

In 1994, Tobin launched a beta version of PC Flowers & Gifts on the Internet in cooperation with IBM, who owned half of Prodigy. In 1998, PC Flowers and Gifts developed the business model of paying a commission on sales to the Prodigy Network.

By 1993, PC Flowers & Gifts generated sales in excess of $6 million per year on the Prodigy service. Launched on the Prodigy Network in 1989, PC Flowers & Gifts remained on the service until 1996. Tobin, the founder of PC Flowers & Gifts. The concept of affiliate marketing on the Internet was conceived of, put into practice and patented by William J. The translation of the revenue share principles to mainstream e-commerce happened in November 1994, almost four years after the origination of the World Wide Web.

The concept of revenue sharing-paying commission for referred business-predates affiliate marketing and the Internet.
