Monthly Email Planner: September Edition [2024]

As September approaches, it’s the perfect time to start planning your email marketing campaigns. With so many exciting holidays and themes this month, getting ahead of the game is essential to engage your audience and boost your sales.

That’s where our guide comes in to help you create amazing fall-themed messages, connect with your audience, and reach your marketing goals. You’ll also get handy tips and strategies to make your campaigns as effective as possible.

In our September email planner, we’ll explore key holidays like Labor Day, National Coffee Day, and worldwide events you can turn into great educational and promotional campaigns.

Lastly, we’ll uncover the strategies and tools you need to ace your September email marketing.

Email Planner for September: What to Send

The following campaigns will allow you to engage your audience with timely and relevant content throughout September.

Here’s an overview of the holidays and inter/national days we’ll cover:

• Pre-fall campaigns: Mid-August till early September
• Back-to-School promotions: Late August till mid-September
• Fall-themed campaigns: Throughout September
• Labor Day: First Monday of September
• National Grandparents Day: First Sunday after Labor Day
• National Cheeseburger Day: September 18
• Mid-Autumn Festival: The date varies, usually in September
• International Day of Peace: September 21
• National Coffee Day: September 29
• Beginning of Oktoberfest: Late September (varies each year)

Essential step: You’ll need a calendar to start planning your email marketing strategy. Create yours by checking out our email marketing calendar template and guide.

Now let’s see what your September email planner entails.

1. Pre-Fall Campaigns

As summer winds down, it’s the perfect time to capture your customers’ attention with fresh, exciting products and deals.

You can showcase what’s new in your store and entice customers to start the new season with your latest offers.

Pre-fall campaigns aren’t only for eCommerce stores. SaaS businesses can also use them to target their audiences with special offers to start the new season.

Email campaign: Re-engage your audience with a post-summer kickoff, highlighting new collections and special offers.

When to send: Ideally, from mid-August to early September.

Subject lines: Showcase new arrivals to build up hype and curiosity. Consider using relevant emojis for a playful touch.

• Pre-Fall 2023: Presenting Planet Camo (Diesel)
• So Deer to Me: Introducing Pre-Fall 2023 (Gucci)
• PRE-FALL SHOP! Inklings of Autumn 🍂 (Adored Vintage)

Email copy: Build excitement about new products and seasonal changes. Highlight the benefits of the new products and how they can help refresh the customers’ wardrobes or homes after summer.

Visuals: Use high-quality visuals that symbolize a new beginning, such as autumn colors, leaves, cloudy weather, and cozy settings. Also, incorporate high-quality images of your new products.

CTAs: “Explore Now,” “Shop Pre-Fall,” “Discover More”

Example: KOTN

Here’s a great pre-fall campaign by KOTN that has a beautiful visual, clear copy, and a straightforward CTA to lead potential customers back to their website.

Email subject line: Introducing Pre-fall 2023

Further reading: Need more inspiration? Look at our step-by-step fashion email marketing guide for additional tips and examples.

2. Back-to-School Promotions

As the new school year approaches, parents and students are on the lookout for great deals on essential items. This is the perfect time to attract shoppers by offering special discounts on a wide range of back-to-school products.

Also, you can use the theme to promote non-school-related items and target various audiences, not just parents and students.

Email campaign: Create a series of emails that highlight various categories of products. Start with a teaser that introduces your back-to-school sale and follow up with targeted emails focusing on specific categories like school supplies, trendy clothing, accessories, and essential electronics.

When to send: Late August till mid-September. You can also run extended back-to-school campaigns till the end of September.

Subject lines: Highlight special discounts to attract attention. Add urgency with time-sensitive offers to encourage quick action. Also, personalize your creations when possible to address specific needs or customer segments.

• Back To School Savings! Get $15 Off Your Online Grocery Order Now! (Coborn)
• Back-to-school style from Burberry Kids and more (Burberry)
• Go WILD For Back To School 🦁🌿 + Enjoy FREE SHIPPING (SoYoung)

Email copy: Focus on practicality and savings, promote popular items, and emphasize the ease of getting everything in one place. Use friendly, helpful language that addresses the needs of your target audience.

