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.

Disclaimer
Affiliate program terms can change frequently. The figures below are based on general information and may vary based on specific campaigns or affiliate tiers.

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.

FactorDetail
IndustryRetail, Multi-Category Retailers, Department Stores, Apparel, Fashion, Home Goods, Electronics
Product TypePhysical products (Clothing, Footwear, Home Decor, Appliances, Beauty, Toys, etc.)
Affiliate Program TypeCost 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.

FactorDetail
Promotional MaterialsImage banners, text link banners, monthly newsletters with sales/offers, special offers (Kohl’s Cash, Kohl’s Rewards), key product priority communication.
Affiliate Cookie Duration7-30 days (Commonly cited as 7 days, but some sources mention 30 days. Affiliates should verify the current policy upon joining).
Accepted traffic sourceBloggers, website owners, influencers, content creators, email. (General affiliate marketing channels).
Accepted countriesUnited States (US) and sometimes Canada (The program is primarily focused on the US market).
Explicit ContentGenerally not accepted (The brand maintains a family-friendly image; explicit content is usually prohibited in affiliate terms).
Religious or political contentGenerally 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.

FactorDetail
MLM (Multi-Level Marketing)No. This is a standard single-tier affiliate program.
Commission RateApproximately 3% of the net sale. (Rates can vary based on product category, with some exclusions).
Commission StructureFixed percentage commission (CPS – Cost Per Sale). Opportunity for increased commissions for top-performing affiliates.
Payout FrequencyMonthly.
Payout MethodsPayPal, Check, Wire Transfer, Direct Deposit, ACH Transfer (Methods depend on the managing affiliate network).
Minimum PayoutVaries 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:

  1. Macy’s: A classic American department store known for mid-to-high-end fashion, beauty, and home goods.
  2. Target: A major general merchandise retailer known for competitive pricing, groceries, clothing, and home essentials.
  3. Amazon Associates: The largest global e-commerce affiliate program, offering a massive selection across virtually every category.
Comparison FactorKohl’s Affiliate ProgramMacy’s Affiliate ProgramTarget Affiliate ProgramAmazon Associates
Average BillApprox. $86 (Mid-range)Generally higher than Kohl’sGenerally lower than Kohl’sHighly varied
Entry FeesNoneNoneNoneNone
Withdrawal ThresholdVaries (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 FrequencyMonthlyMonthlyMonthlyMonthly (Net 60)
CommissionApprox. 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)
ConversionHigh 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 MaterialsBanners, 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.