Affiliate marketing

We sell promotional gifts eg. engraved pens, keyrings etc I would like to know more about affiliate marketing and how it works. Can someone advise me and then create a plan of action. please visit [login to view URL] for products. we have a call centre in Sri Lanka for collecting emails by phone research (we will buy email addresses from other source as well). We are working on a email marketing program as well. The affilliate program will be an add on to the other sales methods. Experienced bidders only please.