Americans spent $23.9 billion on Valentine’s Day in 2022. In 2023, the spending soared to $26 billion.
So, no wonder you’re as excited for Valentine’s Day as for Black Friday and Cyber Monday seasonal sales! In a highly competitive ‘store-eat-store’ world, the only way for your business to stand out is to get your holiday email marketing strategy on point. Read on to get inspired by a quick breakdown of some of the best examples from popular brands and businesses.
Best Valentine’s Day Email Marketing Examples
A great email is clear, concise, and to the point. It should have a specific purpose, and the language should be professional and appropriate for the intended audience.
Here’s a collection of exciting emails to help you get going with your Valentine’s Day newsletters. Use these Valentine’s Day email marketing ideas to fuel your marketing strategy.
Lomography — Creative Valentine’s Day Newsletter
Who stops you from getting creative for your Valentine’s newsletter on the day of St. Valentine’s? In fact, it’s the perfect time to let your holiday marketing ideas go wild.
Check out this creative Valentine’s Day email newsletter from famous camera manufacturer — Lomography:
Subject line: It’s Never Too Late to Say I Love You
The catchy subject line reels the reader in, and the quirky offer converts a subscriber. This brand has perfectly adapted the evergreen BOGO (Buy One Get One Free) request in the spirit of Valentine’s Day! The email content is exciting and tempts the user to at least click the CTA button and see what’s on the cards.
What did we love?
- Clever BOGO deal contextual to the occasion;
- Intriguing subject line;
- Large image and offer placement.
Sender — Happy Valentine’s Day Celebration
The second email example is a template to help you get started. Look at these Valentine’s Day email templates from Sender:
Craft emails like this without coding or design skills! With Sender’s simple drag-and-drop builder and email templates, all you need to do is add your copy & images, and you’re ready to go!
Best part? It’s completely free!
Nordstrom — Valentine’s Day Gift Guide Example
Nothing makes someone’s day more special than getting a warm, heartfelt wish and a gift. One of America’s top luxury department stores, Nordstrom, understands this and built its Valentine’s Day campaign around a ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’ wish. Have a look:
Subject line: Luxe jewelry gifts that say “be mine” in this case
Nordstrom got everything right in this email — the standout being a great offer! A luxury brand with a great offer that includes Free Shipping and Free Returns (like they say, “All the time”) has got to be an irresistible combination.
What did we love?
- Interesting and attention-grabbing subject line;
- Personalization top-up with an option to chat with a stylist that gives value to the customer;
- Appealing product photography that draws in the gaze;
- Option for readers to browse trending gift ideas;
- Clean and minimalist design that brings attention to where it’s needed.
Habrok — Valentine’s Day Special Discount Blast
Discounts appeal to everyone, no matter what month of the year. But when they come with a Valentine’s Day email, you can be sure of a rise in sales revenue.
Habrok Sports, an eCommerce company specializing in sports goods, used discounts as a lure in their Valentine’s Day email. Have a look:
It’s no secret that any sports supplement business can’t sustain profitably over one-off purchases. Habrok understands that and used Valentine’s Day to promote its 15% OFF subscription offer.
The call to action (CTA) stands out clearly, and the product photography is decent. The extra 20% off on Valentine’s is a cherry on top.
What did we love?
- Clear, simple, and straightforward email copy that passes the message in seconds;
- Exciting offer (+ extra off) that’s hard to not benefit from;
- A unique promo code in line with the holiday’s meaning.
Coach Outlet — Valentine’s Day Sales Email
Coach outlet is an American leather goods online store catering to the mid-luxury segment for handbags, luggage, and ready-to-wear accessories. They’ve made Valentine’s an excellent opportunity for being relatable to all the ‘singles’ out there in their email blast campaign:
Subject line: Give Yourself The Perfect Valentine With An Extra 15% Off!
The offer would undoubtedly be a superstar if this email were a movie. Not only is the weekend deal of up to 70% OFF compelling, but the extra 15% OFF for Valentine’s Day is the icing on the cake. Plus, the beautiful product image is the perfect reason to try out the product yourself. The CTA elements are simple yet stand out enough to garner interest from the reader.
