To give you a flavour, vertbaudet’s referred customers:

• Are 40% cheaper to acquire vs Google Shopping
• Are 2x more likely to buy again
• Have a 22% higher AOV

So how is it that vertbaudet spend such a fraction of time on a channel that's delivering such strong success? We sat down with Lead CRM Manager Raphaële Provost to unpack their journey with Mention Me to date and how they’re driving smart, efficient growth through referral.

Q: What unique value does referral marketing provide compared to paid ads?

RP: "For us, referral marketing brings in customers who are much more qualified. Especially in Germany, where our brand isn't as well known, having a personal recommendation builds trust instantly. 
“When a friend tells you about a brand, you're much more likely to try it. Our figures show that referral customers have a higher average order value and stronger loyalty compared to other acquisition methods. It’s really about trust—and referrals deliver that in a way paid ads simply can’t."

Q: How important was it to launch the referral programme quickly?

RP: "It was very important to get the programme live as soon as possible and the technical setup was very easy. We knew that launching quickly would allow us to start building momentum and compounding results. Even if the testing phase was a little longer than expected, it was worth it because it meant everything worked perfectly once we went live."

Q: Were Mention Me’s initial performance forecasts accurate?

RP:  "Yes, absolutely. And actually, the results were even better than the forecasts! One thing I really appreciate about working with Mention Me is that their projections were realistic unlike other companies that promise the moon and then disappoint.

Mention Me gave us numbers that were achievable, and we even exceeded them. It was reassuring to see that the results aligned so closely with the forecast, which gave us a lot of confidence in the partnership."

Q: Did results improve over time as the programme scaled?

RP: "Yes, without a doubt. We saw great results early on, but as time’s gone on, the programme’s just gotten better and better. It’s a bit like planting a seed—the more you nurture it, the stronger it grows. With referral, once you have people sharing and trusting the brand, it compounds naturally.

So yes, the ramp-up effect is very real and very valuable for us at vertbaudet."

Q: How do referral costs compare to other acquisition channels like Google or Meta?

RP: "When we compare the cost per new customer from referrals to channels like Google or Meta, referral is clearly more efficient. Of course, the absolute volume might be a bit smaller than Google Ads, but the customers we gain are much more valuable. The cost to acquire them is lower, and their loyalty is higher.

So even though you spend less on referrals, the return you get from those customers is much stronger."

Q: You’ve told us you only spend around 2 hours per week on your referral programme. How do you still generate such great results with so little time investment?

RP: "The key is automation. Once the programme was properly set up, managing it day-to-day doesn’t require much at all. Most of the heavy lifting was done up front. After that, it’s just occasional improvements, small tests, and adding the referral message into our existing channels like emails and parcels.

It's really low-maintenance once everything is running."

Q: How important is having Mention Me’s support, particularly from your Customer Success team?

RP: "It’s incredibly important. Victoria from Mention Me is a huge support for us. She comes up with ideas that are easy to implement and help us optimise the programme without needing a big technical lift. Without her, it would take a lot more of my time to plan and test things. Her expertise means we can focus only on the most impactful changes.

It saves time and makes the programme so much more efficient."

Q: Did you try any alternatives before working with Mention Me?

RP: "Before using Mention Me, we tried manual referral methods like giving out codes via email, but they didn’t work well. People found it hard to share and the process felt clunky. With Mention Me’s platform, especially features like Name Share®, it became so easy and natural for customers to refer their friends. 

That made a massive difference. Plus, everything behind the scenes—from fraud prevention to optimised messaging—was already thought through, so the results were much stronger."

Q: How does vertbaudet plan on expanding the relationship with Mention Me?

RP: "Data is a big focus for us, especially in Germany where privacy is so important. We're exploring the option to integrate referral data into our wider marketing activities. Once everything is set up properly, I believe it will give us even stronger insights and results."

Conclusion

Vertbaudet’s story shows that smart, pragmatic referral marketing can drive serious results without draining internal resources. By focusing on a fast launch, smart automation, and clever optimisations—with expert support from Mention Me—Raphaële and her team has built a referral programme that consistently outperforms traditional acquisition channels. 

Their story proves that even in tough environments, your brand can thrive by doing more with less with referral.

Ready to start driving efficient, profitable growth through referral marketing? Book a no-obligation demo today.