The holiday season is a joyful yet crowded time for email marketing. With so many Christmas sale emails flooding your customers’ inboxes, it’s easy for your email to get lost in the chaos.
For ecommerce brands, the challenge is clear: how do you stand out and capture attention amid the noise? Simply offering a sale won’t cut it this year – you need to craft Christmas emails that deliver great deals and tap into the holiday spirit.
To succeed, your emails should feel special and reflect the joy, warmth, and excitement of the holidays. Whether through personalized offers, engaging designs, or a touch of holiday magic, the goal is to create something memorable and authentic.
In this article, we’ll highlight 15 Christmas email examples that stand out during the holiday season. Take inspiration from these examples to craft your own Christmas emails that rise from in the inbox clutter and drive sales.
1. The Countdown Christmas Sale Email
Creating urgency amongst your customers has been a tried and tested method to boost conversions, and what better way to do that than adding a countdown timer in your email?
Adding a countdown timer to your email instead of just saying "X hours left" makes it more urgent and attention-grabbing. Seeing the clock tick down pushes people to act faster, reminding them they’re running out of time.
This strategy works especially well during the holiday season, as holiday shoppers are already pressured to complete their purchases on time.
Take a look at this example below from Nuby.
The email effectively incorporates a countdown timer right after all the important information has been delivered. This approach builds urgency and ensures the recipient is clear on the offer before being prompted to act, making it an effective strategy for driving conversions.
2. Personalized Christmas Greeting Template Email
Everyone loves things that are personalized. So is the case scenario for emails.
Instead of just sending out a generic Christmas message this year, try to make it personal by using the customer’s name in the subject line or the first line of the email.
Even if you don’t have their names, you can simply use personalized language that makes people feel the email was written just for them.
Take a look at this Christmas email example from Carrs Silver. Notice how the brand uses a very warm and welcome copy that feels personal instead of the usual promotional copy. This helps make customers feel special and drive sales.
Pro tip: You can even use purchase history to customize recommendations related to your customers’ preferences. This is possible through advanced personalization features available on platforms like Klaviyo.
3. Nostalgic Christmas Wish Email
Nostalgia in holiday emails taps into childhood Christmas memories, like decorating the tree or baking cookies with family. Using familiar images like snowflakes, Christmas trees, or twinkling lights creates a cozy, personal feel that connects customers to your brand.
Including sensory details like the scent of pine or the sound of carols in the copy can enhance the emotional pull. This helps make your email feel more inviting, encouraging customers to engage with your brand and shop during the holiday season.
Here’s an example from RoundEye Supply, an online grocery store. Notice how the brand uses festive elements in the email design and copy, envoking the holiday spirit effectively.
4. Interactive Xmas Email Template
Why stick with plain email designs this year when you can make things more fun and interactive?
Using an interactive xmas email template means adding features like clickable countdowns, mini-games, or personalized product picks that invite customers to engage. It’s a great way to make your emails more memorable and enjoyable, which can boost interaction and encourage holiday shopping.
5. Sustainable Christmas Newsletter Examples
In 2025, sustainability will be a key focus for many shoppers.
By showcasing your eco-friendly products or initiatives in your holiday emails, you can show that your brand is in tune with what matters most to customers. The result? A strong relationship with your customers.
Sharing partnerships with environmental organizations or showcasing your commitment to sustainability through case studies helps build trust and shows you care about more than just profits.
Brands that prioritize the planet appeal to conscious shoppers, and by adding green practices to your email strategy, you’ll attract eco-friendly customers and build a reputation as a brand that cares.
Here’s a great example Christmas newsletter example from the Anya Hindmarch brand. The brand keeps it minimal and classy with the design, while effectively highlighting its sustainability initiatives in the copy.
6. Festive Product Bundles
Encourage larger purchases by promoting themed bundles that offer value and convenience. These bundles can include carefully curated products or gifts designed to create a cohesive theme, making holiday shopping easier and more enjoyable.
By featuring beautifully packaged gift sets in your imagery, you highlight their premium quality and thoughtful presentation, capturing the attention of customers seeking elegant and stress-free options.
This strategy simplifies the shopping experience, providing customers with a one-stop solution that saves time and effort while ensuring their gifts feel special.
Highlighting the value and luxury of these bundles not only appeals to customers’ desire for convenience but also motivates them to make larger purchases, enhancing both their experience and your sales.
