Our Favorite 10 eCommerce Emails to Drive Revenue |
"I wish I had fewer sales," said no eCommerce brand ever. |
Yet surprisingly, many stores are sleeping on their most powerful sales tool—their email list. |
Here's the thing: your customers actually want to hear from you (when you do it right). |
Below, we'll show you 10 types of emails that successful brands use to keep their customers coming back. |
1. Welcome emails |
A welcome email is the first message your new subscribers receive, and it sets the tone for your entire relationship. In fact, |
It's your chance to introduce your brand, set expectations for future emails and even offer some helpful tips for using the product they just bought. |
But welcome emails are more than just friendly hellos. |
They get the most opens and clicks out of all campaigns. They also generate up to 3x more revenue than regular marketing emails! |
Here are some tips to maximize your welcome emails: |
Send it ASAP. Fire off your welcome email instantly when someone subscribes. Waiting even a few hours can drop your engagement. Personalize. Use every piece of info you have on your new subscriber to tailor your welcome email. For example, address them by their name, or talk about products similar to the ones they were browsing when they signed up. Offer a discount. Throw in a time-sensitive discount or free shipping to nudge new subscribers towards that first purchase.
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How wildwonder welcomes new subscribers |
Wildwonder makes their first email feel like a friend introducing you to something cool. They show off their drinks and promise actually useful content (recipes and deals). |
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They also give you a nice 10% welcome discount to get started, and make it super clear where to find them—both online and in stores. It's friendly but doesn't try too hard. |
2. Abandoned cart emails |
Ever watch a shopper fill their cart, get to checkout, and... disappear? |
Abandoned cart emails are your chance to bring them back. These targeted reminders generate serious revenue—on average, they recover 10% of abandoned sales. |
Plus, you're reaching out to people who've already shown clear buying intent. If you tap into the right needs, you're likely to convert them into customers. |
Here's how to make your abandoned cart emails work harder: |
Trigger their memory. Show clear product images and details. Make it visual and remind them exactly what caught their eye. One click should take them straight back to checkout. Address their hesitation. Most people abandon carts because of shipping costs, price comparison or uncertainty. Tackle these head-on with free shipping offers, price guarantees or customer reviews. Create urgency. Let them know if items are low in stock or if prices might increase. Keep it honest as false scarcity can backfire.
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How Liquid Death recovers abandoned carts |
Liquid Death nails their signature edgy (but funny) brand voice with this abandoned cart email. Even their product recommendations are styled with attitude. It's playful and pushy in the best possible way. |
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Snark aside, we like how they've added all the right details—product images, recommendations, social links and a CTA that drives action. |
3. Product launch emails |
Product launch emails let your subscribers be the first to know about what's new—and buy. |
Beyond driving immediate sales, these emails build excitement and can lock in revenue through pre-orders. |
Here's how to make the most of your product launch emails: |
Show, don't just tell. Lead with strong product visuals. Give them a clear view of what makes your new product special, whether that's design, features or how it's used. Drive action. Include clear, specific buy buttons for each product. Make it obvious how to purchase or pre-order. Share your story. Tell them why you created this product, what problem it solves or how it fits into their lives. Keep it focused on benefits they care about.
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How Beats shares a new product over email |
Beats has flipped the typical product launch formula in this email. Instead of leading with specs or features, they're selling aesthetics first. |
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It's minimalism with purpose: they know their audience cares as much about how the speakers look in their space as how they sound. |
4. Re-engagement emails |
Your best customers might be the ones who got away. A thoughtful, perfectly-timed email can rekindle that connection and turn them back into regular shoppers. |
Most brands run re-engagement campaigns when subscribers haven't opened emails in 3-6 months or haven't purchased in 90+ days. The sweet spot is catching them before they completely forget your brand, but after giving them enough space to miss you. |
Nail your subject line. This is the first thing they'll see. Try something that sparks curiosity or highlights what's new—anything intriguing enough to make them click. Get personal. Use their purchase history to suggest products they'll actually want. "Loved your lip balm? You might like these lip scrubs!" Make a strong offer. Test different incentives like exclusive access, special discounts or new product announcements. The goal is to reignite their interest, so make it different from your usual offers.
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How Surreal re-engages past customers |
Surreal makes re-engagement feel fresh. Instead of begging for attention, they lead with personality, create real FOMO ("these are moving fast") and back it up with social proof. |
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Finally, the "Dive back in" and "Complete your order" CTAs are perfectly placed and crystal clear about the action they want you to take. |
5. Newsletter emails |
Most newsletter emails end up ignored or deleted. Why? Because they're packed with boring company updates nobody asked for. |
The best newsletters deliver real value—industry insights, helpful tips or early access to new products. When done right, they can build trust and keep your brand top-of-mind between purchases. |
Here's how to create newsletters worth opening: |
Keep it visual. Use strong product photography, lifestyle shots, videos and customer photos. Online shopping is visual—your newsletter should be too. Test different formats. Some subscribers love long-form content, others prefer quick tips. Test and track what works with your unique audience.