What did we love?
- Beautiful, non-stock product imagery in a natural setting;
- Double offer to hook the reader into buying the product;
- Effective CTA placement.
Charity: Water — Nonprofit Valentine’s Day Email
Nonprofits can leverage Valentine’s Day to send a warm and lovable email that reminds subscribers and appeals to their consciousness about making a more significant impact. Charity: Water, a nonprofit dedicated to providing safe and clean drinking water to people in developing nations, did the same in their Valentine’s Day email:
The simple email with a hearty team picture says a lot without too many words. It feels like a greeting card, emphasizing the perception to keep the team Charity: Water in their hearts.
The call to action button — for their Instagram handle, plus the URL in big font, serves as a great reminder to show support for the nonprofit’s cause. If nothing else, this email reminds us to wish our customers and subscribers now and then.
What did we love?
- Simple yet impactful email design;
- Contextual picture, speaking a thousand words without any email copy;
- Contextual messaging that creates a positive mood.
Anya Lust — Romantic Valentine’s Day Email
Valentine’s is the season for couples! So, why not step it up and make them feel special?
Anya Lust, a luxury and fantasy lingerie brand, had their take on sending out the perfect Valentine’s Day campaign:
Subject line: Happy Valentine’s (Night) 💋
The subject line is more unique and fresh than generic Valentine’s campaigns. The emoji makes it clear that this is a must-open. Instead of focusing on just the product, getting a Greek god (and goddess) like models to show up the way they did is eye candy. After all, rather than just beating around the bushes about the features, you want to convey the benefits and experience to your prospects so they can dream about it.
The copy targets men very smartly, asking them to consider gifting this to their partners, thereby surprising them on the special occasion of Valentine’s Day. The suggestive gifty CTA at the end would have got so many clicks.
What did we love?
- Suggestive yet secretive subject line tempting users to click;
- Bold imagery and central photo placement;
- Contextual messaging and a single CTA (or offer) lead the subscribers to the desired place.
Vinebox – Gift Bundles
You know that the perfect Valentine’s Day gift is the whole world. Yet, if it’s unavailable around the holiday, the nearly perfect gift exists – a unique Valentine’s bundle. At least, in Vinebox’s mind:
Subject line: This Valentine’s give Rosé
A special Valentine’s Day bundle? It’s a deal to adore! Offering unique, originally packed vines is the gift shopping we support. In fact, it’s such a unique way to celebrate Valentine’s Day that the brand even dared to replace the flowers with it.
The brand’s Valentine’s Day email design is also unconventional, following the brand’s distinct style rather than roses and hearts. It helps the email stand out and leads the eye to the contrast CTA button.
What did we love?
- An alluring and original gift idea and captivating offer for Valentine’s;
- A creative pun in the theme of the holiday;
- A sleek design that catches the eye;
- A short, catchy copy that manages to pass the whole message.
Kiss My Keto — Last Minute Valentine’s Day Gift Email
What if you’ve forgotten Valentine’s Day is approaching? You can always make it up to your partner if you’re sincere and as long as you remember before the clock strikes midnight on February 14th! Kiss my Keto reminded its subscribers exactly the same in its Valentine’s email:
Subject line: Panicking about a last-minute V-Day gift? 🍫
Kiss My Keto is a fitness supplements company that makes ketogenic diet-friendly snacks, supplements, and food. Its product portfolio has a lot of exciting products that are great gifts for Valentine’s. It used a clever CTA alongside a personal note-type copy that will surely ring some bells. We all know receiving delivery last minute is impossible, so why not help the subscriber find a nearby store?
The design and creativity both sit nicely with the occasion on hand. Plus, a headline that reminds you of your Valentine’s duties!
What did we love?
- Contextual reminder designed for last-minute shoppers;
- Great email design and copy that makes the email stand out;
- Relevant subject line to the reader’s pain point.
