About Michaels
Michaels Stores, Inc., operating as Michaels, is an American privately held arts and crafts retail chain. It is recognized as North America’s largest provider of arts, crafts, framing, floral, wall décor, and merchandise for makers and do-it-yourself (DIY) home decorators. Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Irving, Texas, Michaels offers a wide variety of products for hobbies like scrapbooking, beading, knitting, painting, and seasonal items, and also operates custom framing services.
Michaels Affiliate Program Overview
The Michaels Affiliate Program is an opportunity for partners to earn commissions by promoting Michaels’ vast selection of arts and crafts supplies to their audience. It is especially suitable for content creators in the DIY, crafting, and home décor niches, providing them with a way to monetize their tutorials, projects, and product recommendations.
| Category | Details |
| Industry | Retail, Arts and Crafts, DIY, Home Decor |
| Product Type | Physical Products (Arts & Crafts Supplies, Framing, Floral, Home Decor, etc.) |
| Affiliate Program Type | Cost Per Sale (CPS), Single-Tier Commission |
Michaels Affiliate Program Offers
The program provides affiliates with the resources and incentives needed to effectively promote the brand. This includes promotional tools and a commission structure with bonus opportunities, although some key details like the specific cookie duration and content policies can often be found in the program’s terms on the affiliate network.
| Feature | Details |
| Promotional Materials | Affiliate links, email newsletters with current promotions and offers, potential access to a Product Feed, performance optimization, and paid media placements (especially during peak periods). |
| Affiliate Cookie Duration | Information not consistently specified, though some reports suggest durations as short as 1 day. A 30-day duration is common for many retail programs and is often a good starting point for reference if a specific duration is not published. |
| Accepted Traffic Source | Publishers of all types and sizes are generally welcomed; common acceptable sources include blogs, websites, and social media platforms. |
| Accepted Countries | Primarily focused on the USA and Canada (where Michaels stores operate). |
| Explicit Content | Not explicitly stated in general program overviews; typically disallowed in most major retail affiliate programs. |
| Religious or Political Content | Not explicitly stated in general program overviews; typically disallowed in most major retail affiliate programs. |
Michaels Affiliate Commissions & Payments
The Michaels program offers a competitive commission structure, with the potential for higher earnings based on performance and publisher type, and handles payments through the affiliate network’s system.
| Category | Details |
| MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) | No, it is a Single-Tier commission structure, meaning affiliates earn only on the sales they directly generate. |
| Commission Rate | Default starting rate is typically 2%. Select influencers and bloggers may earn up to 10% commission. Rates are offered based on factors like website content and audience reach. |
| Commission Structure | Fixed percentage commission on sales. Bonuses may be offered for new customers, new partners (sign-up bonus), top performers, and category-level commissioning. |
| Payout Frequency | Generally Monthly, as is typical for the affiliate network used. |
| Payout Methods | Handled by the affiliate network (CJ Affiliate), which may include PayPal and other methods like Direct Deposit. |
| Minimum Payout | Typically determined by the affiliate network; some sources suggest No minimum payout through the network. |
Suitable Affiliates for Michaels Affiliate
The Michaels Affiliate Program is highly suitable for content creators whose audience is interested in creative pursuits, crafts, and home projects.
| Affiliate Type | Suitability |
| Bloggers | High Suitability: Especially those with blogs focused on DIY tutorials, crafting, scrapbooking, home decor, and creative hobbies. |
| TikTokers | High Suitability: Ideal for quick-project videos, craft hauls, and visual DIY inspiration for a young and engaged audience. |
| KOC (Key Opinion Consumer) | High Suitability: Highly suitable, as authentic reviews and showcasing how they use the products in their own craft projects resonate well. |
| KOL (Key Opinion Leader) | High Suitability: Leaders in the crafting or DIY space can drive significant traffic and sales based on their established authority and trust. |
| Influencers | High Suitability: Anyone on platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, or YouTube who shares content related to art, crafts, seasonal décor, or home-making. |
| YouTubers | High Suitability: Perfect for video-based tutorials, “shop with me” videos, seasonal decor set-ups, and in-depth product reviews. |
| Video Editors | Medium Suitability: While not directly promoting products, they can partner with suitable influencers/YouTubers to produce high-quality, monetizable content. |
| Livestreamers | High Suitability: Excellent for “craft-alongs,” live Q&A sessions, and real-time demonstrations using Michaels’ products. |
Michaels Affiliate Software
Michaels utilizes a reputable, external affiliate management network rather than an in-house system for its main affiliate program.
- Software Used: CJ Affiliate (formerly Commission Junction) is the primary affiliate network managing the Michaels Affiliate Program.
3 Alternatives for Michaels Affiliate Program
Michaels operates in the highly popular retail and craft space, and several competitors offer similar affiliate opportunities. Three major alternatives are Etsy, Amazon Associates, and Awin (as a network hosting similar brands like Walmart). Due to the high variability in program details and the lack of publicly available “Average Bill” and “Conversion” data, the table provides the most commonly published information and general comparisons for retail/craft niches.
| Comparison Factor | Michaels Affiliate Program (via CJ Affiliate) | Etsy Affiliate Program (via Awin) | Amazon Associates | Awin Network (General Retail/DIY Programs) |
| Industry | Arts, Crafts, DIY Retail | Handmade, Vintage, Craft Supplies Marketplace | General Retail (Everything) | Diverse, including Retail/DIY |
| Average Bill | Varies, likely Medium for retail supplies. | Varies, likely Medium-High for handmade/unique items. | Varies significantly, often Low for quick/small purchases. | Varies per Merchant, often Medium for retail. |
| Entry Fees | None (Free to join CJ Affiliate) | $5 Deposit (Refunded after reaching threshold on Awin) | None (Free to join) | Varies, Awin requires $5 Deposit (Refunded). |
| Withdrawal Threshold | Typically set by CJ Affiliate, sometimes None (as reported by some sources). | $20 Minimum (Via Awin) | $10 Minimum | $20 Minimum (Via Awin) |
| Payment Frequency | Monthly (Typical for CJ Affiliate) | Twice Monthly (Typical for Awin) | Monthly | Twice Monthly (Typical for Awin) |
| Commission | 2% to 10% (Varies by publisher type and performance) | 2% to 4% (Varies by product category/publisher type) | 1% to 20% (Varies significantly by category, often lower for physical goods) | Varies per Merchant, typically 2% to 10% |
| Conversion | Moderate, driven by promotions and specific craft projects. | Moderate-High, unique items drive conversion. | High, due to high brand recognition and fast shipping. | Varies per Merchant/Brand. |
| Marketing Materials | Links, Newsletters, Product Feed, Banners. | Links, Banners, Widgets. | Links, Banners, SiteStripe tools. | Varies per Merchant, usually Links, Banners, Data Feeds. |