Thanksgiving is more than just turkey and touchdowns—it’s the perfect time to connect with customers with a thoughtful email campaign. Whether you want to drive last-minute holiday purchases or show some gratitude, we’ve got you covered.
In this blog, we’re sharing handpicked Thanksgiving email marketing campaigns that’ll inspire you to send happy Thanksgiving messages that make your audience feel appreciated while boosting your bottom line.
Thanksgiving Email Examples Every Occasion
We’ve got ample Thanksgiving email blast examples if you want inspiration for your holiday campaigns. Explore these examples to understand how to promote Thanksgiving discounts or simply say thanks in style.
Ahava — Thanksgiving Sale Announcement Email
Thanksgiving day is a great time to announce exclusive deals, and AHAVA nails it with its clear sale announcement.
Subject line: Thanksgiving Sale Has Started!
The straightforward email has a direct and enticing subject line — there’s a sale, and it’s already live. This email resonates because it drives urgency while avoiding any fluff. It speaks to the shopper ready to act and take advantage of a good deal without distractions.
Why we love it:
- The message is clear and to the point;
- A minimal yet festive visual layout;
- Simple yet effective CTA to encourage instant clicks.
Chubbies — Thanksgiving Newsletter
Chubbies sent warm Thanksgiving greetings as a beautiful email to its subscribers. Have a look:
Subject line: Happy Thanksgiving
Instead of pushing products, Chubbies connected emotionally with a clear headline and heartfelt gratitude. The subtle humor and reference to shopping is a nice touch.
You should also show that your brand cares more than just sales—it values relationships.
Why we love it:
- Balance between personality and holiday sentiment;
- Creative header image and headline;
- An unmissable and witty CTA button.
If you’re short on time — just grab one of Sender’s premade email templates. Customizing and sending it to your subscribers is as easy as 1-2-3.
See’s Candies — Holiday Discount Email
See’s Candies leveraged urgency with limited-period Thanksgiving deals floated to its email subscribers. Have a look:
Subject line: Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 Enjoy $5 off $45 online TODAY ONLY
This email does a great job of stopping scrolls and appealing to FOMO. The turkey emoji in the subject line grabs instant attention, while the “TODAY ONLY” offer drives the sense of immediacy.
The holiday-themed header with a clear offer pushes the reader for a quick conversion.
Why we love it:
- The right use of emoji to capture attention;
- Hard-to-ignore time-sensitive offer;
- Clean and minimal email layout.
Dinnerly — ‘Happy Thanksgiving’ for Your Subscribers
Dinnerly goes with a simple subject line to spread the love and joy of Thanksgiving, paired with their brand’s signature warm tone.
Subject line: Happy Thanksgiving! 💜🦃
The playful use of emojis with a witty wish makes this Happy Thanksgiving business email feel like a heartfelt message from a friend. It reinforces Dinnerly’s values and shows that even on a sales-heavy holiday, they care about making their customers feel special.
Why we love it:
- A heartfelt and personal tone;
- Clever wordplay in the headline;
- A value-packed offer with limited-period discount.
Yolele — BFCM Early Access Email
Yolele jumped ahead of the Black Friday rush, offering early access to Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals to build a sense of exclusivity and priority for their loyal customers.
Subject line: Early Access to Black Friday is Here!
Giving your audience early access to a major sale makes them feel like VIPs. The brand taps into this aspiration by offering exclusivity for subscribers. This strategy drives sales and builds loyalty by making customers feel special.
Why we love it:
- Creates exclusivity with “early access”;
- Prominent coupon code with clear messaging;
- Beautiful product imagery, right at the center.
Gobble — Thanksgiving-themed Newsletter
Gobble tapped into the Thanksgiving spirit with a delicious message that makes every subscriber crave a hearty meal.
Subject line: A delicious Thanksgiving for all
This email wasn’t just about selling a membership and making the recipient feel part of a celebratory Thanksgiving dinner. The focus on family, food, and togetherness aligns perfectly with the Thanksgiving theme, making the email sound naturally authentic.