Visuals: Mainly school-themed visuals. If your campaign is for a different target audience, incorporate vibrant colors and playful fonts to attract attention to your products.

CTAs: “Shop Back to School,” “Save Now,” “Get Ready”

Example: Caudalie

Here’s a beautiful back-to-school email campaign from beauty brand Caudalie, using product images, pastels, and compelling copy to get customers to renew their beauty product stack.

Email subject line: Your Back-To-School Skincare Routine

Further reading: You can find more examples in our email marketing for beauty brands guide.

3. Fall-Themed Email Campaigns

As customers are eager to update their wardrobes and homes, a fall-themed email can showcase your newest products that reflect the cozy, warm, and vibrant spirit of fall.

These campaigns are perfect for promoting everything, from clothes and electronics to gym memberships and home décor. Just give your email a fall vibe and you’re ready to go.

Email campaign: Create a series of drip emails that highlight various categories of new fall products. Start with a general overview email that introduces your fall collection. Then, follow up with targeted emails focusing on specific products.

When to send: Throughout September.

Subject lines: Create urgency with phrases like “Fall Deals Ending Soon–Shop Now!” and use fall-related emojis or imagery, such as leaves or pumpkins.

• All in for autumn 🍂 (Levi’s)
• 🍂 Leaf meal planning to us this fall (Home Chef)
• Fall in Love with Autumn-Inspired Duos 🍁 (EM Cosmetics)

Email copy: Use storytelling to connect with your audience. Incorporate personalized messages and excite your audience by introducing your new products.

Visuals: Use rich, autumnal colors like oranges, browns, and deep reds. By aligning your marketing with the seasonal change, you can tap into your customers’ enthusiasm for renewal.

CTAs: “Shop Fall Collection,” “Discover Fall/Autumn Deals,” “Fall in love”

Example: Natura Siberica

Here’s a great example from Natura Siberica, using the fall theme to enhance the “cozy” vibe and promote their new collection.

Email subject line: Get cozy this Autumn with Organic Shop 🍂

Tip: You can even use weather-based sequences to target your audience based on the weather conditions of your email list.

For instance, send an email during the first rainfall of the season to offer customers relevant items (umbrellas, raincoats, etc.). Find out more by signing up for a free Moosend account.

4. Labor Day Sales

Labor Day couldn’t be absent from your September email planner. This holiday will allow you to attract customers with special promotions and coupons regardless of your industry.

You can also include value-added content such as party make-up tips, barbecue recipes, or party hosting advice, complemented by engaging visuals and clear CTAs.

Email campaign: Start with a teaser email to build anticipation. Follow up with a series of emails highlighting special deals and promotions as the holiday approaches. You can showcase specific offers and send a final reminder the day before Labor Day to capture last-minute shoppers.

When to send: The week before Labor Day.

Subject lines: Add urgency and highlight the benefits of your products. Use phrases like “Ends at Midnight!” or “Limited Time Only,” and consider festive language and emojis to stand out.

• Labor Day Sale! 40% OFF SITEWIDE (Tommie Copper)
• Hey VIP! Here’s Your Early Access to the Labor Day Sale (Joybird)
• 💡Here’s an idea: Early Labor Day savings (Leesa)

Email copy: Capture the spirit of Labor Day with a friendly and celebratory copy. Also, you can personalize your messages and give your customers a guaranteed delivery date to encourage them to place their orders in time for their celebrations.

Visuals: Use red, white, and blue colors, and images of barbecues and family gatherings to match the holiday theme or go for something more subtle.

CTAs: “Shop Now,” “Don’t Miss Out,” “Shop Labor Day Specials”

Example: Gibsons Steak Shop

A great Labor Day example from Gibsons Steak Shop. The copy creates urgency and highlights special offers, encouraging immediate action with a clear delivery date and enticing discounts.

Email subject line: Order Now for Labor Day Weekend 🥩

Further reading: Find more email marketing tips and examples in our dedicated email marketing for restaurants guide.

