The holiday season is a whirlwind of decorations, festivities, and, of course, shopping. With just a few days left on the calendar, many customers are in a tizzy—trying to wrap up their holiday shopping before the deadline hits. As a retailer, you have a golden opportunity to tap into this last-minute shopping frenzy with targeted email campaigns that create excitement and urgency.
In this post, we’ll explore fun and effective email marketing strategies that will help you drive those last-minute sales and give your customers the perfect gift-buying experience in time for the holidays.
Send a “Last Chance” Sale Email
Time-sensitive offers are one of the most powerful tools in email marketing, especially during the holiday season when shoppers are in a hurry to snag the best deals. Sending out a “Last Chance” email creates a sense of urgency and encourages customers to act fast before they miss out on limited-time promotions.
To make these emails effective, focus on these elements:
- Clear Subject Line: Make the urgency clear right from the subject line, such as “Last Chance for 30% Off – Ends Tonight!” or “Final Hours: Free Shipping on Orders Over $50.”
- Strong Call-to-Action (CTA): Make sure your CTA stands out and creates a sense of urgency, like “Shop Now” or “Hurry, Time’s Running Out.”
- Countdown Timer: Adding a countdown timer in your email can increase urgency and make the offer feel more time-sensitive. Email marketing platforms like Klaviyo offer countdown timer integrations.
- Exclusive Offers: Consider giving email subscribers a last-minute exclusive discount or bundle to incentivize them to buy.
Leverage Gift Guides for Easy Shopping
Not all customers have time to scroll through your entire store for the perfect gift. Help them out by curating a holiday gift guide that showcases your best-selling or most giftable products. Emailing a well-designed gift guide can make it easier for customers to find the perfect presents and speed up their purchasing decisions.
There are many ways to tailor your gift guide to your audience:
- For Her, For Him, For Kids: Segment your audience and send personalized gift guides based on customer preferences or past purchase history.
- Price Range: Curate products based on budget, such as "Gifts Under $50" or "Luxury Gifts for a Special Someone."
- Last-Minute Gifts: Highlight gifts that are easy to purchase and deliver quickly—especially if they’re digital products like e-gift cards or downloadable content.
- Bundles and Sets: Offering pre-made bundles that combine several products at a discounted price can be a big win for customers looking for a one-stop shop.
Incorporate eye-catching visuals and short product descriptions that make the shopping experience seamless. You’ll not only make it easier for customers to buy, but you’ll also increase your average order value with strategic product recommendations.
Run Flash Sales and Flash Promotions
Flash sales are an excellent way to create excitement and urgency, especially when they are time-limited. Send emails announcing limited-time flash sales with enticing offers such as “50% Off for the Next 12 Hours” or “Flash Sale: Shop Now Before It’s Gone!”
To maximize the effectiveness of flash sales:
- Segment Your Audience: Target customers who have shown interest in specific categories or have abandoned carts in the past with personalized flash sale emails.
- Use Attention-Grabbing Subject Lines: Flash sales rely on the urgency of the offer, so your subject lines should be short, to the point, and packed with excitement, such as “12-Hour Flash Sale Starts NOW!” or “Big Discounts on Your Favorite Items—Hurry!”
- Limit Stock or Time: Highlight how limited the sale is in terms of time or stock. Phrases like “While Supplies Last” or “Ends at Midnight” can motivate customers to take action.
- Promote on Social Media: Cross-promote your flash sale across your social channels and encourage followers to act quickly by linking to your sale directly in the email.
The key to success with flash sales is to make them feel exclusive and rare—something that customers won’t want to miss.
Send Cart Abandonment Reminders with Holiday Incentives
During the holiday season, many shoppers add items to their cart but abandon them before checking out. This is especially common in the rush of holiday shopping when distractions are everywhere. Email reminders are a powerful way to recapture those potential sales.
To make your cart abandonment emails more effective:
- Personalize the Email: Include the products left in the cart, personalized product recommendations, and a friendly reminder that the items are waiting for them.
- Incentivize the Purchase: Offering a small discount, free shipping, or a time-limited offer can help sweeten the deal and encourage the customer to complete the purchase. For example, “Complete your purchase in the next 24 hours for 10% off!”
- Urgency and Scarcity: Add phrases like “Your items are almost gone!” or “Only a few left in stock” to create urgency.
- Simple CTA: Include a prominent “Complete Your Purchase” button that makes it easy for the customer to pick up where they left off.
Cart abandonment emails are not only cost-effective but also highly targeted, which can help you recover otherwise lost revenue in the final stretch of the holiday season.
Highlight Last-Minute Shipping Options
For many customers, the clock is ticking as they race to buy presents in time for Christmas. A great way to drive last-minute sales is by promoting fast shipping in your email campaigns. Make it clear that you can fulfill orders quickly, and they won’t have to worry about missed delivery deadlines.
Consider sending out an email with:
- Shipping Deadlines: “Order by December 20th for Guaranteed Christmas Delivery.”
- Express Shipping Options: “Choose 2-Day Shipping and Get Your Gifts in Time!”
These offers not only create a sense of urgency but also show that you’re focused on providing an easy, hassle-free shopping experience.
No Time to Waste!
With the holiday season nearing its peak, last-minute email campaigns can provide retailers with a significant opportunity to boost sales in the final stretch. Whether it’s through last-chance offers, flash sales, cart abandonment reminders, or personalized gift guides, email marketing remains one of the most effective channels for driving holiday revenue. By implementing these last-minute email strategies, retailers can create a sense of urgency, enhance the shopping experience, and capture more sales before the season ends.
