With Halloween spending reaching $12.2 billion, the occasion is definitely a treat for businesses. But how can you carve out your share of this pumpkin-sized market?
Your best bet is leveraging email marketing. With an ROI of $36 for every dollar spent, it’s an effective way to reach your customers.
So, if you’re ready to cast a spell on your audience, here are some Halloween email campaigns and useful tips for starting Halloween marketing for your business. Let’s begin.
18 Hauntingly Good Halloween Emails
Anyone can identify Halloween-themed emails within seconds of seeing it. Yet, slapping a bat next to a product or writing “15% off” on orange background isn’t enough.
You’ve got to get creative about Halloween puns and think of a Halloween email marketing campaign that stands out.
For inspiration, we’ve curated some winning Halloween email marketing campaigns.
Blue Apron — Teaser Email
Teaser emails build suspense, like any great Halloween story. You can create a Halloween themed teaser email by telling your subscribers to anticipate something great on Halloween.
Your message should give away enough to arouse curiosity and keep them guessing. Here’s a great example by Blue Apron:
Subject line: Forget the candy, this deal will be the sweetest one yet!
What we like:
- Great connection between pizza and Halloween;
- An intriguing subject line that compels the reader to open;
- Fun fact about the celebration to boost engagement.
Slice — Holiday-Themed Alignment Email
Creating a relevant holiday-themed email doesn’t cost a lot. Write some spooky copy and think of a themed design. If you’re creative, you can even go over the board with a scary concept, as your customers will love some Halloween fun during the spooky season.
Here’s how Slice did it with its Halloween-related email:
Subject line: What’s a ghost’s favorite dinner? 👻
What we like:
- Pizza rarely comes to mind when talking about Halloween, but the brand managed to find a connection through a common pain point;
- Posing a question in the subject line to answer in the email hooks the recipient to open it;
- A fun fact about the celebration further boosts engagement.
Send shivers down your customer spines with Halloween-themed email designs!
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A24 — Animated Halloween GIF Email
Including GIFs in your Halloween emails is an interesting way to beat the standard ‘black-orange’ holiday mood on Halloween.
While a spooky GIF of a witch might work, nothing beats freshness. For example, you can show your products in action through GIFs, like A24 did in its Halloween newsletter.
Subject line: Make room on your shelf for the Hereditary screenplay book
What we like:
- Minimal GIF focusing on product;
- Great choice of a book from the horror genre;
- Clever header showcasing value.
RXBAR — Trick or Treat Halloween Email
The email design isn’t the only Halloween-y attribute you can play with. You can make a creative spin around Halloween trick or treating in your email and promote your special offer.
Here’s an example by RXBAR that does the trick:
Subject line: 👻Don’t be scared, these snacks are simple!🎃
What we like:
- Clever header and subject line pointing to brand USPs;
- Use of a limited edition product and offer in the email;
- A design that balances the brand’s visual identity and Halloween theme.
Disney — Gamification Elements Email
Finding a person who doesn’t enjoy games is next to impossible. So, a good way to increase engagement is to include gamified elements in your Halloween email.
Take a look at the following Halloween email example by Disney:
Subject line: Play a spooky Halloween game! 🎃
What we like:
- Clever brand integration through Disney villains;
- Simple yet engaging card game with intriguing flow;
- Contextual CTA, right after the game to explore product range.
Tate & Zoey — Sale Ending Soon Email
‘Scare’ your subscribers with the idea of ‘if not now, when’ through a last-chance email. Fear of Missing Out is an effective way to motivate them to take advantage of your offer.
Subject line: Halloween Deals Ending Soon
What we like:
- Minimal design and copy with a singular focus on the offer;
- Clear and prominent CTA with an offer deadline;
- Spooky theme without overkill elements.
Land’s End — Sale Announcement Email
If you’ve been thinking about a Halloween sale, share your offers through an engaging sales announcement email.
Just remember that your actual offer shouldn’t be less attractive than the teaser. Here’s an example by Land’s End:
Subject line: Spooktacular deal awaits 👻
What we like:
- Creative and spooky visuals using brand products;
- Engaging and on-point copywriting;
- Limited time offers to invoke FOMO.