5. National Grandparents Day

National Grandparents Day is a unique opportunity that many businesses overlook.

You can offer gift recommendations and special discounts, helping customers solve the common pain point of finding the perfect gift for their loved ones.

Email campaign: Begin with a teaser email about a week before National Grandparents Day. Then, follow up with another message featuring gift categories, such as personalized items, home accessories, etc.

When to send: The actual holiday is on the first Sunday after Labor Day, so anything in between these two works.

Subject lines: Focus on the emotional aspect and the unique nature of the day. Use phrases like “Show Your Love This Grandparents Day” or “Special Gifts for the Grandparents You Love,” and consider adding emojis to make your emails stand out.

• Show your Grandparents how much you love them (Misty’s Florist)
• Celebrate Grandparents Day with Heartfelt Gifts and Exclusive Discounts!
• Show Your Love This Grandparents Day – Special Gifts Inside!

Email copy: Emphasize family values and highlight how your products can make thoughtful and meaningful gifts. You can also share stories or testimonials from other customers to inspire your audience.

Visuals: Warm, cozy colors and images of grandparents with grandchildren.

CTAs: “Shop Gifts,” “Celebrate with Us,” “Give Love”

Example: Blurb

Here’s an example from Blurb, using family-oriented language that emphasizes a meaningful gift idea—a personalized memory book.

The visuals are engaging, and the clear CTA encourages recipients to explore more gift ideas.

Email subject line: A Special Gift for Grandparents

6. National Cheeseburger Day

Food-related businesses can engage their audience with mouth-watering deals and limited-time offers.

Not in the cheeseburger business?

You can promote related and complementary items, such as beverages, desserts, and more. Even beauty brands can showcase their best lipsticks for eating and call their campaign “Cheeseburger vs. [Your lipstick product].”

Email campaign: Restaurants and fast-food chains can offer special discounts, combo deals, and limited-time menu items. Grocery stores can highlight discounts on cheeseburger ingredients and share recipes. Cookware brands can also promote grills, frying pans, and burger presses with bundle deals.

When to send: Before September 18 and during the national day. If it’s on a weekend, you can extend your offers and have a two-day celebration.

Subject lines: Make them fun by adding a burger or cheese emoji. Also, don’t forget to include urgency and highlight your special deals.

• The summer burger crawl starts with this awesome combo. (Home Chef)
• $4 Off Your Order + It’s a Big Night for Burgers (Postmates)
• Fall Fun | Buy 4 Ribeye, Get 4 Burgers Free (Gibsons)

Email copy: Use entertaining language to get your audience in the mood. Highlight special discounts or items and emphasize the joy of celebrating with delicious cheeseburgers.

Visuals: Cheeseburger-themed images and vibrant colors.

CTAs: “Order Now,” “Get the Deal,” “Burger up!”

Example: Julie Blanner

Here’s a great email from Julie Blanner, showing how even bloggers can take advantage of the special day.

Email subject line: It’s National Burger Day! Get the juicy recipes!

Further reading: If you want more tips to promote your blog through email, check our email marketing for bloggers post.

7. Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a major celebration in many East Asian cultures, making it a great addition to your September email planner to connect with your audience through themed promotions.

If you have segments based on location, this is the perfect opportunity to target them with a beautiful campaign.

Email campaign: Promote the Mid-Autumn Festival with mooncakes, lanterns, and family gathering products. Highlight special offers on traditional festival items and create a warm, family-oriented atmosphere in your promotions.

When to send: As the date varies, you need to check when the actual festival is. In 2024, it’s on September 17. In 2025, it’s on October 6.

Subject lines: Use engaging language and emojis to capture the festive spirit of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

• “Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with Us!”
• “Mooncakes and Lanterns – Mid-Autumn Festival Specials!”
• “Join the Mid-Autumn Celebration!”

Email copy: Emphasize family, tradition, and celebration. Highlight special offers on various products to celebrate the festival. You can also encourage customers to take part in the festivities and share how your products can enhance their experience.

Visuals: Incorporate traditional colors like red and gold. High-quality images of your products can drive engagement and interest.

