About Harrods: The Numbers Behind the Brand
Harrods attracts 15 million visitors annually to its iconic London flagship—that’s over 41,000 people walking through those doors every single day.
The store spans 1 million+ square feet of retail space across fashion, beauty, homeware, and luxury goods. Plus, Harrods operates 300+ airport and resort locations globally, with e-commerce shipping to 170+ countries.
Bottom line: You’re promoting a brand with massive reach and instant credibility. That name recognition helps conversions—if you have the right audience.
How the Harrods Affiliate Program Works
The program runs through Rakuten Advertising, one of the largest affiliate networks globally. You’ll promote Harrods products through affiliate links, banners, and product feeds on your site or social channels.
When someone clicks your link and makes a purchase, you earn commission. Simple.
Best fit for: Fashion bloggers, luxury lifestyle influencers, and content creators whose audience actively shops high-end brands.
Commission Structure: What You’ll Actually Earn
Here’s where it gets interesting. Commission rates vary by product category:
- 5% base commission (most products)
- 3% for beauty products
- 1% for jewelry and watches
- 0% for furniture and gift cards
Sound low compared to other affiliate programs? Let’s run the numbers.
If a customer buys Orly Marcel Earrings ($3,075) through your link, you earn $30.75 at the 1% jewelry rate. Promote a £800 handbag at 5%, and you pocket £40 from a single sale.
Pattern we see repeatedly: Affiliates promoting luxury brands at “low” commission rates often out-earn those promoting mass-market products at 15-20%. The average order value makes all the difference.
The program offers a 30-day cookie duration—longer than the standard 7-14 days. This matters for luxury purchases, where buyers often research extensively before committing.
Payment details:
- Minimum threshold: $50
- Payment schedule: Monthly via Rakuten
- Methods: Direct deposit, PayPal, or check (US/Canada/Australia only)
Pros: Why Harrods Can Be Lucrative
1. High average order values translate to real income
Even at 1-5% commission, luxury sales add up quickly. One £2,000 purchase at 5% commission = £100 for you.
2. Comprehensive product selection across departments
From fashion and beauty to homeware and gourmet food, you have thousands of products to promote. This variety helps you match content to seasonal trends.
3. 30-day cookie duration
Most luxury shoppers don’t impulse-buy. They browse, research, and return later. The extended cookie window captures these delayed purchases.
4. Strong promotional support
Harrods provides banners, product displays, exclusive previews, and seasonal campaign assets. You’re not building creative from scratch.
5. Brand prestige boosts conversions
When you link to Harrods versus an unknown luxury retailer, your click-through rates improve. The brand’s 175-year reputation does heavy lifting.
Cons: The Real Challenges
Limited target audience
Let’s be honest—Harrods products cater to high-income shoppers. If your audience is middle-income consumers looking for deals, your conversion rates will disappoint.
My take: You need readers who genuinely shop luxury brands, not aspirational browsers. Check your analytics. Are they clicking affiliate links for £500+ products? If not, skip this program.
Who Actually Makes Money with Harrods Affiliates?
From analyzing luxury affiliate programs, here’s what separates high earners from those making pennies:
Successful Harrods affiliates:
- Focus on specific luxury niches (fine jewelry, designer handbags, premium beauty)
- Have audiences with household incomes $150K+
- Create styling guides and curated gift lists, not just product roundups
- Promote during key luxury shopping periods (holidays, major sales events)
Struggling affiliates:
- Cast too wide with general fashion content
- Target price-conscious shoppers
- Only mention Harrods in generic “affiliate program” listicles
- Ignore seasonal shopping patterns
Key insight: Your audience profile matters more than your traffic volume. 10,000 affluent readers beat 100,000 budget shoppers for this program.
How to Join the Harrods Affiliate Program
The application process is straightforward:
Step 1: Visit harrods.com/en-gb/become-an-affiliate
Step 2: Click “Join Now” on the left side
Step 3: Complete the Publisher Registration form through Rakuten Advertising
Step 4: Submit your application and wait for approval
Harrods doesn’t publicly list minimum traffic requirements, but they review applications to ensure brand alignment. Having an established site focused on luxury goods helps.
