137 Catchy Retail Subject Lines Ideas Guaranteed To Drive Sales

Pat Walls

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Updated: May 13th, 2021

If you're looking to boost your email open rates and increase sales, your email subject line is the first (and most important) step in achieving those goals.

Did you know that 33% of email recipients open emails because of an engaging subject line?

That's why it's critical to craft a catchy email subject line that will get you the traffic and conversions you deserve.

We've put together a list of 137 catchy retail subject lines ideas guaranteed to drive sales.

Some are proven examples from other successful campaigns, and some are creative ideas to inspire you.

Creative Email Subject Line Ideas

HP: Solve all your printing problems
Free product with purchase of [product name]
Rip Curl: Two for two
Sephora: Psst! You’ll want to pass this one on…
HP: Stop wasting money on ink
Nissan: Sign up to be notified when Titan XD arrives
Nissan: Go green in 2016 with a new eco-friendly car
Guess: Free shipping extended
La Mer: A little luxury at a great price
UNIQLO: TICK TOCK! Free shipping ends tonight
Pizza Hut: New toppings. New dinner plans.
Topshop: Meet your new jeans
TODAY. Post [holiday] Flash Sale! 2 for $20
Sephora: You’re invited: 10% off for Beauty Insiders
Last chance! Be sure to grab the best price!
Jersey Mike’s Subs: Enjoy a birthday gift on us
Email subscriber exclusive: [Product name] sale is here
Earn double points for [insert product or action].
Rapha: Last chance to get 25% off all base layers
Pizza Hut: Friday night discounts you don’t want to miss
Sephora: Bring a friend to our VIP party
Nissan: Your inside look at the all-new 2017 Nissan Armada
Pizza Hut: Feed your guests without breaking the bank
Sephora: Get insider tips on our Facebook page
[New Product] has arrived. Order now before we run out.
Converse: See the best deals on Facebook
Rip Curl: Pass on the savings
Mercedes-Benz: Luxury awaits
Rapha: Complimentary gift wrap on all purchases
HP: Flash. Sale. Alert.
Nissan: Bring a friend to our event and save
Guess: Tonight only: A denim lover’s dream
Seafolly: A new product you won’t pass on
Nissan: Weekend sale. Inventory you need to see.
Top 10 under $10
The [your company] holiday catalog is here!
Converse: Converse custom prints for spring
Converse: Hundreds of new markdowns added today
De Beers: Uncover your bridal style
You’re Invited! New Product Launch Party at [Your company]
HP: Save big on ink
IKEA: Storage problems solved
Everything you need when the temperatures [rise, fall]
Birchbox: Tell a friend. Get a month free.
Extended for a day! Get Free shipping through Friday
IKEA: Get more kitchen space with these easy fixes
Want 20% off your next order?
La Mer: Exclusive offer: Free samples of award-winning facial masks
Online only: 25% off friends and family
Best Sellers Every [girl, boy, man, woman, dog, etc.] Needs
Last chance to get 50% off!
Alice & Olivia: LAST.DAY.DROP.EVERYTHING.
Guess: Wanted: Cute and affordable fashions
IKEA: Save with this week’s flyer
Introducing our latest…[product/feature here]
Le Mer: 8-minute miracles. Try these products.
Mango: LAST FEW HOURS to enjoy 30% off the entire collection!
HP: New must-haves for your office
[Hot, Cold?] Stay indoors and save.
Last minute deals, special offers, and new [product name]
Guess: Refer a friend and save big
Guess: Stay in the know. Follow us on Twitter.
IKEA: Deals for a fresh new look
Ends Today! 20% Off Friends & Family
Enjoy [season] with rates from $65
Topshop: Get a head start on summer
Your choice of amazing items $50 + under
An Exclusive Offer for You
Yours in 2 days (free shipping!) + 40% off
Sephora: Ends today: Get 10% off all purchases
25-40% off – Email-Only Offer – Today Only
IKEA: Where do all these toys go?
Topshop: Minimal and cool, the new collection is here
Limited Supply: Limit 2 [product name] per customer
Guess: 25% off your favorites
Guess: Don’t wear last year’s styles.
Exciting new changes at [your company]
Sephora: Your beauty issues, solved
Rapha: Gift inspiration for the discerning cyclist
De Beers: Her style awaits
Enjoy this Special Offer at Our New Location
[Product name] Promotion week. Save 25%
Don’t miss this! Extra 50% off sale ends tonight!
Dropps: Get 15% off, but move quick.
Ends Today: Take 20% off your entire order
La Mer: Age-defying beauty tricks
Great gifts for [Dad, Mom, etc]
Don’t Let These Get Away
Topshop: Shop now. Save big.
Rapha: The new Brevet Windblock Jersey
Guess: Last chance to earn $100 to shop

Limited Supply: Limit 2 [product name] per customer

[Your company] October Specials

Coolest modern desk on the job...for $149 (retailer including price in the subject line)

Everything you need when the temperatures [rise, fall]

Stock up and save 15%

Top 10 under $10

Introducing our latest…[product/feature here]

In our store: Last minute Mother's Day combo ready to go (retailer getting the last minute shoppers with a catch "combo to go".)