CTAs: “Shop Festival Deals,” “Celebrate with Us,” “Discover Traditions”

Example: Notebook Therapy

To celebrate the festival, Notebook Therapy created a special collection for its customers. The copy uses warm and friendly language, inviting subscribers to celebrate with their loved ones.

The brand also offers a 15% discount on the thematic collection for “an extra special celebration.” That’s a great way to promote your sales and join the festive spirit.

Email subject line: mid-autumn moon is here!

8. International Day of Peace

The International Day of Peace will allow brands to demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility.

By promoting peace and awareness campaigns, brands can connect with their audience on a deeper level and show that they care about important issues, not just making sales.

Email campaign: Create a campaign with ways to support peace, such as promoting donations for a good cause, creating special products where part of the profit will be given to a relief fund, and showcasing your brand’s philanthropic work.

When to send: Before and on September 21.

Subject lines: Draw attention to your initiatives with professional and meaningful language.

• Make time for peace, love, and harmony (Timex)
• International Day of Peace: Spread Love and Harmony
• Join Us in Celebrating International Day of Peace 🕊️

Email copy: Use your copy to promote peace and awareness. Highlight initiatives, events, and products that support peace. Avoid fluff to create a meaningful campaign.

Visuals: You can add images featuring peace symbols, doves, and beautiful sceneries. Incorporate soft colors like white and blue.

CTAs: “Support Peace,” “Join the Movement,” “Learn More”

Example: Wendell August Forge

Here’s a good example from Wendell August Forge featuring a product that fits the international day well and email copy that’s meaningful.

Email subject line: Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.

9. National Coffee Day

Everyone loves coffee – well, almost everyone. National Coffee Day is the perfect occasion to engage your audience with enticing promotions on their favorite brews, coffee-related accessories, and even food.

This day provides an excellent opportunity to boost sales and connect with coffee enthusiasts. Don’t forget to show some love to tea lovers with special deals on tea products as well.

Email campaign: Coffee brands can promote their best brews, coffee subscriptions, and accessories like mugs and grinders. For other brands, such as beauty companies, highlight coffee-scented products, bath items, and scrubs. This not only broadens your appeal but also ties into the coffee theme.

When to send: Send a teaser before the national day to get your coffee lovers ready for your sale. Then, deliver an extra special deal for them on September 29 to celebrate.

Subject lines: Use actionable language (e.g., get your morning coffee at a discount) to attract coffee enthusiasts, and include a sense of urgency to boost engagement.

• ☕ Freshly brewed lip loves for International Coffee Day! (MAC Cosmetics)
• Up to $100 OFF! Happy National Coffee Day! (Bed, Bath & Beyond)
• IT’S COFFEE DAY, Y’ALL (Death Wish Coffee)

Email copy: Use energetic language to match the day, and offer special discounts, combos, limited-time items, or freebies.

Visuals: Add coffee-themed images and colors like brown and cream.

CTAs: “Get Your Coffee,” “Shop Now”

Example: BLK & Bold

Here’s how BLK & Bold celebrates National Coffee Day with a special “buy 2, get 1” offer.

Email subject line: ☕ Celebrate National Coffee Day with BLK & Bold: Buy 2, Get 1 FREE!

Further reading: If you have a small business and want to find out more about email marketing, take a look at our email marketing for small businesses guide.

10. Get ready for Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is a globally recognized celebration, making it a great opportunity to engage your audience with festive promotions on beer, German food, and related party supplies.

This is an ideal time to boost sales by tapping into the celebratory spirit of the festival.

Email campaign: You can celebrate the beginning of Oktoberfest with promotions on beer, German food, clothing items, and related products.

When to send: Mid-September. Then, continue with follow-ups till the end of the month to get your customers ready for the actual holiday in October.

Subject lines: Use actionable language to draw attention to your promotions. Celebrate the beginning of Oktoberfest with excitement and use emojis to enhance the festive feel.

• Supper Special: Emma’s Oktoberfest Dinner (The Hotel Emma)
• Time for A Beer Party! (Happy Socks)
• Wurst year ever… (Chubbies)

Email copy: Use festive language to capture the spirit of Oktoberfest. Highlight discounts on Oktoberfest-related products (check our example) and encourage customers to join the celebration.

