7 Smart Last-Minute Holiday Email Marketing Ideas [2025]

Sometimes, everything goes according to plan, and your holiday marketing campaigns roll out smoothly, bringing in the sales you hoped for.

However, sometimes things don’t go that well—your sales numbers might not reflect your efforts, or you were too busy and couldn’t schedule your campaigns on time.

If you find yourself in these situations, don’t worry. There are several ways to engage your audience and boost holiday sales without panicking.

Here are some great last-minute holiday email marketing ideas you can implement quickly and easily to capture your customers’ attention during this high season.

How to Get Ready for Last-Minute Holiday Email Marketing

Preparing for last-minute email marketing requires a strategic approach, especially if you didn’t have time to plan or if your holiday results haven’t met expectations.

Here are a few essentials to have on hand to ensure success despite the odds:

• Fresh ideas: Brainstorm quick campaign ideas for last-minute shoppers, like surprise flash sales, limited-time bundles, or exclusive discounts. These can create excitement and prompt immediate action.
• Premade templates: Save time by using pre-made email templates. Choose customizable designs to add your offers and brand visuals.
• Clear call-to-action (CTA): Prepare compelling CTAs to guide your customers toward the next step, whether purchasing or exploring your website. Strong CTAs can significantly enhance engagement and conversions.
• Segmentation lists: Select profitable segments from your email lists based on key customer behaviors and preferences. This lets you tailor messages effectively, ensuring your offers resonate with specific audiences and boost sales without the need for extensive segmentation.

7 Email Marketing Ideas to Save the Holidays

Get your email marketing platform ready. We’re about to explore creative ideas for salvaging the holiday season with impactful, quick-to-implement campaigns.

1. Create a surprise flash sale

Instead of worrying about missing the deadline, leverage the element of surprise by sending out flash sales at unexpected times. This creates excitement and caters to last-minute shoppers who may not have made purchases yet.

By offering unexpected deals, you can provide a deus ex machina solution to their pain points and encourage them to check their emails more frequently for exclusive offers.

For better results, include exclusive discounts or coupon codes that they can use during the flash sale. This encourages immediate action and adds value to their shopping experience, making it a win-win for both of you.

Here’s a great example from Modern Milk’s holiday flash sale:

Subject line: 🎄 Holiday Flash Sale: $100 Gift Cards for Just $75

This last-minute holiday email marketing idea promotes gift cards, which are straightforward and highly appealing gifts.

The clear visuals and concise copy highlight the limited-time offer, creating urgency with a specific deadline. This combination encourages quick purchases while ensuring the message is easily digestible.

Let’s see how to implement it:

• Find the best date: Check your calendar for the best day to surprise customers with an exclusive flash sale.
• Repurpose content: If time is of the essence, don’t spend too much time on your campaign. Repurpose old visuals or have your team come up with simple designs.
• Craft your subject lines: Use compelling subject lines like “Surprise! Flash Sale Starts Now—Hurry!” to grab attention.
• Use actionable CTAs: Include a clear call-to-action button like “Shop Now,” and a message saying, “Don’t miss out—these deals are gone in a flash!” This creates a fun and urgent shopping experience that encourages immediate action.

Additional resources

• Black Friday Email Subject Lines & Tips
• Holiday Newsletter Templates for Better Seasonal Campaigns

2. Offer limited-time bundles

Imagine giving your customers the perfect gift without them having to think too hard about it. That’s where bundles come in.

Curated product bundles at a discounted rate provide exceptional value and streamline the shopping experience, making it effortless for customers to find exactly what they need quickly.

Here’s an example from Soylent:

Subject line: Holiday Inspired Soylent Bundles

This holiday email campaign works well because it features appealing product bundles with festive visuals that grab attention.

The clear messaging emphasizes the value of the bundles, encouraging customers to enjoy a tasty and nutritious treat this season.

Here are some simple tips to implement this idea:

• Select bestsellers: Quickly choose a few best-selling products to bundle together, minimizing the time needed for selection.
• Use existing templates: Use email templates that effectively highlight bundles, allowing quick customization without starting from scratch.
• Create urgency: Emphasize that the bundle is available for a limited time (e.g., “Only available until December 24!”) to prompt immediate action from your subscribers.
• Highlight convenience: In your email, mention how the bundle takes the stress out of shopping, appealing to last-minute buyers who want a thoughtful gift without the hassle.

3. Countdown to the holidays with daily deals

If you’re looking for a fun way to keep your subscribers engaged, an email countdown with daily deals could be the answer.

For those who don’t have much time, consider turning a longer promotion into a focused 3-day countdown. This allows you to deliver maximum value in a shorter timeframe, generating excitement and encouraging quick purchases.

In addition, email countdowns can create a sense of urgency and boost engagement even for businesses that haven’t seen the results they hoped for. Daily highlights keep your customers interested and eager to see what’s next.

To save time, use pre-made holiday email templates to maintain a professional look for your promotions. These templates can be easily customized with your branding and offers, letting you focus on crafting engaging content that drives sales.

Try  Moosend’s templates

How to implement:

• Choose the right days: Select the key days to run your promotion. To maximize impact, these can be strategically placed close to the holidays, such as three consecutive days leading up to Christmas.
• Daily themes: Assign a theme or focus for each day. For example, Day 1 could feature discounts on festive drinks, Day 2 on holiday treats, and Day 3 on last-minute gift bundles. This keeps the content fresh and enticing.
• Engaging subject lines: Use catchy subject lines highlighting the countdown, such as “3 Days of Holiday Deals: Day 1 Starts Now!” This builds anticipation and encourages open rates.
• Visual countdown: Include a visual countdown timer in your emails to create urgency. Visuals can make the promotion feel more dynamic and prompt immediate action.
• Clear CTAs: Ensure each email has a clear call-to-action that directs customers to your deals. Phrases like “Shop Today’s Deal!” make it easy for subscribers to understand what you want them to do.

