Email is an integral part of a healthy marketing strategy all year round. During the holidays, it can be especially effective. Not only do people keep opening their emails throughout the season, but research has shown that open rates actually increase on holidays.
Here, we’ll look at Christmas email templates to keep your audience engaged and informed despite the flurry of holiday activities. Whether you’re advertising an exciting sale or simply showing your appreciation for their continued support, these Christmas email templates can help you connect with customers accordingly.
Contents
- Christmas shopping guide
- Seasonal product announcement
- Special holiday deals and sales
- “Treat yourself” personal product recommendations
- Christmas email templates for event hosting and catering
- Christmas email template for cart abandoners
- Christmas free shipping promotion email
- Product restock announcements
- Last day for guaranteed shipping by Christmas
- Shipping updates or delays
- Christmas email template for a change in operating hours
- Last-minute Christmas gift ideas email template
- Simple Merry Christmas email template for customers
- Post-Christmas sale email template
Christmas email templates for all business types
The complete list of Christmas email templates below includes copy-and-paste Christmas email content ideas for any niche market or target audience. Let’s get started!
📧 For more email marketing help this season, download our free email marketing toolkit complete with templates, subject line ideas, tips, and more!
1. Christmas shopping guide
The average American buys about 15 gifts each holiday season. Creating a Christmas shopping guide can relieve some of the stress consumers feel about finding the ideal item for everyone on their list.
Subject line: 🎅Let us play Santa: Holiday gift guide inside
Email header: The Perfect Gift for Everyone on Your List
Email subhead: Our Curated Gift Guide’s Got You Covered
Intro copy: We know how hard it can be to find the ideal gift. That’s why we crafted this super-simple gift guide to cover everyone on your list. From your foodie uncle to your fashionista friend, read on for a curated collection of gifts they’ll love.
Template to try: This simple design teases some of your top products and invites readers to click through to see more.
2. Seasonal product announcement
Launching a limited-edition Christmas product can help boost sales even further on already-popular items. Think about the stampede a Christmas Stanley cup might inspire!
Create your holiday products unique to your business, then announce their arrival to your email subscribers. You may even give those on your mailing list first dibs as a thank-you for their brand loyalty.
Subject line: Get it first: New Christmas merch inside!
Email header: Ho, Ho, Ho, New Holiday Limited-Edition [Product Names] Are Here
Email subhead: Get Yours Before They’re Gone
Intro copy: We’re celebrating Christmas with a special release of our [product name/type]. [Briefly describe the seasonal product and what makes it unique from its standard counterpart.]
[Include image of new products]
And as a friend of [our business], you get first dibs! Follow the link below to get early access to our holiday [product].
CTA: Shop Now
Template to try: This new product/collection email isn’t explicitly Christmas-themed, but the gold elements evoke a holiday sparkle.
3. Special holiday deals and sales
The holiday season is an incredibly important time for brands. Core retail sales alone reached $964.4 billion during last year’s holiday season.
General gift shopping certainly drives these numbers, but so do the many sales we see leading up to the holidays, from Black Friday to Small Business Saturday to Cyber Monday.
If your business wishes to partake in seasonal sales, this email template can help you spread the word in advance.
Subject line: First up: Turkey🍗Then: The best deals of the year.
Email header: Black Friday Is Coming: See What We’ve Got in Store
Email subhead: Enjoy Up to 50% Off Select Items, Plus Free Shipping on All Online Orders
Template to try: Pair the above copy with this sleek holiday template.
4. “Treat yourself” personal product recommendations
In the season of giving, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Why not send your customers a “treat yourself” Christmas email, with personalized product recommendations and a reminder to take time out for themselves?
Subject line: A special treat just for you🎁
Email header: During the Season of Giving, Don’t Forget About Yourself!
Email subhead: We Think You’ll Love These Products
Intro copy: You’ve been a busy little Christmas elf, but now it’s time to make room for some self-care.
Check out this list of personalized product recommendations, and use the code GIFT4ME at checkout to enjoy
Template to try: This playful template invites you to provide email subscribers with a discount they can use on a gift for themselves.
💡 Craft the perfect subject line for your Christmas emails and more with our free guide to email subject lines for every month of the year!
5. Christmas email template for event hosting and catering
Holiday parties are big business. Event planning business BoomPop says the average company holiday party costs between $100 and $300 per attendee.
Letting your email subscribers know your restaurant or event space is ready to host Christmas parties is a great way to fill up your holiday calendar and maximize your seasonal revenue.
Subject line: Host your holiday party with us!