Visuals: Use Oktoberfest-related visuals featuring beer mugs, pretzels, and traditional German decorations. Incorporate colors like blue, green, and white.

CTAs: “Shop Oktoberfest Deals,” “Celebrate Now,” “Raise a Glass”

Example: Red Bull Online Shop

Below is a great example from the Red Bull shop, showing how various brands can target the holiday with special offers.

Email subject line: A tradition that never gets old! 🥨

Essential Tools to Create & Send Your Emails

Before we look at some more tips and templates, here are a few marketing tools you can use to create effective and engaging email campaigns.

• Moosend: An all-in-one email marketing platform that offers a variety of newsletter templates, email automation features, and analytics to help you create and manage your campaigns effortlessly. Moosend’s UI makes it easy to personalize and schedule your emails, ensuring your fall campaigns are timely and relevant. You can try the email service provider by signing up for a free account.
• Canva: This design tool allows you to create stunning visuals for your email campaigns, including banners, infographics, and social media posts. With Canva, you can incorporate fall-themed elements like autumn leaves, pumpkins, and warm color palettes to make your emails visually appealing.
• Stripo: An email template builder that lets you create responsive and interactive email designs. Stripo offers a wide range of customization options and pre-designed templates. It also comes with numerous integrations to easily export your creations to your email tool.
• Unsplash: A library of high-quality, royalty-free images for your email campaigns. Unsplash offers a wide selection of fall-specific images, such as autumn landscapes, cozy home scenes, and seasonal foods, which can make your emails more relatable and attractive.
• Pinterest Trends: Use it to discover popular fall trends and themes. This tool can inspire your email content and help you stay ahead of seasonal trends.

Now, to get some inspiration, let’s check out some of the best newsletter templates for your September email campaigns.

September Email Newsletter Templates

Using templates will let you simplify the process of creating your email campaigns.

Moosend offers a wide variety of pre-made designs for different themes and holidays. You can customize them with the user-friendly editor and add various advanced elements, such as countdown timers, GIFs, dynamic content for new subscribers, and more.

Plus, after setting up your emails, you can schedule them and wait for the results to roll in.

Below, you’ll find some great designs to save time and effort. To use them for your fall email marketing all you need to do is sign up for a free account.

Pre-fall, fall-themed & back-to-school template

Here’s a great design you can easily customize and turn into a pre-fall, fall-themed, or back-to-school campaign.

Customize it

Tips to customize this template:

• Colors: Use a mix of summer and fall colors for pre-fall, rich autumnal tones for fall-themed, and vibrant colors for back-to-school.
• Visuals: Add images of fashion arrivals for pre-fall, fall visuals like leaves and pumpkins, and school-related visuals like books and backpacks.
• Copy: Emphasize refreshing wardrobes for pre-fall, use cozy language for fall arrivals, and focus on practicality and savings for back-to-school.

Labor Day, mid-Autumn festival & Oktoberfest template

Here’s another Moosend template you can easily customize to suit your needs and make your September email planning easier.

Customize it

Tips to customize this template:

• Colors: Use red, white, and blue for Labor Day; blue and white for Oktoberfest.
• Visuals: Add images of barbecues and family gatherings for Labor Day; beer mugs and pretzels for Oktoberfest.
• Copy: Use festive and energetic language for Labor Day sales; lively and festive language for Oktoberfest promotions.

Inter/national days template

Take advantage of the following pre-made design to create your own inter/national day celebrations.

Customize it

Tips to customize this template:

• Colors: Tweak the color scheme to match the specific holiday. For instance, use warm and cozy colors for National Grandparents Day, and bright, appetizing colors for National Cheeseburger Day.
• Visuals: Integrate images that reflect each holiday. Prefer high-quality images that include people and/or products.
• Copy: Tailor the language to fit the theme of each day and show the value of purchasing from you.

For more, check our international days templates.