Can you promote without a website? Yes, through social media or email marketing. But you’ll need to demonstrate audience quality and engagement.
Optimization Strategies That Actually Work
Stay current with Harrods promotions
Luxury retailers run limited-time sales and exclusive releases. Timing your content around these events drives urgency and conversions.
Focus on visual quality
Harrods shoppers expect premium presentation. Use high-quality images in your content. Cheap stock photos kill credibility instantly.
Build genuine audience relationships
Respond to comments and questions. When readers trust your recommendations, they’re more likely to make £500+ purchases through your links.
Target affluent shoppers strategically
Use platforms where wealthy consumers spend time. Pinterest luxury boards, Instagram fashion content, and YouTube styling videos reach this demographic better than generic blog SEO.
Is the Harrods Affiliate Program Right for You?
Yes, if:
- Your audience actively shops luxury brands
- You create high-quality fashion or lifestyle content
- Your readers have disposable income for £200-£3,000+ purchases
- You can produce premium visual content that matches the brand
Skip it, if:
- Your audience seeks budget fashion and deals
- You primarily promote products under £100
- You can’t maintain premium content standards
- Your niche doesn’t align with luxury retail
Bottom line: At 3-5%, Harrods commissions seem low compared to fast-fashion programs at 10-15%. But the lifetime value of referred high-income shoppers adds up significantly. One loyal luxury shopper buying quarterly generates more annual income than ten fast-fashion buyers.
What are the best Harrods affiliate program alternatives?
1. NET-A-PORTER Affiliate Program
NET-A-PORTER is a premier online luxury fashion retailer offering designer clothing, accessories, and beauty products. Their affiliate program typically offers modest commissions with a cookie window (often ~14–30 days), and it gives access to a curated selection of high-end brands that often don’t run standalone affiliate programs.
2. Farfetch Affiliate Program
Farfetch is a global marketplace for luxury fashion, connecting boutiques and brands to worldwide customers. Affiliates can promote high-end designer labels across categories (apparel, shoes, accessories) and benefit from Farfetch’s international reach. Its cookie duration and commission rates tend to be competitive in the premium segment.
3. SSENSE Affiliate Program
SSENSE is a retailer known for mixing luxury and avant-garde fashion. Its affiliate program usually offers baseline commissions (e.g. ~5 %) with a 30-day cookie. Because SSENSE attracts fashion-savvy audiences, affiliate traffic is more likely to convert if your content aligns with premium or edgy fashion tastes.
4. Saks Fifth Avenue Affiliate Program
Saks Fifth Avenue is an iconic U.S. luxury department store. Their affiliate program covers high-end fashion, beauty, and home goods. Commission rates vary (often 3–6 %) and the cookie window is moderate (often ~14 days). It’s a good fit if your audience includes shoppers interested in American designer brands.
5. MR PORTER Affiliate Program
MR PORTER is the menswear counterpart of NET-A-PORTER. It specializes in luxury clothing, accessories, grooming, and lifestyle goods for men. Their affiliate program is ideal if much of your audience is male or interested in premium menswear. Commissions and cookie terms are generally in line with other luxury fashion programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should join the Harrods affiliate program?
This program is ideal for fashion and lifestyle publishers whose audience actively shops high-end brands. If your readers browse designer labels and have income for luxury purchases, you’ll see conversions. Budget-focused audiences won’t convert well here.
Is there a fee to join?
No. Sign-up through Rakuten Advertising is completely free.
Can I join without a website?
Yes, you can promote through social media or email marketing. However, building a dedicated blog or content hub gives you better long-term results and higher approval chances.
What happens if a customer returns a product?
Your commission gets reversed in almost all circumstances. This is standard across affiliate programs. If you negotiate a custom agreement with Harrods, terms may differ, but that’s rare for individual affiliates.
Are there minimum traffic requirements?
Harrods doesn’t publicly list minimums, but they screen applications for brand fit. Having an established audience focused on luxury goods—even a smaller one—matters more than raw traffic numbers.
Can I promote other affiliate programs alongside Harrods?
Absolutely. Most successful luxury affiliates promote multiple high-end programs simultaneously. Diversification protects your income if one program changes terms.