Why we love it:
- Great color theme and imagery;
- Using the Thanksgiving feast as a theme to promote meal packs;
- Focus on appealing to emotions and not just sales.
Lovepop — Free Shipping for Thanksgiving Weekend
A free shipping offer is a great way to win over customers during the holiday rush. This email by Lovepop is a simple yet powerful reminder that the free shipping offer will end soon.
Subject line: Free shipping for Thanksgiving ends soon!
This email hits all the right notes, from the turkey-themed popup cards to the time-sensitive offer. The Thanksgiving email subject line is clear and to the point, tapping into the FOMO of an eager shopper. The headline also makes you feel you must act fast to avoid missing out.
Why we love it:
- The scarcity tactic for inducing urgency;
- Clear, focused messaging without distractions;
- Themed product images to increase the holiday appeal.
Krispy Kreme — Thanksgiving-Themed Product Spotlight
Who can resist sweet and delicious savories during the Thanksgiving season? Krispy Kreme targeted sugar cravings by introducing a new Thanksgiving-themed product.
Have a look at this indulgent email:
Subject line: NEW Thanksgiving mini pie doughnuts 🍩🥧
Krispy Kreme used the holiday theme to introduce mini-pie donuts to tap into the festive spirit. The simple subject line, with an emoji and a capital ‘NEW’ tag, creates excitement to open and see what’s inside.
The email copy is punchy, and the layout has relevant CTAs to make readers click and try out the sweet product.
Why we love it:
- Relevant seasonal product announcement;
- Fun, playful tone that matches the festive vibe;
- Beautiful product images and punchy copy.
Blue Apron — Cart Abandonment Reminder
No matter how good your product page is, some people will drop off while browsing for Thanksgiving gifts. So, you should always set up an automated cart abandonment reminder during promotions.
Here’s a great example of a Thanksgiving cart abandonment reminder by Blue Apron:
Subject line: Save $180 + Order ASAP for Thanksgiving!
The emailer has a great and compelling offer — $180 off when someone places the order. The color scheme and images are attractive, too. Using words like ‘last chance’ and ‘ASAP’ invokes urgency towards grabbing the offer for their Thanksgiving purchases.
Why we love it:
- Attention-grabbing subject line inducing FOMO;
- Actionable tone with prominent CTA;
- Relevant testimonial right below the header for social proof.
Custom Ink — Thanksgiving Holiday Hours
Planning for holiday shopping is something everyone focuses on during the weeks preceding Thanksgiving.
Custom Ink used this insight to create an email highlighting the importance of placing a timely order for Thanksgiving deliveries.
Subject line: Order by Wednesday 11/16 for rush delivery in time for Thanksgiving!
This email sets clear expectations on shipping deadlines and adds a sense of urgency to push customers into action.
The emphasis on rush delivery ties perfectly into the holiday crunch and might make them start ordering immediately. Additional banners with creative ideas can further push them to check out the website.
Why we love it:
- Straightforward subject line with clear expectations;
- Clean layout with focused messaging about ordering on time;
- Prominent CTA button.
Aftershokz — Gratitude Email
Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, and AfterShokz nails it by making their email a heartfelt message of thanks rather than a pushy sales pitch.
Subject line: Sending Grateful Vibez Your Way
AfterShokz used Thanksgiving as an opportunity to show appreciation to their customers without trying to sell them something.
The message feels genuine and personal, and the focus on gratitude fosters stronger connections. It’s a subtle reminder that the brand values relationships over transactions.
Why we love it:
- Prominent headline drawing attention to the sentiment of gratitude;
- Incentivizes the reader to do something for others;
- Precisely visualized options with clear CTAs radiate trust.
Oceania Cruises — Thanksgiving Wishes for Clients
A personal note during the holiday season can go a long way in nurturing long-term relationships.
Oceania Cruises sent a warm Thanksgiving email template for clients that feels like a wish coming straight from the heart.
Subject line: Very Happy Thanksgiving from Our Family to Yours
The brand put aside the typical sales talk and extended heartfelt Thanksgiving wishes in this email. The whole email copy and design — the Thanksgiving table, Thanksgiving recipes, and the ‘food talk’ reminds clients that real people are behind this business.