Email Marketing Best Practices for September Campaigns

Now that we’ve seen some templates to get started, let’s explore some email best practices, from personalizing your messages to A/B testing your content.

Add storytelling elements

Engage your audience with email storytelling to make your messages more relatable and memorable. Use narratives that resonate with your audience’s experiences and emotions during September.

For example, share stories about back-to-school preparations, the excitement of Labor Day gatherings, or the anticipation of fall activities.

Storytelling can create deeper customer relationships, humanize your brand, and make your campaigns more impactful.

Here’s an email storytelling example from Chubbies:

Personalize your email content

Personalization is a game-changer, not only for the eCommerce industry that already uses marketing automation to create more targeted emails (abandoned cart emails, recommendations, etc.), but also for SaaS, agencies, retailers, and more.

According to Salesforce, 73% of customers expect better message personalization as technology moves forward. Regardless of your industry, you can use this tactic in any campaign simply by adding your recipient’s first name to your email body copy.

To take it a step further, you can tailor your recommendations based on past purchases or browsing history to make your messages more relevant. Email segmentation based on demographics, for instance, will let you target your audience with content that corresponds to their specific interests and needs.

In our case, you can target segments like back-to-school shoppers, Labor Day celebrants, and those interested in fall fashion.

Here’s a great example by Sephora to get inspired:

For an extra boost in your email open rates and click-throughs, you can also personalize your subject lines. Just add your subscriber’s name or use language like “for you,” “VIP,” etc. This will give your campaign a more personalized touch.

Further reading: Check our dedicated guide for more subject line best practices.

If you need a platform that makes personalization easy, Moosend offers a selection of user-friendly features to tailor your content based on your subscribers’ preferences.

Try Moosend

Find the best time to send your campaign

Did you know that timing is everything when it comes to successful email marketing? For your fall-themed campaigns, we suggest sending your emails on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as these days generally perform well.

For dedicated holidays, make sure to send teasers a week before to ensure your subscribers know about your sale.

Regarding the best time to send your emails, early mornings (around 8 AM) till early afternoons (2-3 PM) are often good times to catch your audience when they are likely to check their emails.

A/B test your messages

A/B testing is an essential (and very efficient) tool for optimizing your email campaigns.

You can experiment with varying styles of email copy to determine what resonates best with your audience. Also, you can test different subject lines to see which ones get the highest open rates and different send times to identify when your emails are most likely to be opened.

Lastly, use the data from your A/B tests to refine and improve your email campaigns, ensuring that each one performs better than the last.

Further reading: Learn more in our detailed A/B testing guide.

Get Your Email Marketing Ready for September

In your September email planner, we covered key strategies, from crafting compelling subject lines and using personalized copy to choosing the right visuals and timing your emails for optimal open rates.

Now, you can start planning your campaigns early to ensure everything is ready for the fall season. Tailor your emails to reflect the themes and holidays of September, and don’t forget to use A/B testing to optimize your messages for the best results.

If you’re looking for a platform that simplifies this process, Moosend offers a variety of user-friendly tools and templates to help you create effective email campaigns effortlessly.

Start early, plan your strategies, and get your September email marketing ready to engage your audience and drive sales.

FAQs

Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions to help you get started.

1. What to say in a September newsletter?

In a September newsletter, focus on the upcoming fall season and relevant holidays. Highlight back-to-school promotions, Labor Day sales, and fall-themed product launches. Mention any special events or sales you’re running and include helpful tips or content that resonates with the seasonal change, such as fall fashion trends or autumn home decor ideas.

2. What is the best time for email marketing?

The best time for email marketing generally falls on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For fall-themed campaigns, late mornings (around 10 AM) or early afternoons (1-2 PM) are ideal times to catch your audience when they are likely to check their emails. Additionally, sending teasers a week before dedicated holidays can help build anticipation and ensure your subscribers are aware of upcoming sales.

3. What are the fall colors for email marketing?

Fall colors for email marketing typically include rich, warm tones that reflect the season. Think of oranges, browns, deep reds, and golds. These colors create a cozy, inviting atmosphere and can be used to highlight seasonal promotions and products.