Email header: Holiday Parties at [Restaurant/Venue Name]
Email copy: This holiday season, let us do the hosting. Whether you’re planning an intimate dinner for friends or a big cocktail party for colleagues, we’ve got you covered.
Our events team is here to walk you through our private event spaces and share food and beverage packages.
Don’t delay! Our holiday calendar fills up quickly—contact us today to learn more and secure your preferred date.
We look forward to hosting you soon.
CTA: Contact Our Events Team
Template to try: Swap out the lavender color theme for red or green on this template, and you’ve got a great vehicle to tout your holiday hosting options.
6. Christmas email template for cart abandoners
Be honest: Have you ever left items in your virtual cart for later? If so, you’re not alone. The Baymard Institute reports that, on average, 70% of online shopping carts are abandoned.
For business leaders, that statistic should be shocking. Think about the sales you may miss out on—all sitting only a few clicks away from checkout!
Abandoned cart emails work to drive shoppers back to your website and finish their purchases. Creating one with a Christmas twist may help spark a little seasonal joy along with a sale.
Subject line: Friendly elf reminder: your cart is full!
Email body: Hi [name],
Our little Christmas Elves are here to remind you that your shopping cart is still full on [our website]. Ready to complete your order? Follow the link below.
CTA: Check Out
Happy holidays,
Holly & Jolly
[Business name]’s Christmas Elves
Template to try: Send your little elves out to your customers’ inboxes with this email template.
7. Christmas free shipping promotion email template
Another way to encourage online sales this Christmas is to offer free shipping. Many brands already do, but for the holidays, remove any spending threshold to access free shipping or offer expedited shipping at no cost to help close the deal for online shoppers.
This Christmas email template can help you tease the offer to your loyal readers.
Subject line: Our early holiday gift to you: FREE shipping!
Email header: Enjoy Free Shipping on Every Order
Intro copy: This holiday season, we’re waiving our order minimum for free shipping.
From now until [end of promotion], use the code SHIPFREE at checkout to enjoy complimentary shipping on all orders of any size. Happy holidays!
Template to try: Swap out the sale header for the suggested email header above on this Christmas email template.
8. Product restock announcements
The holidays are hectic. Sometimes, despite your best-laid plans, a popular item goes out of stock.
That can be a bummer during the lead-up to Christmas since it might be an item customers are hoping to buy as a gift. That’s why it’s vital you get the word out as soon as it becomes available again.
Use this Christmas email template to spread the word and prevent shoppers from reverting to their Plan B gift idea.
Subject line: It’s back! [Item name] is restocked
Email body copy: Hey friends,
Good news—our [product name] is back in stock!
Follow the link below to buy online, and order before December 20 to get it for Christmas. Or purchase online and pick it up in-store.
Thanks again for your patience and happy holidays.
Template to try: This cheery template is perfect for delivering good holiday news—namely, that your product is back in stock!
Bonus tip: Include an “add me to the waitlist” button on ecommerce pages for out-of-stock items. Link that waitlist to your email marketing platform, so it automatically creates a list of interested shoppers. As soon as the item is back in stock, draft your email and send it to that segmented email list.
9. Last day for guaranteed shipping by Christmas
Waiting until the last minute to pick up gifts is fine if a customer is shopping in person. But with online shopping, your customers need to plan ahead.
Let them know what your cutoff date is for guaranteeing delivery by Christmas. This Christmas email template helps you do just that, plus provides those procrastinators with an alternative way to do some last-minute gifting.
Subject line: Shop online by [date] for guaranteed delivery by Xmas
Email body copy: Greetings, holiday shoppers!
As you make your shopping list and check it twice, remember to allow time for our elves to ship your packages. We can only guarantee Christmas delivery on orders placed by [cutoff date].
Need a last-minute gift? Stop by and see us in person. We’ll be open late on the days leading up to Christmas:
[insert holiday store hours ahead of the holiday]
Or, order an e-gift certificate online and enjoy immediate delivery to your recipient’s inbox.
Template to try: This template has a holiday package front-and-center, which ties in with the purpose of your email.
10. Shipping updates or delays
Back in 2022, the USPS processed 13.2 billion pieces of mail during the holiday season. Between the sheer volume and the potential for inclement weather, you know that shipping delays are a possibility.
Whether you fall victim to shipping delays that hinder inventory’s arrival at your store or you expect delays in shipping to customers, it’s best to get out ahead of the issue. Let your customers know as soon as you’re aware a delay is possible, and offer your sincere apologies alongside solutions.
Email subject: Shipping delay on your package
Email body copy: Hi [name],
We’re reaching out to let you know about a delay we’re experiencing in shipping your order [include order number].
