About Kohl’s
Kohl’s Corporation is a large American department store retail chain founded by Maxwell Kohl in 1962 in Wisconsin, U.S., after he successfully ran a local grocery store chain starting in 1927. The company operates as an omnichannel retailer, aiming to provide a seamless shopping experience across physical stores, telephone, and online channels.
Kohl’s is positioned between higher-end department stores and discounters, offering a wide array of products including clothing, footwear, jewelry, accessories, beauty products, furniture, decor, bedding, bath, toys, books, appliances, electronics, and housewares.
They carry a mix of national brands (like Nike, adidas, Under Armour, and Sephora at Kohl’s) and strong private brands (like Sonoma Goods for Life and Apt. 9), often offering competitive pricing and frequent sales, coupons, and their loyalty program, Kohl’s Cash.
Kohl’s Affiliate Program Overview
The Kohl’s Affiliate Program allows partners to earn commissions by referring customers who make qualified purchases on Kohls.com. It’s a Cost Per Sale (CPS) program, meaning affiliates earn a percentage of the net sale amount when a referred customer completes a purchase. The program is managed by a third-party affiliate network, which provides affiliates with tracking tools, links, and reporting.
| Factor | Detail |
| Industry | Retail, Multi-Category Retailers, Department Stores, Apparel, Fashion, Home Goods, Electronics |
| Product Type | Physical products (Clothing, Footwear, Home Decor, Appliances, Beauty, Toys, etc.) |
| Affiliate Program Type | Cost Per Sale (CPS) |
Kohl’s Affiliate Program Offers
Kohl’s provides its affiliates with necessary resources to promote the brand effectively. Their terms typically restrict certain types of promotion, such as brand bidding on Pay-Per-Click (PPC) platforms, to maintain brand integrity and prevent channel conflicts.
| Factor | Detail |
| Promotional Materials | Image banners, text link banners, monthly newsletters with sales/offers, special offers (Kohl’s Cash, Kohl’s Rewards), key product priority communication. |
| Affiliate Cookie Duration | 7-30 days (Commonly cited as 7 days, but some sources mention 30 days. Affiliates should verify the current policy upon joining). |
| Accepted traffic source | Bloggers, website owners, influencers, content creators, email. (General affiliate marketing channels). |
| Accepted countries | United States (US) and sometimes Canada (The program is primarily focused on the US market). |
| Explicit Content | Generally not accepted (The brand maintains a family-friendly image; explicit content is usually prohibited in affiliate terms). |
| Religious or political content | Generally not accepted (Promoters must adhere to brand guidelines, which typically exclude controversial or sensitive content). |
Kohl’s Affiliate Commissions & Payments
The Kohl’s Affiliate Program offers a single-tier, fixed commission rate on net sales. The average order value at Kohl’s is reported to be around $86. The program is managed through an affiliate network that handles the monthly payouts and offers various payment methods.
| Factor | Detail |
| MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) | No. This is a standard single-tier affiliate program. |
| Commission Rate | Approximately 3% of the net sale. (Rates can vary based on product category, with some exclusions). |
| Commission Structure | Fixed percentage commission (CPS – Cost Per Sale). Opportunity for increased commissions for top-performing affiliates. |
| Payout Frequency | Monthly. |
| Payout Methods | PayPal, Check, Wire Transfer, Direct Deposit, ACH Transfer (Methods depend on the managing affiliate network). |
| Minimum Payout | Varies by the affiliate network; some sources cite no minimum payout, which is common with networks like Impact. |
Suitable Affiliates for Kohl’s Affiliate
The Kohl’s Affiliate Program is well-suited for content creators and publishers whose audience is interested in retail, fashion, home goods, and family shopping, especially those looking for value and deals.
- Bloggers & Website Owners: Excellent fit, particularly those focusing on fashion, parenting, home decor, deals/coupons, and general retail product reviews.
- TikTokers, KOC (Key Opinion Consumers), KOL (Key Opinion Leaders), Influencers: Very suitable, especially those who create haul videos, outfit styling content, home makeovers, or “What to Buy” guides, leveraging the high frequency of sales and Kohl’s Cash promotions.
- YouTubers: Strong fit for content like product reviews, try-on hauls, seasonal shopping guides, and “best deals” videos across their wide product categories.
- Video editors & Livestreamers: Suitable when working in conjunction with the above content creators, by promoting affiliate links during live product showcases or in video descriptions.
Kohl’s Affiliate Software
Kohl’s utilizes a major third-party affiliate management software platform to run its affiliate program.
- Kohl’s Affiliate Software: Impact Radius (or simply Impact).
3 Alternatives for Kohl’s Affiliate Program
Kohl’s is a general department store, so suitable alternatives are other large retailers with diverse product catalogs and established affiliate programs. Here are three major alternatives and a comparison:
- Macy’s: A classic American department store known for mid-to-high-end fashion, beauty, and home goods.
- Target: A major general merchandise retailer known for competitive pricing, groceries, clothing, and home essentials.
- Amazon Associates: The largest global e-commerce affiliate program, offering a massive selection across virtually every category.
| Comparison Factor | Kohl’s Affiliate Program | Macy’s Affiliate Program | Target Affiliate Program | Amazon Associates |
| Average Bill | Approx. $86 (Mid-range) | Generally higher than Kohl’s | Generally lower than Kohl’s | Highly varied |
| Entry Fees | None | None | None | None |
| Withdrawal Threshold | Varies (e.g., as low as no minimum on Impact) | Varies (e.g., $10-$100 depending on network/method) | $10 (Common for large networks) | $10 (Direct Deposit/Gift Card), $100 (Check) |
| Payment Frequency | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly (Net 60) |
| Commission | Approx. 3% (Flat rate, generally low) | Varies, e.g., 3-8% (Often tiered by category) | Varies, e.g., 1-8% (Tiered by category) | Varies, e.g., 1-10% (Tiered by category, generally low) |
| Conversion | High potential due to frequent sales/coupons and established brand loyalty (Kohl’s Cash). | High for specific products/brands, especially during major sales events. | High due to brand recognition and everyday essentials. | Extremely high due to market dominance and massive product selection. |
| Marketing Materials | Banners, text links, monthly deals/coupons, special promotions. | Banners, text links, dedicated affiliate team. | Banners, text links, product feeds. | Comprehensive site stripe tool for easy link creation, product advertising API. |
