Philadelphia’s creator community recently came together for a Mavely Meetup, and let us tell you—they don’t call it the city of brotherly love for nothing!

Creators from across the Philly area joined us at the iconic Bellevue Hotel for an evening filled with real people, genuine connections, and a shared excitement about what’s possible. Our in-person creator event was designed to be equal parts community gathering and strategy session, leaving creators with a clear takeaway: affiliate marketing is a real business, and 2026 is the year to treat it like one.

A panel worth showing up for

Our guest list at the Philadelphia meetup skewed toward creators who were newer to Mavely, which made the energy in the room especially electric. For many attendees, it was their first real look at what performance-based affiliate marketing can do, and the panel made sure they left with both the context and the confidence to act on it.

Moderator Shauna Hollinger, Mavely’s Creator Education Manager, opened with something refreshingly direct: you don’t need a massive following to start earning. You need the right tools, the right mindset, and a genuine connection with your audience. Everything that followed backed that up.

Kelly Reilly, Director of NA Digital Marketing at Michael Kors, gave creators a rare inside look at how brands actually think about creator partnerships right now. The headline: performance data has changed everything. Brands like Michael Kors can see exactly who is driving results, which means the creators who show up consistently and authentically aren’t just getting paid for one campaign, they’re building the kind of track record that earns them a seat at the table long-term. She was also refreshingly candid about creative freedom: over-scripting creators rarely works. The content that converts is the content that actually sounds like you.

Creator Ciara Strickland brought the real-world perspective that rounds out any good panel. She talked through how she approaches content that feels organic to her feed while still being built to drive action, and the nuances she’s learned about her audience by paying attention not just to what they like, but what they actually buy. It’s the kind of insight you can only get from someone who’s doing the work.

Rounding out the panel, Later’s Chief Strategy Officer Lyle Stevens connected the bigger picture: the industry-wide shift toward performance-based partnerships isn’t a phase. It’s where creator marketing is going, and creators who understand their value as a sales channel, not just a reach vehicle, are the ones who will have the most leverage in the years ahead.

Good Conversation, Great Scents, Beautiful Gifts

Of course, a Mavely Meetup wouldn’t be complete without a memorable activity to foster community and connection. Attendees got hands-on with a custom scent bar, creating personalized fragrances that made for a pretty perfect metaphor for the evening: everything is better when it’s made to fit you. Gifts from our generous sponsors and Mavely brand partners Michael Kors and Pura Vida gave creators a chance to connect with brand products in a tactile, personal way, a reminder that the best affiliate content starts long before you hit record. Our guests wasted no time creating incredible Instagram Stories, Reels, and more showing the fun items in their goody bags off to the people in their content communities.

Ready to join the community?

Mavely Meetups are built for creators who want more than inspiration. They’re for the ones who are ready to build something. Join Mavely, start sharing the products you already love, and you’ll be first to know when we’re headed to a city near you. Want to put your city on the map? Nominate it here.