If you have time, you can create a workflow to trigger your promotions based on user actions. For example, you can retarget non-openers with additional campaigns or thank shoppers with thank-you messages and discounts.

4. Showcase customer-generated content

Social media is your best friend during the holidays, as it offers a platform to engage with customers and showcase how they use your products.

Encouraging customers to share photos or stories about their holiday experiences can significantly enhance your marketing efforts. You can then feature this user-generated content (UGC) in your emails to promote a sense of community and encourage others to connect with your brand.

This cross-promotion strategy involves leveraging platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and more to collect and showcase this content.

Let’s see how to find UGC on Instagram that you can later use in a quick campaign:

• Check tagged tab: Explore your tagged tab to quickly find posts from people who love your brand. You can reach out to them and even form collaborations with influencers.
• Engage with popular hashtags: Search for hashtags related to your brand or industry. If you sell beauty products, for example, explore hashtags like #BeautyCommunity or #HolidayGifts. This will help you find existing UGC that features your products or similar items.
• Use Instagram’s Explore page: Check the Explore page on Instagram to discover trending posts and content relevant to your niche. Look for posts that showcase your products or engage with your brand, and consider asking those users for permission to feature their content in your marketing campaigns.

Here’s an example we found on Fila Korea’s Instagram account:

Brands can use such opportunities to create beautiful user-generated email campaigns that resonate with other customers. That’s the magic of social proof. Just ensure you ask for permission before using your customers’ content. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

5. Run an exclusive “last chance” promotion

Another great last-minute holiday email marketing idea is to create a sense of urgency with last-chance promotions for popular items likely to sell out during the holiday rush.

Make it clear that this is their final opportunity to snag these items before they’re gone. This may be a last-minute email tactic, but your customers won’t even realize it—they’ll feel the excitement to act fast.

This tactic drives quick sales and helps clear your inventory as the holiday season ends.

Here’s an example from Ulta Beauty:

Here are some tips to implement it:

• Highlight scarcity: Use phrases like “Only a few left!” or “Last chance to get your favorites!” in your email subject lines and content. This creates urgency and encourages customers to act quickly to avoid missing out.
• Countdown timers: Use a good old countdown timer to visually reinforce the limited-time nature of your offers. Timers create a sense of urgency and motivate customers to purchase before time runs out.
• Feature best-sellers: Focus on promoting your best-selling or most popular items as part of the last-chance offer. Customers are more likely to respond to promotions for items that are already favorites.

6. Send themed product recommendations

Sending themed recommendations is another great last-minute holiday email marketing idea to engage your customers.

Think about popular trends like “Eco-Friendly Gifts” or “Last-Minute DIY Kits.” By curating selections that fit these themes, you make it easy for your customers to find what they’re looking for without the stress.

Plus, who doesn’t love a little inspiration when shopping? These tailored suggestions speak to their interests and make the gift-giving process more personal and enjoyable. It’s all about making their holiday shopping experience a breeze.

Here’s an example from MVMT’s holiday campaign:

Here’s how to implement this idea:

• Identify trends: Research popular holiday themes that resonate with your audience, such as sustainable gifting or unique experiences, to curate relevant products.
• Create eye-catching visuals: Use bright, festive images in your emails to showcase themed selections and help customers envision using your products.
• Highlight benefits: Clearly state the benefits of each theme. For example, explain how “Eco-Friendly Gifts” can positively impact the environment, appealing to thoughtful shoppers.

7. Share the holiday spirit

Sometimes, less is more, and taking a moment to express appreciation can leave a lasting impression (and help you make some surprising sales on the side).

Instead of focusing solely on promotions, consider sending heartfelt wishes and a small gift, such as a discount or free shipping.

This approach makes your message feel more organic and personal, promoting a sense of loyalty among your customers. You can craft a warm message that conveys gratitude for their support throughout the year and let them know how much they mean to your business.

Here’s how Bark did it:

And here’s how to make yours work:

• Craft a heartfelt message: Write genuine copy that reflects your appreciation. Use a friendly tone to create a personal connection.
• Include a small gift: Offer something valuable, like a percentage off their next purchase or free shipping. This adds a nice touch without coming off as overly salesy.
• Keep it simple: Design the email with a clean layout focusing on your gratitude message. Use visuals sparingly to keep the attention on your words.

Holiday Email Marketing Resources

Need more inspiration? Check out our dedicated guides.

• Holiday Email Marketing for Nonprofits: A Quick Guide
• Valentine’s Day Email Marketing: Tips, Ideas & Examples
• Holiday Newsletter Templates for Better Seasonal Campaigns
• Christmas Marketing Ideas To Revive The Holiday Spirit
• New Year Email Ideas And Examples

Last-Minute Holiday Email Marketing Ideas for Last-Minute Sales

As the holiday season draws to a close, it’s important to seize every opportunity to connect with your customers and drive those last-minute sales.

Implementing these last-minute holiday email ideas can help you recover lost momentum and create meaningful interactions that enhance customer loyalty. Remember, the key is to combine urgency with authenticity—your customers appreciate genuine communication just as much as they do great deals. So, infuse these strategies with your unique brand voice to create an engaging experience that boosts sales and spreads the holiday spirit.

To prepare for the next holiday season, sign up for a Moosend account and plan your campaigns in advance for even better results. You can find an array of pre-made templates and advanced elements (countdowns, scheduling tools, etc.) to ensure everything goes smoothly.