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Holiday newsletter ideas can drive revenue through targeted email campaigns that solve customer problems and showcase seasonal offerings.
The highest-converting newsletter campaigns often directly address holiday shopping needs and pain points. Your customers will appreciate gift suggestions, exclusive deals, and helpful holiday content that makes their season easier and more enjoyable.
Strategic timing, audience segmentation, and A/B testing multiply your holiday newsletter impact by delivering personalized content when it matters most.
Join us below to discover 15 newsletter ideas to inspire you with best practices to make your campaign a winner.
Get started with Omnisend and create stunning holiday newsletters that sell
Holiday newsletters drive essential revenue during by capitalizing on customers’ increased purchase intent and willingness to spend.
Omnisend research reveals that emails sent by the “Holidays & Seasonal” industry outperform all retail sectors, driving 35.9% open rates and capturing 1.5% of clicks.
Email marketing uses targeted segmentation and automation for sending times. Instead of hoping customers remember your brand, newsletters put your offers directly in their inboxes at key shopping moments.
Holiday newsletters can also solve key marketing challenges. They let you spread revenue instead of relying on single shopping days, reduce ad spend by reaching an engaged list, and reactivate customers who haven’t purchased recently.
Plus, they are a cost-effective sales channel when social media and paid advertising costs become unpredictable or too expensive.
Glasses retailer Warby Parker promotes a shoppable gift guide in its holiday newsletter, using a present emoji in its subject line, “Our Holiday Gift Guide, inside 🎁” to grab attention.
The email presents products in a list format, with appropriately sized images and short text explanations to keep everything scannable. Plus, the text alongside the images is directed toward the target buyer, allowing the reader to easily view the products that resonate with them.
You can follow the same format to create newsletters with high open rates. Emojis are brilliant for making subject lines stand out, and lists are compelling formats for presenting products and categories in your emails.
Notice also how this email uses a green border and light blue background to make images and text stand out. It’s simple but effective at encouraging clicks.
Cases manufacturer BodyGuardz promotes holiday discounts in its seasonal newsletters. The example above, created for a New Year’s sale, uses the subject line “Last Hours: New Year’s Sale Ends Tonight!” to instill urgency into its message.
Opening the email reveals an image slideshow with the large heading “25% OFF SITEWIDE,” clearly presenting the offer. Below that, a disclaimer states, “Time is running out” and “Shop now” to encourage shoppers to act.
BodyGuardz’s use of high-quality images and “25% OFF” overlays draws attention to popular products, while clear “Shop now >” CTAs encourage clicks.
You can use these urgency tactics and design elements to create holiday newsletters that your subscribers will want to open and engage with.
3. Festive giveaway ideas
Image via Really Good Emails
Scented candles retailer Snif uses its concise branding to create giveaway newsletters that get to the point. The email above has the subject line “Free Presents Inside,” and the first heading you see when opening it is “giveaway.”
The email uses a high-quality image at the top showcasing popular products. Scrolling reveals a grid of these products with descriptions and names.
Instead of shoppable links, Snif asks its subscribers to “drop an emoji on our latest post to enter” on Instagram to tap into cross-promotion. You can follow this idea to connect your email and social media marketing for better giveaway results.
4. Thank-you emails for your customers
Image via Really Good Emails
Thank-you emails are fantastic for connecting with subscribers, and ecosystem apps provider Readdie uses them to its full advantage in its holiday newsletters.
The email above uses the subject line “😌 Thank you for this incredible year!” and opening it displays a Christmas-themed design with a similar heading. It then reveals a look back at the year with the company’s key milestones and figures.
Readdie isn’t trying to get its subscribers to buy or download anything here — it’s reaching out to connect with customers and keep the company in mind.
You can create similar thank-you email campaigns to raise brand awareness and provide unique insight that reinforces your offerings.
5. Top picks from your team
Image via Really Good Emails
Methodological Coffee’s holiday newsletter shares recommendations from its team. The subject line “☕ Our Team’s Top Picks” clearly communicates the email’s contents and what subscribers can expect.