Hulu — Funny Valentine’s Day Email
It’s hard for your prospect to pay attention to you on February 14th; that’s a day to celebrate with their soulmate! So, you need to get outside the box and add a dash of creativity and/or humor — whatever brings attention back to you.
When done right, humor and creativity can help make your brand memorable (and even viral). Hulu usually gets it right more often than not regarding all things marketing. Here, have a look at their funny Valentine’s Day email:
Subject line: Spend Valentine’s Day with Our Favorite Couples
The subject line piques curiosity and screams to discover what’s inside. The overall color palette and the call to action (“Watch TV You Love”) form an unmistakably attractive combination. The central creative — This Valentine’s Day, We’re Streaming of You is also fantastic. The copy does a good job of closing out the reader, too.
What did we love?
- Beautiful and eye-catchy creative;
- The exciting and scroll-stopping subject line and copy;
- Humorous closer (one-liner below CTA).
UGG — Valentine’s Email to Customers
UGG, the famous footwear company, sends attractive Valentine’s emails just before the day. Their emails serve as a timely reminder that the reader should plan a gift for their loved one. Have a look:
Subject line: Valentine’s Day is almost here
The clean email template with large image blocks and suggestive copy about the spirit of love and gifting is on point. The pink-themed product or model images hint that the season of love is right around the corner. It’s a subtle yet memorable email from UGG, for sure.
What did we love?
- Simple and subtle email design putting the stress on the product imagery;
- Reminder-type subject line that gives additional value to the customers;
- Gifting ideas are presented throughout the email.
Carbon38 — Valentine’s Email Campaign for Singles
Valentine’s Day campaigns shouldn’t be just about couples. Singles, too, deserve some love. When others are busy promoting the ‘couple offers,’ you can stand out among your subscribers who are single on Valentine’s. Carbon38 did that with their Valentine’s Day email for singles. Check it out:
Subject line: BE YOUR OWN VALENTINE 💘
The subject line and the email’s header — ‘Cupid Who’- is a pleasant reminder about the importance of ‘self-love.” The shopping choices to pamper yourself would undoubtedly make many stop and think of buying from Carbon38. Clever wordplay plus an attractive email design goes a long way to boost conversions.
What did we love?
- Attractive color tone and email theme;
- Unique subject line that immediately communicates the main messages;
- Aesthetic email layout that’s hard to miss.
Kate Spade — Valentine’s Day Gifts Recommendation Email
We all know Valentine’s is all about pampering and gifts. So, sending a recommendation email with handpicked gifting options is excellent. Kate Spade, an American fashion house, used Valentine’s to recommend gifts for loved ones. Have a look:
Subject line: open me: you have Valentine’s day gifts waiting!
The color theme and heart imagery look so beautiful in this email, and it almost feels like love is oozing out. The subject line invokes curiosity to open the email. The final CTA is an excellent example of enticing readers to shop for Valentine’s Day gifts. If you read carefully, the whole email feels like a journey — from the header to the final CTA.
What did we love?
- Thematic email design with beautiful images;
- Flowy email copy invoking desire to click the final CTA;
- A clever subject line that grabs attention and boosts open rates.
Myntra — Valentine’s Day Promo Email
Myntra is an Indian apparel ecommerce brand that improvised for their Valentine’s Day email campaign. Instead of sending a ‘standard’ promo email with product images and offers, they thought of sharing real love stories depicting different shades of love. Have a look:
Subject line: 😍Love in real life
The email shows the different forms of love — love between couples, love for your pet, love between same-sex couples, and shared images of real people. They strategically asked these couples their favorite picks from the brand store, adding CTA links below every couple block. Well, that promo email didn’t even feel like a promotion and would have surely made readers scroll till the end.
What did we love?
- A unique approach to Valentine’s Day picks and promotions;
- Real love stories with contextual brand placement;
- Beautiful email layout and design with images representing all kinds of customers.
How to execute more perfect marketing strategies during this lovely holiday? Find the best Valentine’s Day marketing ideas.