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How Casper keeps customers engaged with newsletters. |
Casper's Snoozeletter builds authority through helpful content while subtly positioning Casper as a sleep expert, not just a mattress company. |
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The blog selection cleverly addresses common buyer concerns (e.g. mattress costs, sleeping positions) without feeling salesy. They're selling better sleep, not just beds. |
6. Loyalty program emails |
Your loyalty program emails should make customers feel like VIPs. |
Show them you care by celebrating milestones and offering perks like early access to new products or exclusive promotions. |
Better yet, encourage them to buy again or spread the word by highlighting points and rewards, and showing them how exactly they can earn these sweet deals. |
Done right, these emails can turn occasional buyers into brand advocates. |
Here's how to make the most of your loyalty emails. |
Personalize your perks. Show rewards based on each subscriber's unique shopping habits. Make your recommendations feel tailored to their interests. Offer real value. Skip basic discounts. Give early access to launches, exclusive products or VIP-only events.
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How DAVIDsTEA keeps customers loyal. |
This is how you make customer data delightful. |
Instead of sharing boring stats, DAVIDsTEA's email turns purchase history into charming illustrations and fun comparisons (tea weight = 3 chipmunks!) |
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It's personal, playful and makes customers feel special about their journey with the brand. |
7. Customer feedback emails |
Want honest feedback? Make it worth their time. |
Customer feedback emails help you improve your products and spot problems before they spread. Plus, they show customers you actually care about their experience. |
Here's how to create feedback emails that are hard to ignore: |
Time it right. Send a feedback request when your customer's experience is still fresh. That's usually 7-14 days after delivery depending on your product. Keep it short (and fun!) Don't ask for too much. Instead of sharing a long, boring survey, try a short, interactive form with multiple-choice questions, star ratings and open-ended fields. Offer an incentive. Give customers something in return for their time and effort. Offer them a special discount, coupon code, free shipping or even loyalty points! Close the loop. Tell them how you'll use their feedback. Better yet, show them when you make changes based on it.
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How Anthropologie collects customer feedback |
Anthropologie's email doesn't beg for reviews. It opens a conversation. "We're listening!" paired with "have you seen improvement?" shows they're already acting on customer feedback, not just collecting it. |
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Even their offer is positioned differently. Instead of dangling the 20% off as bait, they wrap it up as a thoughtful thank you, which makes the whole interaction feel more genuine. |
8. Promotional emails |
Promotional emails share information about discounts, special offers and sales with customers. |
They're great for driving immediate revenue and are often tied to specific occasions, like holidays (e.g Black Friday sale), birthdays or new collection drops. |
But hey, almost every eCommerce brand sends promo emails. If you're not doing it right, you're just adding to inbox clutter. |
Here are some tips for making your promo emails stand out: |
Segment your customers. Match your offers to your subscribers' purchase history, location or interests. Send only relevant promotions to make customers take you seriously. |
Tap into FOMO. Create urgency through limited-time offers, or by highlighting fast-selling products or stock shortages. |
How Lifesum sends promotional emails |
We love how Lifesum flips the script on holiday indulgence. Instead of fighting Halloween treats, they lean into the fun with spooky puns and playful visuals. |
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They even make their 50% discount feel like a holiday treat. |
9. Transactional emails |
When customers take action in your store, transactional emails automatically keep them in the loop. These triggered messages handle all the essential updates: order confirmations, shipping notices, password resets and account changes. |
While they might not be the most exciting emails you'll send, they're important for building trust and keeping customers informed. |
Here's how to get them right: |
Keep it clear. Focus on the transaction details. If they reset their password, just handle that—save the marketing for later. Prioritize security. Always confirm if they recognize the activity, and offer them the option to report or change their password if they want to.
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How Crocs sends transactional emails |
This is how you do simple but effective. Clean progress tracker up top, every detail exactly where you'd expect it and super clear next steps. No fluff, but still feels like Crocs. |
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The return barcode is a smart move. They know some folks might be thinking about returns, so they give them a reason to relax and trust the brand more. |
10. Confirmation emails |
Confirmation emails are your customer's proof of purchase. These post-purchase emails set expectations for delivery, provide order tracking and give customers peace of mind. |
They're also your chance to thank your customers for doing business with you. Here are some tips to ace your confirmation emails: |
Provide all the necessary details. Include the customer's order details, address, shipping information, tracking link and your contact information. Offer your support. Add some FAQs, helpful tips, return or exchange information and any customer support links to improve their post-purchase experience.
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How Haoma sends order confirmations |
Haoma knows how to make an order confirmation email feel important. "YOU JUST PLANTED 1 TREE!" turns a simple purchase into an environmental win. |
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Their "Citizen of Earth" touch makes customers feel part of something bigger than shopping. Even those moody nature photos are strategically placed. They're not just pretty, they show the actual impact you're having by choosing Haoma. |
Drive eCommerce sales with email marketing |
These aren't just 10 types of emails—they're 10 opportunities to connect with customers and drive sales. The brands that get it right understand that email marketing works best when you treat your subscribers like real people, not just entries in a database. |
Final tip? Don't forget automation is your right hand person. Use it to perfect your email marketing strategy, save yourself the manual labor, and ensure you send the right email at the right time. |
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