Free product with purchase of [product name]

Earn double points for [insert product or action].

Manhattan View for a Song in the Shower (retailer selling shower curtain with Manhattan skyline on it)

Act Now to renew your [subscription name]

Email subscriber exclusive: [Product name] sale is here

An Exclusive Offer for You

Great gifts for [Dad, Mom, etc]

Adorn Your Home Now & Through the Holidays (Home decor retailer)

Mind-Blowing Grenache (wine retailer)

Your choice of amazing items $50 + under

25-40% off - Email-Only Offer – Today Only

Take your pick: Our 9 Favorite Dresses (retailer suggesting by popularity)

Private Sale Ends Today

Ho-ho-ho: The [your company] holiday catalog is here!

Enjoy [season] with rates from $65

Best Sellers every [girl, boy, man, woman, dog, etc.]

Service Notice: Exciting new changes at [your company]

Enjoy this Special Offer at Our New Location

Free Shipping--Limited Time Offer

Last minute deals, special offers, and new [product name]

Score Great Savings on Game-Time Gear: HDTVs, Furniture & More (retailer selling TV's with a sports slant)

Free shipping - offer ends in 3 days

Ends Today! 20% Off Friends & Family

Ends Today: Take 20% off your entire order

10 Gift Ideas for your little ones (retailer listing top 10 suggestions for kids)

Sometimes all you need is a little vase lift (retailer selling vase's)

Celebrity Favorites (selling accessories that Hollywood is wearing)

Online only: 25% off friends and family

Invitation-Only 2 Hour Event Starts 11:30 AM CT

Temperatures Fall, Style Rises (retailer selling coats)

Last Chance: Get up to $25 now

[New Product] has arrived. Order now before we run out.

Save 10% on your next order

How La Perla got its name (retailer selling lingerie, telling a story inside the email)

We've got you covered from head to toe (retailer selling hats, shirts, pants and boots)

Party Like it's 1999 Aged Cabernet Special (wine retailer)

[Product name] Promotion week. Save 25%

Did you remember to get a gift? It's ok, we did. (retailer wanting to get people to register for gift reminders)

Extended for a day! Get Free shipping through Friday

GUIDE: How To Write A Great Subject Line

As we mentioned above, crafting a catchy subject line is critical to the performance of your email campaign.

While just a few words may seem like a small piece of your overall message, this is the first impression your audience will have before they decide whether to open your email.

If your subject line isn't engaging or appealing enough, there's a chance it could get buried in your reader's inbox.

Let's go over the proven tips on how to craft a subject line that boosts engagement:

What makes a great subject line?

First, let's discuss the fundamentals of creating a great subject line:

Spark interest and curiosity
A clear and urgent call to action
An offer/intriguing discount
Personalization (this can be done by sending out different versions of emails to subscribers based on their preferences)
Relevance - make sure your subject line covers the current trends and topics within your industry

5 Tips To Crafting a Great Subject Line

Now, let's dive into the specifics of how to create a great subject line for your next campaign:

1. Use a familiar sender name

Although this may seem obvious, it's a piece many marketers miss the ball on.

Your readers want to feel like your email is coming from a human and not a corporation or automated system.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to do this is by changing the sender's name to YOUR name or someone in the company that is well known.

Here's a great example of this from Marketing Examples

Pro Tip

Avoid the "no-reply" sender name at all costs. This makes your email feel unfamiliar, unapproachable, and less personable.

2. Keep your subject short and to the point

If your subject line is too long, it will get cut off, which could impact your reader's chances of opening your email.

The rule of thumb (for both mobile and desktop) is to keep your subject line under 50 characters.

3. Add personal touches to your subject line

If you have access to information about your subscriber (ie. name, location, etc), you can use this to benefit your subject line and catch your readers attention.

It's important not to go overboard here, but adding even the simplest touch such as their name can build trust and rapport.

Here's a great example of a personalized email + offer I received from BarkBox with my dog's name in the subject line:

4. Avoid making any false promises

Your subject line makes a commitment to your reader, so it's important you don't stretch the truth just to simply get more opens and clicks.

In the grand scheme of things, making false promises will end up hurting your open rate as your readers will lose trust in you.

5. Give them a sneak peek of what's inside

Telling your subscriber what is inside helps with open and clicks.

For example, if you're providing your reader with a free guide or e-book, consider making your subject line something along the lines of:

"Your FREE marketing e-book awaits!"

Conclusion

If you want your email campaign to perform well, it all starts with your subject line.

Think about the emails you receive in your inbox and what makes you click vs what gets buried - odds are, the same habits go for your customer.

We hope you enjoyed our guide + list of 137 catchy retail subject lines ideas guaranteed to drive sales.

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meet the author

Pat Walls