Wednesday, December 23, 2009

AM Inbox: Last-minute Christmas messaging

>>Holiday fun from Smith-Harmon: Download a Holiday Subject Line Word Tree and Merry Email Marketing MAD LIBS.

The Retail Email Blog monitors the email marketing campaigns of more than 100 top online retailers. Here are highlights from my inbox this morning:

REI, 12/22 — Still Available: REI E-Gift Cards + 50% Off at REI-OUTLET‏
This REI email is a solid example of last-minute Christmas messaging. Although the subject line highlights e-gift cards and outlet deals, the primary message spot in the email is occupied by a season’s greeting message. The most prominent secondary message is one about e-gift cards, followed by a secondary banner featuring information about my local store. That’s followed by outlet information. So the focus here is on e-gift cards and stores for presents, and on the outlet to start generating after-Christmas sales.

Click to view this Dec. 22, 2009 REI email full-sized

J&R, 12/22 — Last Minute Gifts. . . Shipped In Time for Christmas, Hurry!‏
On the other hand, this J&R email puts the focus squarely on shipping options, providing the most detailed shipping deadline breakdown I’ve ever seen in an email. The secondary focus is on store sales, including in-store pickups.

Click to view this Dec. 22, 2009 J&R email full-sized

JCPenney, 12/22 — Last Day For 1/2 Off Express Shipping!
Just as they’ve done in the past leading up to Black Friday, JCPenney is offering a wakeup call service for the day after Christmas to support their after-Christmas sale. I don’t know how popular it is—there doesn’t appear to be any special advantage to using it—but it’s a nice multichannel touch.

Click to view this Dec. 22, 2009 JCPenney email full-sized

Chadwick’s, 12/22 — Open before 2pm today! Hurry, last day to get it for Christmas!
Chadwick’s takes an interesting approach with their subject line here, instructing subscribers to open the email before 2pm. That’s a novel way to add some urgency to the message and was surely aimed at folks who are scanning their inbox and deciding what needs to be opened now and what can wait.

SUBJECTIVITY SCANNER: Select noteworthy subject lines
Banana Republic, 12/22 — New classics for the new year‏
Lillian Vernon, 12/22 — Shh! Be the First to Shop the After Christmas Sale & Don't Pay Shipping‏
ShopNBC, 12/22 — Year End Clearance BIG savings of up to 60% off‏
SmartBargains, 12/22 — Shoppin' in a Winter WonderSALE...SAVE UP TO 40% OFF NOW!
Brookstone, 12/22 — Last Day for Guaranteed Express Delivery!
NFLshop, 12/22 — Guaranteed To Get There By 12/24 - Overnight Shipping Only $5.99!‏
DisneyStore, 12/22 — Last Day for Express Delivery on Disney Gifts!‏
1-800-Flowers.com, 12/22 — $5 Shipping or Service Charge - Guaranteed for Christmas!‏

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