365games — Reveal Your Deal Email
Nothing is overboard as long as you stay in the Halloween mood. So, why not reveal it in style? This Happy Halloween email example is a haunting proof:
Subject line: Your number is up… (Happy Halloween)
What we like:
- The horrifying symbolism is there and very on point;
- The design has a unique spin on Halloween;
- The CTA is creative and targeted at the brand’s fans.
Restream — Halloween Discounts Email
Your email can scream Halloween in the chosen color scheme, imagery, and copy, but if you want to be more subtle about it, there’s another way – the 31% discount.
Since the holiday falls on the 31st of October, it’s a slight yet recognizable nod to the day of the ghouls and witches.
Subject line: 🎃 31% Off screaming – er, streaming. An Out-of-This-World Deal!
What we like:
- The brand thought of a clever way to use the number 31;
- In the subject line, the brand’s name was “Halloweened”;
- Relevant deals targeted at inactive customers.
J. Crew — Sale Reminder Email
During the Halloween Season, your subscribers’ inboxes will be haunted by offers from other brands. To be noticed, you have to be persistent. A sale reminder email at the right moment can motivate your subscribers to make a move.
Here’s an example by J. Crew:
Subject line: 30% Final Sale Ends Tomorrow
What we like:
- Recognizable Halloween-themed design;
- Great layout that puts the spotlight on the offer;
- Humor-infused copy.
Jack Thread — Last Chance Email
A no-brainer discount with limited-time validity is the fastest way to leave nothing but ghosts in your warehouse. Use the Halloween season to send a last-chance email that appeals to your subscriber’s FOMO.
Here’s how Jack Thread did it via a themed email:
Subject line: 🎃 Will You Dare to Miss Out? Up to 70% Off!
What we like:
- Hard-to-miss time-sensitive offer;
- Attention-grabbing design;
- Unique CTA button with a provocative copy.
Simply Supplements — Halloween Themed Emojis Email
Many brands use Halloween emojis in subject lines. But have you ever thought of creating an email from popular Halloween emojis?
Here’s a great example of a Halloween email that uses a pumpkin, a ghost, and a witch hat to intrigue readers:
Subject line: 👻 Early Access to Our Spooktacular Halloween Treats 👻
What we like:
- Intriguing subject line;
- Minimal design with the on-point theme;
- Clear mention of the coupon code & offer.
Posh Peanut — Countdown to Halloween Email
Sending an early Halloween email helps stand out in a crowded inbox full of Halloween offers. Ideally, you should send an email a few weeks before Halloween.
Here’s how Disney x Posh Peanut sent an announcement email, right before Halloween:
Subject line: TOMORROW: Disney | Posh Peanut Is Back! 🎃
What we like:
- Amazing product image;
- Anticipatory email copy;
- Clear and prominent CTA.
ModCloth — Exclusive Halloween Offers
Announcing a special sales discount on Halloween is a nice idea. Better if you can announce it in Halloween style, like this spooky email by ModCloth:
Subject line: Halloween Hex-clusive 👻 30% OFF
What we like:
- Great design with a clear focus on the deal/sale;
- Early sale announcement;
- Mention of the benefit in the subject line.
Zumiez — Halloween Giveaway Announcement
Who doesn’t like ‘free treats’ during Halloween? Thus, it’s a great time to announce a giveaway as a brand. You can create a special giveaway bundle, or announce rewards like Zumiez did to promote its app:
Subject line: Celebrate Halloween By Reaping New Rewards!
What we like:
- Great design with several thematic elements;
- Mention of a sweepstakes to increase engagement;
- Use of real images to increase excitement.
LRG — Halloween Flash Sale Announcement
A flash sale can work wonders for your conversion rates by inducing FOMO among subscribers. If the offer is great and time-sensitive, people will buy it.
Here’s a minimal Halloween sale announcement email by LRG:
Subject line: Halloween Flash Sale 💀 40% Off Sale On Sale
What we like:
- Great offer with a set deadline;
- Minimal design with a Halloween-centric color theme;
- Price-based category blocks for driving more clicks.
💡Pro Tip: Add a countdown timer to make the announcement more impactful.
Terrain — Halloween Decor Idea Email
People love decorating their homes during Halloween. So, what’s better than sending an email sharing some cool decor ideas for Halloween?
Here’s what Terrain did in their Halloween email.
Subject line: A batty Halloween doorstep idea.
