Are you a content creator looking for a lucrative program in the bulk shopping niche?
Then try the Costco affiliate program!
Thousands of people are looking for quality products at competitive prices.
Look at the total retail sales worldwide from 2021 to 2026 (in trillion U.S. dollars):
Source: Statista
Costco offers one of the best shopping experiences.
The company offers a rewarding affiliate scheme.
This post will show you how to become a successful Costco affiliate – it will also highlight the pros, cons, potential earnings, and more.
So, you will do well to read this entire article to grasp the full scope of the partnership.
Ready?
Well, let’s get started now!
Does Costco Have an Affiliate Program?
Yes, Costco has an affiliate scheme in the bulk purchase niche.
This program is run through the CJ affiliate marketing network.
Company profile
Jeffrey H. Brotman and James D. Sinegal co-founded Costco in 1983.
Its headquarters is in Seattle, Washington. Costco is a company that sells a vast range of products including electronics, furniture, and groceries.
The company offers diverse and high-quality merchandise. It sells kitchen appliances, computers, outdoor living essentials, and more.
Costco membership offers access to bulk purchasing and exclusive deals to maximize savings. This company offers almost all consumer retail goods.
The company sells items that enhance your reader’s shopping experience.
They also sell membership services.
Reviews show that customers are not satisfied with the company’s services:
What is the Costco Affiliate Program?
This is a partnership program that pays affiliates who promote the brand’s retail services and membership sign-ups.
Affiliates promote wholesale memberships, household goods, and electronics through affiliate links or banners in exchange for commissions.
Thus, they are paid a 3% – 6% commission for each new member signup made through their referral link or banner.
How Does the Costco Affiliate Program Work?
As I said earlier, the CJ affiliate network manages the partnership program.
So, affiliates first sign up for the CJ affiliate marketing network. Then they apply for the program.
When approved, log in to your dashboard to access your referral links and banners for promoting retail services and membership sign up products.
Copy the referral links and paste them into your bulk buying and savings articles.
When readers click on the links, they will be directed to the product page on the Costco website.
You will get paid a commission each time a customer signs up for a membership through your affiliate link.
How To Sign Up Step By Step
Visit CJ affiliate and create a publisher account
Fill in your information – your name, email address, and preferred language.
Click the “Next” button.
Check the confirmation email in your inbox.
Click the green button “Create my CJ Publisher Account”:
You will be taken to the Publisher Sign-Up Form.
Provide your details and click “Accept Terms” to complete registration.
Once you sign up, you’ll be taken to your CJ Account Manager.
This is a dashboard that contains important details – network stats, performance summary, and messages.
Firstly, click Account > Network Profile. (Complete this profile to join affiliate programs.)
You’ll notice these 3 sections in the Network Profile:
- Website description (e.g. Tell them your website’s strengths and relevant statistics.)
- Promotion methods (e.g. Tell them the affiliate channels you use to promote advertisers. For example, a blog post, email, social media, or other digital marketing platforms?)
- Documents (This is optional.)
Then, click Account > Administrative Settings to edit your payment and tax information.
Update your Payment Information and select your preferred mode of payment – direct deposit, check, or Payoneer.
Edit your Tax Information.
CJ Affiliate requires affiliates to submit their tax forms for payout.
US:
- Its W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification and Certification
Non-US:
- Its W-8BEN Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding
- Or Certificate of No United States Activities
Alternatives to the Costco Affiliate Program
I researched dozens of consumer retail partner programs to find which ones offer reasonable commission rates.
Therefore, keep reading for more membership and shopping referral programs:
Build
Commission: 1%
Cookie duration: 1 day
Access Build affiliate program information.
Home Depot
Commission: 1%
Cookie duration: 1 day
Learn about the Home Depot affiliate program.
Houzz
Commission: 5%
Cookie duration: 30 days
Dive into the Houzz affiliate program.
Lowe’s
Commission: 0.8%
Cookie duration: 1 day
Access Lowe’s affiliate program information.
Wayfair
Commission: 1% – 6%
Cookie duration: 14 – 30 days
See what the Wayfair affiliate program offers.
Crate & Barrel
Commission: 5%
Cookie duration: 45 days
Join the Crate & Barrel affiliate program.
Sears
Commission: 1%
Cookie duration: 2 days
Dive into the Sears affiliate program.
Handy
Commission: $10 – $25
Cookie duration: Session-based
Learn about the Handy affiliate program.
Philips Hue
Commission: 4%
Cookie duration: 45 days
See what the Philips Hue affiliate program offers.
Overstock
Commission: 6%
Cookie duration: 14 days
Unlock the potential of the Overstock affiliate program.
Target
Commission: 8%
Cookie duration: 7 days
Dive into the Target affiliate program.
Walmart
Commission: 1% – 18%
Cookie duration: 3 days
Learn about the Walmart affiliate program.
Pottery Barn
Commission: 7.5%
Cookie duration: 30 days
Access Pottery Barn affiliate program information.
IKEA
Commission: 7%
Cookie duration: 30 days
Learn about the IKEA affiliate program.
West Elm
Commission: 5%
Cookie duration: 30 days
Dive into the West Elm affiliate program.
Is the Affiliate Program Free to Join?
Yes, the Costco referral program is free to join.
Thus, affiliates usually join and promote product ranges and memberships free of charge.
Are you looking to advocate for wholesale memberships?
Then give the Costco referral program a try.
Boost your revenue with the Home Improvement affiliate programs
What Products Can You Promote?
Costco offers different products that affiliates can promote:
Wholesale memberships.