Here’s a good example from ThickTails:
Related: 10 Holiday Marketing Ideas to Try This December
7. Business Christmas Email with Gratitude
Thank your customers for their support over the past year by wishing them a happy holiday season. Enhance your message with a token of appreciation, like a discount code or a complimentary gift, such as a downloadable e-book or a special item included with their purchase.
This approach not only shows gratitude but also strengthens your relationship with your customers, encouraging loyalty and fostering a positive connection during the holiday season.
Take a look at this example from Legear. Although the brand doesn’t offer any freebies in the email, it uses a very personal tone that makes the customer feel that the email was written just for them.
Acts of appreciation like this are effective because they reinforce customer relationships and promote repeat business.
8. Sneak Peek Christmas Sale Email
To build anticipation for your holiday sale, offer loyal customers an exclusive sneak peek and the opportunity to shop before the public. This special access underscores their importance to your brand, enhances their shopping experience by allowing them to beat the crowd, and creates a sense of urgency.
By rewarding customer loyalty with this privilege, you make them feel valued and generate excitement that can lead to increased engagement and higher sales.
Take a look at this brilliant email from Sierra Darien. This strategy works effectively because it fosters a sense of exclusivity and motivates customers to participate actively.
9. Social Proof in Christmas Emails
Highlight social proof, such as positive customer reviews or testimonials, within your Christmas email template to build trust and credibility. Showcasing satisfied customers' feedback helps reassure potential buyers about your products.
Social proof is particularly effective during peak season. Shoppers seek reliable places to shop from, as you can’t risk it during the holiday season.
10. Charitable Giving Christmas Email
Showcase your brand’s charitable initiatives and encourage customers to participate in giving back. Showing your commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) helps increase your brand’s goodwill and shows that your brand is actually
Motivate customers to support causes close to their hearts, such as donating to a particular charity, participating in a gift drive, or contributing to sustainable projects – like ZocoHome. Here’s a great Christmas email example showing the brand’s commitment to CSR.
11. Minimalist Xmas Email Template
Not every email needs to be loud and vibrant. A clean, minimalist design with a heartfelt message can stand out in a crowded inbox. Use a simple color palette, clear fonts, and ample white space to let your imagery take center stage.
This approach cuts through the noise and ensures that your email is easy to read and navigate.
A minimalist design also keeps the attention on the core message of your holiday email, whether it’s a special promotion, a message of thanks, or a festive greeting.
On that note, take a look at this minimal Christmas email from Jamie Haller:
12. Gift Guide Christmas Newsletter Examples
Help customers find the perfect gifts with curated gift guides tailored to different recipients (e.g., "For Him," "For Her," "For Kids"). These guides simplify decision-making by offering suggestions based on preferences and interests, making the shopping process easier and more enjoyable.
Each guide can feature your best-selling products, personalized recommendations, or exclusive items that match the recipient’s tastes.
Here's a great example from UV Skinz, a sunwear brand:
13. Free Shipping Incentives
Offer free shipping as a special holiday perk. Emphasize this incentive prominently in your email subject line and call to action to draw attention.
Free shipping is a powerful motivator for completing purchases, especially during the busy holiday season when customers look for ways to save.
Highlighting this perk helps increase conversion rates and enhances the customer experience by reducing friction in the purchase process.
Here’s a great example from SockGeeks. The brand highlighted free shipping in the first section of its email to increase the chances of conversion.
14. Playful Christmas Wishes in Email
Infuse humor or playfulness into your emails to make them stand out. Use lighthearted language, festive puns, or playful graphics to create a fun and engaging experience for your audience.
Adding a touch of humor helps make your email memorable and enjoyable to read, especially during the holiday season when people are looking for moments of joy and laughter.
Check out this email from Pete Alexandar:
15. Year-End Recap and Future Outlook
Use your Christmas email to reflect on the past year and share exciting plans for the new year. This message will show gratitude for your customers’ support and build excitement for what’s to come in the new year.
Looking back and planning for the future helps build trust and shows your audience that there’s a clear direction ahead, like this email from Bandika:
Final Thoughts
Crafting a festive email that has a blend of creativity, personalization, and strategy is not an easy task, but it can truly make your brand stand out from the rest during the holiday season. With these 15 examples, you're set to create campaigns that truly shine.
Whether you're sending a "Christmas greeting template email" or showcasing "Christmas newsletter examples," always prioritize your audience’s preferences to increase your chances of success.
Struggling to craft the perfect email? Let DIGITORM help you create high-converting Christmas emails and end this year on a strong note! With over 100 email marketing projects executed successfully, we know how to bring in results. Get in touch with our team for a free consultation today!