Unfortunately, [explain circumstances of the delay].
We understand that this may be a holiday gift, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this may cause.
[Offer potential solutions. This may include a date you know it will ship by, a discount on a future order, or the potential for the customer to get a full refund.]
Sincerely,
[Name of business owner/customer service lead]
Template to try: This template emphasizes words over images, ensuring your important update about a customer’s order doesn’t get missed.
11. Christmas email template for a change in operating hours
Many businesses change their schedule for the holidays. Whether you’re extending hours to allow for last-minute shopping or closing early to give your staff time with loved ones, let your customers know!
Update your Google Business Profile with accurate holiday hours so anyone who searches for your business has the heads-up. Then, use email to communicate the news to your regular customers.
Email subject: Announcing our holiday hours 🕑
Email body copy: The holidays are here! As we head into this joyous season, we wanted to share our holiday hours with you.
[Include an overview of your holiday hours, both in the weeks leading up to major holidays and on the days themselves.]
Template to try: This template can help you spell out your holiday hours.
12. Last-minute Christmas gift ideas email template
This one is for the procrastinators on your email list. Some customers might leave their shopping until December 23 or Christmas Eve. This is the email they need to save themselves from holiday embarrassment.
Email subject line: Last-minute gift ideas inside!
Email header: Last-Minute Christmas Gifts?
Email subhead: We’ve Got You Covered
Intro copy: Who hasn’t fallen victim to the last-minute gift scramble at least once? If it’s your turn this year, we’ve got incredible last-minute gift ideas that will make your loved ones think you did your shopping months ago.
Join us in-store until [include store hours for the relevant days between now and Christmas] and pick up gifts like these:
[Include some in-store items]
Or, send an e-gift card! Order online today and schedule it to arrive in your recipients’ inbox on Christmas morning.
CTA: Shop e-Gift Cards
Template to try: This playful template makes your message to last-minute shoppers feel cheery, not shaming.
13. Simple Merry Christmas email template for customers
Customers love to feel appreciated. One of the simplest messages a brand can send at the end of a hectic holiday season is one of thanks.
Whether you wish your customers a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, or simply express gratitude, this heartfelt Christmas message can go a long way to building customer loyalty.
Email subject: Merry Christmas from [business name]
Email body copy: Dear [name],
The holidays are a time to express gratitude for the blessings in your life, and we couldn’t be more grateful to count you as one of our customers.
Thank you for supporting [Business name] throughout the year, and from our families to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
With Appreciation,
[Business owner name]
Template to try: This simple Christmas email template is the perfect accompaniment to your understated holiday message.
14. Post-Christmas sale email template
Just because Christmas is over doesn’t mean your marketing opportunities end! With 65% of consumers making a plan to shop between Christmas and New Year’s Day, you still have ample opportunity to bring revenue in the door in 2024.
Create an email touting a Boxing Day sale or last sale of the year to convince shoppers to add your store to their list.
Email subject line: 2024 isn’t over yet! Join us for one last sale
Email body copy: We’re still not done spreading holiday cheer! Join us December 26-31 for even more incredible deals on these items:
[Include images of items or categories of items that will be part of the sale.]
Or shop online and enjoy our extended free holiday shipping on all orders.
CTA: Shop Now
Stop by for one last hurrah in 2024!
Template to try: The unconventional color scheme on this Christmas email template makes it ideal for an after-Christmas sale email.
Christmas email templates to spread cheer and generate sales
There’s a lot of vital information you must communicate to your audience during the busy holiday season. From promoting sales to providing updates on order statuses, take some time before the holidays to plan and draft the emails you might need.
Then, when the excitement begins, you’ll be ready to meet the moment with email communications that keep your audience comforted and joyful. For more help bringing these Christmas email templates to life, see how our solutions can build you successful holiday marketing campaigns with ease.
Looking for additional Christmas marketing resources? We’ve got you covered:
- Christmas Social Media Posts & Slogans for Merrier Marketing (+Free Templates)
- December Email Subject Lines for Last-Minute ROI
- Clever & Catchy Holiday Marketing Slogans
- Happy Holiday Marketing & Promotion Ideas
- Perfectly-Worded Christmas & Holiday Greetings
- Holiday Emails for Customers (Templates & Examples!)
- Free & Ready-to-Publish Christmas Social Media Posts (+Canva Templates!)
- Happy New Year Email Templates & Subject Lines
- January Email Subject Lines to Kick Off the New Year
- New Year’s Social Media Post Ideas & Instagram Captions That Pop (+Free Templates!)