The email design is minimalistic, with a white background and boxes for insight and recommendations. Each box has a photo of the team member to create a conversational feel and text that provides personal, authentic recommendations.
Consider sharing similar expert insight in your holiday newsletters to connect with customers and make your brand more personal.
6. Sneak peek of holiday deals
Image via Milled
A sneak peek newsletter generates excitement, builds anticipation, and creates urgency by offering customers an exclusive early glimpse of upcoming deals.
Waterproof sneaker retailer Vessi uses sneak peeks in its holiday newsletter above with the subject line “💧New shades drop soon.” The water drop emoji matches the waterproof nature of the product, and “drop soon” creates a teaser.
Opening the email reveals a “New Collection Incoming” heading and a description for a sneak peek for January with the CTA button “Preview Now.”
You can use sneak peeks to generate buzz for your upcoming releases and deals during the busy holiday period.
7. Holiday sale countdown
Image via Really Good Emails
A holiday sale countdown email triggers impulse buying by visually dramatizing the ticking clock and presenting dwindling availability as a compelling call to action.
4Knines, a retailer of dog car seat covers, uses sale countdowns in its newsletters to encourage subscribers to act. The example above uses the subject line “🚨 Final Chance: Biggest Sale of the Year” to immediately demonstrate massive savings.
The email opens with several time-sensitive design elements, including a countdown timer, the heading “ENDS AT MIDNIGHT,” and an image of “ENDS TONIGHT” at the bottom. The CTA button stands out in orange with the words “Save 25% Off.”
Adding countdown timers (or even time limitations) to your holiday newsletters can help increase conversion rates through fear of missing out (FOMO).
8. Holiday recipes or DIY ideas
Image via Milled
Holiday recipes and DIY emails offer a non-promotional way to provide value, showcase brand personality, and build customer connection by sharing seasonal ideas.
Food magazine Bon Appétit sends holiday newsletters with recipe guides to inspire subscribers. The email above, with the subject line “71 vegan recipes we love,” opens with a great image of one of its recipes to encourage click-throughs.
Its email also promotes a holiday sale with unlimited access to its premium content subscription, effectively using advice and inspiration to increase sales over the holidays. You can do the same, but keep your offers low-key like Bon Appétit.
9. Support a holiday charity
Image via Really Good Emails
A holiday charity newsletter demonstrates social responsibility, improves brand reputation, and emotionally connects with customers by showcasing meaningful community support.
Affiliate marketing network CJ Affiliate partnered with five charities to create the newsletter above. It leads with the subject line “💗 ‘Tis the Season to Give Back” and reveals that the company will donate the budget for its festive card to charity.
Subscribers get to choose which charity to vote for, bringing an interactive element to the campaign and making it more engaging. Try this idea for yourself by simply partnering with a local or national cause to improve your brand’s reputation.
10. Holiday gift bundles & sets
Image via Really Good Emails
Holiday gift bundles and sets simplify customer shopping by offering curated, value-packed product combinations that solve gift-giving challenges and encourage higher-value purchases.
Pearly Drinks promotes bundles in its holiday newsletters to shift more stock and increase average order value. Its email above uses the subject line “This Year’s Best-Selling Bundle” to let the subscriber know what to expect.
The email uses high-quality imagery and a purple color scheme to match the brand. Scrolling reveals details of the bundle and a customer review.
Creating bundles and making them part of your holiday marketing campaign can differentiate you from competitors offering only standalone products.
11. Run a 12 days of Christmas campaign
Image via Really Good Emails
Wine subscription provider Good Pair Days uses a 12 wines of Christmas newsletter to promote some of its popular products. Its email uses the subject line “Just Launched – 12 Wines Of Christmas Advent Calendars 2020🎄🍷.”
That example uses one newsletter to promote its Twelve Wines of Christmas Advent Calendar, but you could also send one email per day in a series.
A 12 Days of Christmas campaign creates sustained engagement through daily surprises, builds anticipation, and drives repeated customer interactions by offering unique deals, products, or content throughout the holiday season.