Why we love it:
- Clean and minimal layout;
- Addition of Thanksgiving recipes;
- No fluff; focus on family, food, and Thanksgiving time.
Union — ‘Store Closed for Thanksgiving’ Message
If your brick-and-mortar store will be closed for Thanksgiving and BFCM, or if your holiday hours differ from the usual, use your Thanksgiving email to convey the message clearly.
Union’s email is a clear, no-frills way to notify customers about holiday hours.
Subject line: Thanksgiving Holiday Hours
The best emails are the simplest ones, like this one. It gets straight to the point, communicating store hours clearly and respecting the customer’s time.
Why we love it:
- Clear and concise communication;
- Simple subject line showing respect for customer time;
- Real, in-store visuals to entice subscribers to visit the store.
Meetup — Thanksgiving Event Invitation
Thanksgiving is more than just food, and Meetup knows that. Their email highlights community events, encouraging people to connect with others during this time.
Subject line: Make Thanksgiving more than a meal 🦃
This email taps into the true spirit of Thanksgiving—community. Instead of focusing on material things, Meetup used the occasion to promote its events.
The images and copy make it a feel-good email promoting meaningful connections during Thanksgiving.
Why we love it:
- Engaging and thoughtful subject line;
- Warm and inclusive copy and visuals;
- List of curated events under separate heads.
Need more examples for different events? Check out these 11 email invitation examples and templates that excite.
Design Post — Client Appreciation Email
Design Post blends creativity with gratitude in their Thanksgiving email to show appreciation to their clients while showcasing their design work.
Subject line: November Creative Newsletter 🦃🍂
This email is a beautiful blend of storytelling and gratitude. The brand used the occasion to express gratitude and showcase their creative process. It’s a clever way to highlight their services while keeping the focus on thankfulness and appreciation.
Why we love it:
- Eye-catchy graphics and design theme;
- Non-salesy email subject line;
- Relatable email copy with on-point storytelling.
7 Reasons for Thanksgiving Email Marketing
You shouldn’t wait until Black Friday to share your best deals and offers. You must plan your Thanksgiving email marketing campaign as early as possible. Here are other reasons:
- Express your gratitude. Show appreciation to your prospects and customers, not just friends and family;
- Strengthen relationship: Special holiday recognition helps boost customer loyalty and customer lifetime value (CLTV);
- Keeps your brand visible. Stay top-of-mind during the prime shopping season with early Thanksgiving campaigns;
- Boost engagement. A well-timed offer can drive higher opens, clicks, and responses.
- Re-engage inactive subscribers. Thanksgiving deals are perfect for reactivating silent customers;
- Beat competition. Many brands focus on BFCM, giving you a Thanksgiving advantage;
- Drive sales. In 2023, Thanksgiving alone saw $6B in online sales—huge potential to boost revenue.
TL;DR
No time to go through the whole article? Here are some quick tips for your Thanksgiving email campaigns:
- Plan early. Don’t wait till the last minute;
- Personalize. Use names or past purchases to make emails relevant;
- Stick to the theme. Show gratitude and appreciate your customers;
- Use a Mobile-friendly design. Most subscribers open emails on their phones;
- Invoke urgency. Time-limited offers drive conversions;
- Write catchy subject lines. Keep Thanksgiving email subject lines short and benefit-driven;
- Use quality visuals. Clear, relevant images make an impact;
- Strong CTA. A clear, compelling call-to-action boosts clicks;
- Social proof. Share reviews and testimonials for trust;
- Follow-up strategy. Keep momentum through BFCM for more sales.
Wishing you a successful Thanksgiving email campaign and a happy holiday season!
But if you’re too excited to begin your Thanksgiving campaigns, take a look at these impressive articles on holiday marketing:
- 140+ November Newsletter Ideas (+Templates)
- 12 Fall Newsletter Ideas (Autumn Themed Emails)
- 16 Festive Holiday Marketing Ideas That Boost Revenue