These are memberships that provide access to bulk buying and exclusive deals.
Electronics. These include items such as TVs, laptops, and smartphones.
Home and Garden. Products to help beautify and maintain a home, including garden supplies and decor items.
Furniture.
Items such as sofas, beds, and dining sets that furnish and enhance living spaces.
Outdoor Equipment.
Items designed for outdoor use and leisure, such as grills and patio furniture.
Apparel.
Clothing for all ages and occasions, from casual wear to formal attire.
How Much Do Costco Affiliates Make?
Well, this is a variable question.
From personal experience, there is no single answer to this question.
Do you know why this is the case?
The wholesale retail and membership promotion affiliates make different amounts of commission.
Commissions are determined by your audience size, engagement, and marketing skills.
Nonetheless, I will give you an estimate.
One research shows that some affiliates do not earn.
Conversely, others generate a significant monthly income.
What are the commission rates?
This affiliate scheme pays affiliates a 3% – 6% commission for each new Costco membership signup.
How long does the cookie last?
It offers a session-based cookie.
A session-based cookie is a temporary file a website places in your browser.
It tracks your activity within a single browsing session and automatically disappears when you close the browser.
How Do Affiliates Get Paid from Costco?
As mentioned above, the CJ affiliate marketing network manages this affiliate program.
CJ pays affiliates via direct deposit, check, or Payoneer.
The minimum payout is $50 (bank account) and $100 (check).
So affiliates request their payouts once they reach the minimum thresholds.
Marketing and Promotional Tools
The marketing tools provided for promoting Costco memberships and products are text links and banners.
Text links produce positive results when they are used in bulk shopping and savings-oriented content.
Banners are also advantageous.
Nevertheless, place the banners in the sidebar.
Who Should Join the Costco Affiliate Program?
If you have a platform that talks about wholesale shopping, member savings, or lifestyle, if this partner program is the best fit for you:
Budgeting and savings bloggers
I think budgeting experts and frugal living influencers are the best candidates for this program.
They provide guidance on how to save on essential items and household needs on their blogs. You will earn a commission each time a customer purchases a membership through their affiliate link.
Lifestyle bloggers
You can leverage the Costco affiliate opportunity.
Promote the benefits of bulk shopping and membership savings to your audience in exchange for a commission.
Tech and home bloggers
Websites that review or discuss household products and technological gadgets can benefit from promoting Costco.
Inspire your audience with Costco’s value offerings and earn a commission for membership signups.
Personal finance advisors and influencers
Aid individuals in managing their finances
Recommend Costco memberships to your clients to help them save on bulk purchases throughout the year.
Thus, you will earn commissions on any memberships you facilitate through your affiliate link.
Product review and comparison sites
Are you a product review or comparison site?
Provide insightful evaluations and comparisons of Costco’s product offerings and membership benefits in exchange for a commission.
Is the Costco Affiliate Program Worth It?
This is the question many would-be Costco affiliates ask themselves.
So, you are not alone.
The answer to this question depends on several factors.
What factors are these?
Indeed, these are the commission rate and the cookie duration.
This program pays affiliates a commission for each new membership sign up and provides a 30-day cookie.
Is it a profitable program?
Costco is a well-known and trusted brand.
Honestly speaking, with a smart marketing approach, wholesale retail affiliates can earn a significant income.
Pros
- Good commission potential: The program pays a commission for every new Costco membership sign-up. While the exact amount can vary, the earning potential is strong compared to some other affiliate programs.
- High brand recognition: Everyone knows about Costco’s reputation for savings and bulk purchases. Hence, there is a built-in market for potential members.
Cons
- Membership-centric: Unlike other retail affiliate programs, commissions are typically focused on new membership sign-ups, which may not appeal to all affiliates or audiences.
Requirements to join the affiliate program
- Accept Costco’s terms and conditions.
- The savings-focused or lifestyle website should have a solid traffic base.
- The blog content should be related to smart shopping and budgeting strategies.
Does Costco Support Affiliates?
Yes, Costco does support affiliates.
They provide support in various ways:
Dedicated affiliate team
The affiliate team responds to inquiries from wholesale retail affiliates and assists with any issues.
Affiliate resources
Costco aims to help its retail affiliates thrive.
So, they guide how to effectively and ethically promote membership advantages and product deals.
Tips For Success As An Affiliate
If you hope to flourish as a wholesale affiliate marketer, here are some key strategies:
Craft content that resonates
Develop content that zeroes in on Costco’s diverse product range that your audience will value.
In doing so, you should aim to help them navigate and capitalize on the best wholesale deals.
Gain trust from your audience
Achieving this is straightforward.
Write honest reviews about Costco products.
You can also do this through presentations of merchandise that you have direct experience with or are knowledgeable about.
Branch out in terms of your traffic sources
It’s not wise to depend exclusively on a single traffic source.
I advise budget shopping bloggers to vary their traffic-generating strategies, including social media, email marketing, and other avenues.
Maximize your conversion rates
Strong calls to action are instrumental in Costco affiliate marketing efforts.
They contribute significantly to increasing conversion rates.
Therefore, create impactful calls to action throughout your content.
Final Thoughts
The Costco affiliate program is an attractive opportunity for affiliates in the consumer retail and savings niche.
It boasts a strong conversion rate.
Affiliates can effectively promote the brand’s products and sign up for memberships.
The program rewards affiliates for every new Costco membership facilitated.
It also provides them with a 30-day cookie to track their efforts.
Thus, this program is highly recommended for bloggers and influencers in the smart shopping and budgeting field.