Valentine’s Day Email Marketing Ideas
If you’re excited about the possibility of reaching out to your customers on Valentine’s, here is something you should remember. You don’t need a big budget or fancy designs to make someone feel special. Here are a few simple Valentine’s Day marketing ideas to help you create the perfect Valentine’s Day template:
Early Bird Specials
If you want to be useful to your customers, don’t just offer what to gift their loved ones. Do it much earlier than anybody else so they can meet with their significant other stress-free on Valentine’s Day.
For instance, ONSEN sent their email on February 1st and also offered free gift wrapping, so everything is ready to a T when the 14th comes:
What did we love?
- A visually pleasing, “cozy” design;
- A copy that gives a clear benefit of why anyone should choose a robe as a gift;
- Pictures that represent the product well.
Animated GIFs and Videos
If you can make your email love letter even more special on Valentine’s Day, do it! Especially if it’s an eye-catching GIF or a heartwarming video. Look at this email from GasBuddy, and don’t tell us your gaze isn’t immediately drawn to the pulsating, neon heart:
What did we love?
- A minimal GIF that manages to make the email so much more special;
- An offer that calls for a friend, a.k.a. Valentine;
- An actionable CTA that’s hard not to click on;
- An intriguing story as a bonus.
Customer Love Stories
Valentine’s Day is not just for people and people. It can also be for people and brands! For example, Ritual decided to celebrate what special connection they’re sharing with their customers and made a recap of their history together. Even better, they encouraged their subscribers to invite others to join this community with a special offer.
What did we love?
- A recap of the unique things the customer and the brand did together creates a warm feeling;
- The email design is a simple drawing of the text;
- The email encourages to share the information with others and onboard them;
- The whole idea is presented as “sharing love” in the spirit of Valentine’s.
Valentine’s Day Contest
If you want your customers to fall head over heels for your brand this V-day, organize a giveaway with an irresistible prize, and most important of all – make the participation simple and fun.
Postable’s giveaway works tremendously as all the participants need to do is to tag their loved one – the thing anyone would do on a regular Valentine’s:
What did we love?
- A great price – brand’s products;
- Simple participation rules that anyone with an Instagram account could follow;
- Limited time given to participate creates urgency;
- A lovely email design that draws the gaze to the main prize.
Valentine’s Day Playlist
In the realm of Valentine’s Day email strategies that aim to delight and win over your subscribers, there’s one that truly warms the heart. It involves showering your audience with genuine affection by offering them something delightful, completely free of charge.
We aren’t talking about giving away free Valentine’s Day delivery as part of a purchase deal. Instead, we’re referring to a more personal and generous gesture that comes without any strings attached. This could take the form of an eBook, a mouthwatering recipe, step-by-step DIY project instructions, or even a handpicked playlist, just like the one Premium Beat prepared for their customers:
What did we love?
- A curated playlist that gives value to the customers on Valentine’s Day;
- A CTA that asks nothing more than to listen to the playlist;
- An emotionally charged image that gives off positive vibes.
Charity and Giving Back
Valentine’s Day is also for showing appreciation. And that’s precisely what Charity: Water did – the brand thanked every subscriber who became part of their noble cause. No CTAs, no encouragement to give a little more. Just pure gratefulness for what they managed to do together.
What did we love?
- A short yet powerful message;
- An image that speaks a thousand words of what the community managed to do;
- Simple illustrations that make the email look like a handwritten letter.
Key Takeaways: Valentine’s Day Email Marketing
In a world where holiday spending continues to rise, Valentine’s Day has become a significant opportunity for businesses to connect with their customers and make an impact. If you come from one of those businesses, you know how crafting a captivating Valentine’s Day email is essential. But before you go to do so, grab a short recap:
- Make your Valentine’s Day emails relatable, warm, and intriguing;
- Always focus on your subject lines and header copy to drive open rates;
- Get creative and try to add humor or creativity to your Valentine’s Day emails;
- Spread out your Valentine’s Day campaign through weeks before the actual day;
- Use a marketing automation tool to schedule your V-Day campaign emails in advance to avoid last-minute goof-ups.