What we like:
- Contextual placement of relevant products;
- Large product images suiting the mood of the season;
- Boxed layout for amazing readability.
Crate & Barrel — Halloween Sneak Peek Email
Sneak peek emails spark curiosity, especially when it’s around Halloween. You can tease your subscribers with exclusive sneak peeks of your Halloween Collection, like Crate & Barrel:
Subject line: BOO! Shop our (early) Halloween sneak peek →
What we like:
- Scroll-stopping subject line;
- Beautiful product images + layout;
- ‘Selling Fast’ tags on some products.
30+ Spooky Halloween Email Subject Lines
Excited after seeing all the beautiful Halloween email examples and eager to plan for your Halloween campaigns? Here are some Halloween subject lines you can use.
- Dress to thrill: Halloween styles you can’t resist
- Trick or Treat Yo’self: Halloween goodies inside
- Boo-tique finds: Exclusive halloween treasures await
- Don’t ghost this limited-time Halloween deal
- Costume emergency? Last-minute finds for you
- Fang-tastic feast: Halloween recipe box inside
- Tricks, no treats: Keto halloween snacks for everyone
- Slay all day: Halloween costumes for every party
- Bone appetit: Spooky snacks for maximum fun
- BOO-st your energy: Halloween superfoods
- Slash prices, not pumpkins: Halloween markdowns
- 🎃 Frighteningly good deals on the run. Hurry! 🎃
- 👻 Boo! Did we scare you into savings?
- 🧛♂️ Sink your fangs into these offers 🧛♂️
- Don’t let these deals ghost you
- Hurry! These treats won’t last long
- Spellbinding styles for Halloween night
- Time’s ticking: Halloween countdown offer awaits
- 🦇Batty for these Halloween bargains
- Your invitation to the freakiest haunted house in the area
- Eerie-sistible offers await within
- Scared you’ll miss out? Grab before they’re gone.
- Haunt your friends with these Halloween finds
- 🎭 Disguise yourself in deals this Halloween
- Don’t get ghosted: Limited Halloween stock
- Spooktacular savings end at midnight
- Fright night favorites at scary-good prices
- Say boo to high spends with 70% off
- Full moon madness: Howling good offers
- 🧟♂️ Limited edition deals rising from the dead
- Ghouls just wanna have fun: Join them now
- Dig into buried treasures in our Halloween sale
- 🔮 Crystal ball says: Major savings ahead
Reasons to Send a Halloween Email Campaign
It’s no secret that Halloween is fun, and one of the more attractive reasons for your campaigns is to enjoy this time together. But it’s not all the treats this trick can bring:
- Showcase for creativity. Use this opportunity to design attention-grabbing emails as Halloween is a visual holiday. Creative content can leave the recipients in a positive mood and motivate them to buy from you;
- Brand loyalty. Holiday-themed emails can foster a sense of community among your subscribers. Use your Halloween campaign to bond on a common theme and offer exclusive perks to your loyal customers;
- Increased website traffic. Your email campaign can direct recipients to Halloween-themed landing pages or blog posts on your website;
- Social sharing. Your subscribers might share your spooky content on the internet, or you may display user-generated content (UGC) in your emails.
How To Increase Your Sales Using Halloween Emails?
73% of consumers plan to celebrate Halloween and spend over $12.2 billion, up from $10.6 billion last year.
Almost every segment is expected to shop more. For example, more than 40% of millennials plan to spend more on Halloween shopping.
All the signs show that you can use Halloween this year to boost sales. Here are some tips to succeed at Halloween email marketing:
- Start early. Tease your Halloween offerings and deals in late September to build anticipation;
- Create urgency. Use limited-time offers and countdown timers to drive immediate action;
- Offer exclusive deals. Create special bundles or discounts only available during the Halloween season;
- Use spooky visuals. Incorporate Halloween-themed images and GIFs to capture attention;
- Segment your audience. Customize your Halloween emails based on past purchase history and customer preferences;
- Leverage user-generated content. Encourage customers to share their Halloween purchases and feature them in your emails;
- Create a series. Build excitement with a series of emails leading up to Halloween;
- A/B test. Experiment with different subject lines, content, and send times to optimize performance.
Ready to cast a spell with beautiful Halloween emails? Try professionally-designed Halloween templates for free.
Also read: Halloween Statistics & Marketing Facts