12. Feature customer reviews or photos
Image via Really Good Emails
Customer reviews and photos in holiday newsletters build trust, provide social proof, and create a sense of community by showcasing authentic experiences.
Pretzels.com uses customer reviews to good effect in its newsletters, making them a core part of its apple strudel promotion in the example above with a curation of reviews from delighted customers immediately after the “SHOP APPLE STRUDEL.”
You could add reviews in text or text + image format or add Trustpilot, Feefo, or Google Reviews graphics with your star rating. Both approaches can improve trust.
13. Last-minute gift ideas
Image via Milled
Last-minute gift ideas solve shopping stress by offering convenient, curated recommendations for procrastinating customers seeking quick, thoughtful presents.
Unique gifts retailer Vat19 has the right idea with its campaign promoting last-minute Christmas gifts. The email above uses the subject line “Discover Fun Products at Vat19!” to avoid overusing Christmas-related subject lines in December.
Opening the email reveals a simple design with a pink background, Christmas trees, and CTAs for “Shop Fun & Strange Gifts.” Below is a collection of popular products with links for customers to learn more.
14. Limited-edition holiday products
Image via Milled
Limited-edition holiday products create scarcity, urgency, and exclusivity, driving customer excitement and faster purchasing decisions by offering unique, temporary items that won’t be available after the season.
Sanitas Skincare uses limited-edition products in its January newsletters to increase excitement and sales. The example above uses the subject line “FINAL HOURS to get this glow up” to create FOMO and tease a quality skincare item.
The first thing subscribers see when opening the email is the heading “Glow Up Before It’s Gone” and a banner that presents a “15% OFF.” It effectively uses urgency and discounting to increase interest. You can do the same in your newsletters to enhance sales.
15. Promote holiday sustainability
Image via Really Good Emails
Holiday sustainability newsletters highlight eco-conscious choices, showcase brand values, and appeal to environmentally minded consumers.
Sustainable home and personal care brand Happy Human uses a holiday sustainability campaign to reinforce its brand value and provide tips to customers.
Its subject line, “It is possible to do Christmas Consciously? 🎄” cleverly uses a conversational, questioning approach that piques curiosity. Opening the email reveals a peach background and a blog-style excerpt covering the topic with a “READ NOW” CTA.
You could also promote articles this way or showcase how your ecommerce store keeps waste low and follows good practices in your email content.
How to make your holiday newsletters stand out
Stand out in crowded holiday inboxes by using these four tips:
1. Create catchy subject lines
Encourage your subscribers to open emails with holiday subject lines that feel personal, such as with their name, recent purchases, or browsing history.
“Sarah, your holiday gifts are here” works better than “Holiday sale inside!” to make your newsletter feel handpicked rather than mass-sent.
You can also use emojis to ensure your holiday newsletters stand out. For example, “🎅 Holiday sale — 20% off” stands out more than the pure text version.
Design plays a crucial role in capturing attention. Use a clear hierarchy that puts your key message or offer front and center.
Keep the festive elements tasteful — a strategic splash of seasonal color or a themed header works better than overpowering designs that overwhelm your content.
Omnisend offers 250+ email templates. You can edit them with the drag-and-drop email builder and save them for reuse in other campaigns.
Image via Omnisend
3. Add value to every email
Whether you’re offering early access to sales, exclusive holiday bundles, or curated gift guides, focus on delivering tangible benefits.
That problem-solving approach naturally drives opens and conversions by giving subscribers what they need during the busy season.
4. Instill urgency
You can use FOMO with time-limited offers and stock or sale countdowns to encourage open rates. For instance, if your subscriber has a wish list, you could offer 10% off their next wish list purchase today.
Other urgent email ideas include free shipping deadlines, VIP preview hours, and “only X left” notifications for popular holiday items.
Your emails should deliver a consistent experience across every device to keep customers engaged with your holiday campaigns.
Omnisend’s mobile-optimized templates help you focus on creating compelling content while maintaining seamless viewing on smartphones, tablets, and desktops.
