Let’s face it. People wake up to a flooded inbox. With numerous emails to sort through and prioritize, getting that initial email open can be challenging.
The best retail emails fuse an attractive design with persuasive and personalized copy that stops the scroller in their tracks and gets them to open, click, and hopefully buy. And yet, inspiration can be hard to find.
That’s why we’re here.
18 Compelling Retail Email Examples to Increased Brand Awareness and Drive Growth
1. Wine Enthusiast
The Wine Enthusiasts product promotion here is every wine lover’s dream. Their new product placement is front and center with a clear CTA of encouragement. Below, they’ve strategically placed a positive testimonial with the option of exploring other decorative wine racks.
2. Sit ‘n Sleep
Mattress shopping is made easy with Sit’ n Sleep’s Memorial Day sale, with up to 50% savings. “Sale,” “save,” and discounts are everywhere in this email, encouraging readers to take advantage. For those who prefer in-store shopping, there’s an easy way to schedule an appointment to visit.
3. Sedano’s Supermarket
Sedano uses discounts on customer’s most-purchased items like milk and eggs to gain interest. Compared to other supermarkets, which may only have discounts available on other selected items, Sedano’s stands out with their sectioned design and great prices.
4. Goodwill Finds
Goodwill is known for having various second-hand items, from clothing to furniture. They encourage readers to try new hobbies and search through their musical instrument products. Readers can easily explore famous brands like Yamaha and Fender.
5. Banza Pizza
Banza’s product announcement at a new location is stylishly announced with perfectly branded photos and designs. The partnership with Aldi is a great announcement example that really captures the reader’s attention.
6. Samsung
The mobile phone titan’s #withgalaxy campaign announces new products, upsells current ones, and offers limited-time/holiday discounts all in one email. It sections each one off perfectly, using clear CTAs and attractive photography.
7. Outer
Outer is a well-known, luxury furniture store that brings the ideal shopping experience to its customers. They enhance the shopping experience with their in-person events and provide photo proof of past showrooms. Furniture lovers won’t pass up the chance to explore their neighborhood showrooms more.
8. Forever 21
Forever 21’s youthful and stylish brand rose to prominence as a globally recognized fashion retailer known for its trendy and affordable clothing. Their success is attributed to their large selection of clothes and accessories for men, women, and children and rapidly turning runway trends into accessible and budget-friendly options for the masses. Their promotional email prompts subscribers to explore their favorite products at an even lower price.
9. Leesa
The mattress company leverages its statistics with social impact for an emotional touch to its email. They clearly display the importance of giving back to the community and encourage the reader to read more about the impact they are making.
10. Afterpay
Afterpay maximizes limited-time offers and makes it incredibly easy to shop and check out by having the discount already applied to your cart. They work with thousands of retailers, so shoppers have a numerous selection to choose from, no matter their interests.
11. MeUndies
MeUndies optimizes programmed shipping and tracking updates after their products are purchased. This is an ideal method to gain and build trust with customers. In the third section, below the track your order CTA, they cleverly place “Want free undies?” as an additional incentive to refer friends.
12. Starbucks
Starbucks doesn’t have to focus much on awareness, but where it flourishes is accessibility. This email promotes their new store locations and rewards loyal customers. Their simplistic style and accessibility sustain their customer base.
13. Fortnum & Mason
The well-established department store is over 300 years old and specializes in home goods. They’ve sectioned off their email to compliment their numerous products, from food to gifts and homeware. Customers can easily scroll through new product features and the company’s social media posts to get more information.
14. Warby Parker
The American eyewear company is well-known for its combination of fashion-forward designs, quality materials, and a streamlined shopping experience. Their promotional emails are exceptional, with their 3D app display as the first graphic. They emphasize the app’s key features, including virtual try-ons.
15. Thousand Fell
Thousand Fell is a sustainable and environmentally conscious footwear brand that was founded in 2020. The company’s mission is to create stylish, comfortable, and versatile sneakers while minimizing their environmental impact. Their bright design, with less text, more graphics, and free shipping incentive, immediately pulls the customers in.
16. Delta
Delta’s trip confirmation emails fuse their simplistic branding style with concise, need-to-know information. They make travel a breeze with easy-to-follow steps and helplines.
17. East Fork Times
Based in Asheville, North Carolina, East Fork creates high-quality, handcrafted pottery that combines functionality, beauty, and sustainability. This cleverly designed newspaper email takes the reader back in time. East Fork brings immediate attention to its new products/colors, a fun game, and easily selectable product tables to explore.
18. Aldo
The Canadian shoe retailer primarily focuses on shoes but also offers a range of other accessories, including handbags, jewelry, and other leather goods. In this email, they get straight to the point and use an attractive graphic with multiple of the same shoes, just in different colors, with an unexpected question. Aldo usually names their shoes, generating more brand/product awareness. Customers can shop the new color shoe and receive a 40% discount if they buy a second item.
The best retail email examples consistently demonstrate the power of effective communication and customer engagement. They go beyond generic promotions and instead craft personalized, compelling email messages that address individual needs and preferences. Ensure your business’s emails use eye-catching visuals, clear calls to action, and well-tailored content; these emails not only drive sales but also foster brand loyalty.
