About Acme Tools

Acme Tools is a premier American retailer of tools and equipment, originally founded in 1948 by George Kuhlman as a small electric motor repair shop in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Over the last 75+ years, it has grown into a major family-owned omnichannel retailer.

Known for its slogan “The Right Tools Do It,” the brand serves contractors, woodworkers, and DIY enthusiasts. They operate 10 brick-and-mortar locations in the Midwest (North Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa) and a massive online store (AcmeTools.com) launched in 2010. They stock over 70,000 products from more than 1,100 top brands, including Milwaukee, DeWalt, Makita, and Festool.

Acme Tools Affiliate Program Overview

Acme Tools partners with the Impact affiliate network to manage their program. It is a standard retail affiliate program, not a multi-level marketing scheme.

Feature Details
Industry Home Improvement, Power Tools, Construction & Hardware
Product Type Physical Goods (Power tools, hand tools, lawn & garden equipment, workwear)
Affiliate Program Type CPS (Cost Per Sale) / SaaS (via Impact)

Acme Tools Affiliate Program Offers

The program provides standard promotional tools but has strict policies regarding search engine marketing to protect their brand trademark.

Feature Details
Promotional Materials Text links, display banners, product catalog (data feed), and remarketing images available via Impact.
Affiliate Cookie Duration 15 Days (Note: Some older sources cite 30 days, but the current Impact listing specifies a 15-day tracking window).
Accepted Traffic Sources Content sites, influencers, reviews, and social media. Strictly NO Pay-Per-Click (PPC) bidding on brand terms.
Accepted Countries United States (They only ship to physical addresses within the US).
Explicit Content Prohibited. Sites must meet high-quality content standards; offensive or sexually explicit material is rejected.
Religious/Political Content Likely Prohibited/Restricted. While not explicitly detailed in all public snippets, Acme Tools reserves the right to refuse sites that do not meet their “quality and content standards,” which typically excludes controversial political or religious sites for major retailers.

Acme Tools Affiliate Commissions & Payments

The commission rate is lower than digital products but competitive for the physical power tool niche, which typically has thin margins.

Feature Details
MLM No (It is a traditional single-tier affiliate program).
Commission Rate Up to 3% on qualified purchases. (Aggregators like Yazing/Cuelinks may show lower effective rates).
Commission Structure Flat percentage based on net sales amount (excluding shipping/tax).
Payout Frequency Managed by Impact, typically Net 30 (paid 30 days after the end of the month in which the sale locked).
Payout Methods Direct Transfer (ACH), BACS, or PayPal (via Impact settings).
Minimum Payout Typically $10 or $50 depending on your specific settings within the Impact network.

Suitable Affiliates for Acme Tools

This program is best suited for content creators who can demonstrate the utility of high-ticket tools.

  • Bloggers: Especially those in the DIY, Woodworking, Home Renovation, or Construction niches.
  • YouTubers: “Tool Review” channels and “How-to” project builders are high converters because users often want to buy the exact tool used in a tutorial.
  • Influencers (Instagram/TikTok): DIY influencers showing quick renovation hacks or tool unboxings.
  • KOC / KOL: Key Opinion Leaders in the construction trade (e.g., professional contractors sharing gear recommendations).
  • Video Editors: Less direct fit unless they run a tech/gear setup channel involving workshop tools.
  • Livestreamers: Makers who stream their build process (e.g., Twitch Creative/Makers) can use links in their chat/bio.

Acme Tools Affiliate Software

Acme Tools uses Impact (formerly Impact Radius), a third-party SaaS platform, to host their affiliate program. They do not use in-house proprietary software for tracking. This provides affiliates with reliable third-party tracking, reporting, and payment processing.

3 Alternatives for Acme Tools Affiliate Program

Here is a comparison with three strong competitors in the power tool niche. MaxTool is often highlighted for its higher commission rate, while The Tool Nut offers a very similar structure to Acme.

Factor Acme Tools MaxTool The Tool Nut Tool Barn
Average Bill (AOV) ~$300 $300+ ~$250 – $300 ~$200 – $250
Entry Fees Free Free Free Free
Withdrawal Threshold ~$10 – $50 ~$50 ~$25 – $50 ~$25 – $50
Payment Frequency Net 30 Monthly Monthly (Net 30) Net 30
Commission Up to 3% 7% (High) 3% ~3%
Conversion High (Brand Trust) Medium High (Niche Trust) Medium
Marketing Materials Banners, Data Feed Banners, Text Banners, Data Feed Banners, Text