2. Optimized elements
Add clear, intuitive buttons and properly sized images to create a polished, professional impression of your brand.
Each additional image adds a server request and increases total load time, so avoid using images where styled text could work instead. Use image optimization tools to reduce file sizes while maintaining quality.
3. Smart segmentation
Segment your holiday lists based on shopping behavior and engagement levels to deliver personalized content. Track which customer groups respond best to specific offers, then refine your targeting to boost conversion rates across segments.
Omnisend’s newsletter software includes pre-built segments that help you quickly categorize customers by their interests, purchase habits, and campaign engagement.
4. Strategic timing
Launch campaigns when your audience is most active by analyzing past open rates and engagement metrics. Test different send times across time zones to find your optimal window for maximum impact.
Automate your email marketing to target peak engagement hours to ensure your holiday newsletters reach subscribers at optimal moments.
5. Test your campaigns
Run A/B tests for subject lines, sender names, offers, discounts, images, and call to action buttons, to see what works best.
Omnisend lets you test these elements and automatically send the winning email version to your remaining audience.
How Omnisend can make your holiday campaigns shine
Omnisend helps you create high-performing holiday email campaigns with tools built for ecommerce success. From ready-to-use templates to powerful testing features, you’ll deliver personalized seasonal messages that drive sales.
Build emails that sell by dragging in shoppable products, dynamic discount codes, and personalized recommendations. Use the Product Listing feature to select products from your store, and Omnisend will auto-sync all the details.
Split testing capabilities
Compare different subject lines, content, sender names, and interactive elements to discover what drives your holiday sales.
Omnisend automatically sends your winning version to remaining subscribers based on real open or click data, maximizing the impact of your seasonal campaigns.
Smart audience targeting
You can create customer segments based on holiday shopping behavior, email engagement, and purchase history. Your segments update automatically as customers interact with your emails, ensuring your messages reach the right audience with relevant offers.
Omnisend’s pre-built segments help you quickly identify and target specific groups, from active gift buyers to those needing seasonal re-engagement.
Automated campaign delivery
Use engagement data from previous campaigns to schedule your holiday newsletters to reach subscribers at optimal times.
Set up automated welcome messages, cart recovery, and order confirmation emails to keep customers engaged throughout holiday season.
Conclusion
Holiday newsletters are a fantastic opportunity to enhance brand awareness and drive sales through content that serves your customers’ needs.
Creative approaches like gift guides, DIY content, and charitable initiatives build connections beyond promotion. Well-timed messages that blend practical help with seasonal spirit transform newsletters from sales tools into valued shopping companions.
Enhance your newsletter impact through tools like Omnisend, which offers segmentation to reach the right subscribers, A/B testing to find the best email versions, and strategic timing to deliver emails at optimal times and boost your sales.
Join Omnisend to automate your holiday email campaigns
You could share product discoveries, the team’s gift picks, and unexpected moments your customers will enjoy reading about.
Recommend a few products, showcase exclusive bundles, add customer reviews, and offer time-sensitive discounts to instill urgency and fear of missing out.
How can I make my newsletter more fun?
To make your newsletter playful, use a holiday-appropriate emoji (e.g., 🎄) in your subject line and festive imagery at the top.
Detail your top-selling products with gift-giving context, showcase holiday-specific deals, highlight shipping deadlines with countdown timers, and provide last-minute gifting solutions by price point to encourage subscribers to click through.
How to start a Christmas newsletter?
Use one of Omnisend’s newsletter templates to start with a responsive design. Change the colors to match your brand, add images and text, and drag and drop Items like Product Listing to build an engaging email for your holiday campaign.
Consider your messaging and offers, and determine whether it’s worth sending different newsletter versions to various subscriber segments to improve sales. For instance, you could send new subscribers a larger discount to encourage first-time purchases.
Karolina is a content project manager and team lead at Omnisend, where she blends creative strategy with a keen focus on competitive intelligence. Outside of work, Karolina finds balance through her love of gardening, exploring new hiking trails, biking, and raising a bunch of boys.
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