4th of July email + SMS marketing tips to revolutionize your revenue, including 15 brand examples
The 4th of July likely evokes hamburgers and hotdogs smoking on the grill, the smell of sunscreen, and the sound of laughter among family and friends.
But for marketers, the upcoming holiday serves as a reminder that it’s time to get your 4th of July promotions and campaigns in order.
In 2022, nearly 85% of Americans planned to celebrate the holiday, with the average per-person spend at about $85.
Klaviyo data shows that marketing for the holiday is well worth the effort: high performing Klaviyo customers attributed an average of nearly $630k to 4th of July email campaigns, and an average of over $36k to SMS campaigns.
Of course, all over the country, people try to celebrate with a cookout. That means brands that sell CPG have more marketing opportunities during this season. It’s also the perfect holiday for brands who sell home and garden goods, sporting goods, and even apparel—who doesn’t want a new outfit for their 4th of July party, parade, or trip?
One of thekeys to marketing success is strategizing well in advance. If you want to take advantage of July 4th celebrations, your business should start preparing its email and SMS messaging strategy well before May.
The early bird gets the worm—err, hard-earned consumer loyalty. And dollars.
Read on for:
- 9 July 4th marketing ideas to help you prepare for the holiday
- 15+ July 4th email examples to jumpstart your campaign
9 July 4th email marketing ideas
In 2022, inflation pressures were already mounting. But American consumers still spent an estimated $7.7B on 4th of July food items alone—and nearly 85% of them actively planned to celebrate the holiday.
Despite economic uncertainty, experts forecast that folks will still spend money on goods throughout the summer, with spending offset by savings.
In other words, you can still expect folks to spend money during the summer holidays.
So, you’ve got to get a 4th of July email marketing plan in place.
Don’t have one? Don’t worry. Here are 9 ideas to help you take your 4th of July emails and marketing efforts from “fingers crossed” to “we’ve got this!”
1. Create a content calendar for the weeks before Fourth of July
You may think, “I don’t have time to create a content calendar! There are only a few weeks until July 4th.” But the old adage, “If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail,” holds true—Benjamin Franklin was right on the money!
It may be tempting to sketch out a few emails, schedule them, and hope for the best. But dedicating some time to strategically plan for the Fourth will be time well-spent.
Your content calendar for the 4th of July doesn’t have to be an extensive effort. Think of it as a roadmap to help you get from where you are today to where you want to be on the holiday.
It’ll help you take into account details like who you should send your messages to, what specific messages you should send, when you should send them, and more.
2. Segment your list so you can send different messages to different subscribers
Before you start scheduling 4th of July emails to send to your customers, think about what messages you’re going to send and which customers you want to receive them.
It may seem simpler to send one message to all your customers, but that can actually backfire and land your message in spam filters. Rather than jeopardize your sender reputation, the better approach is to segment your list.
Segmenting your list can help you deliver more personalized messages to the right audience.
Here are a few examples of segments you can create:
- People who purchased from you around the 4th of July last year
- People who recently purchased from you (eg., within the last 3 months)
- People who previously purchased from you (eg., within the last year)
- People who spent more than X dollars (eg., on a purchase, within the last 6 months, etc.)
- People who visited your website or viewed a product but didn’t make a purchase (eg., within the last 3 months)
- People who opened an email but didn’t make a purchase (eg., within the last month)
- People who haven’t purchased in the past 6 months but who opened one of your emails within the last 30 days
You can slice and dice your list in so many ways. However you decide to do it, use your data and your automations to target repeat purchasers or potential prospects with relevant messages in your 4th of July emails.
3. Determine your discounts or promotions for the day of July Fourth
Once you’ve segmented your list (or while you’re segmenting your list), think about what you actually want to offer your customers in your 4th of July emails.
You might offer:
- A discount on their purchase (eg., a percentage off the total)
- A bundled offer (eg., a BOGO)
- A bonus (eg., a free gift with purchase)
- A perceived perk (eg., free shipping)
If you’re not sure what will resonate most with your audience, dig into your data to understand the purchasing habits of your customers.
Look back at past promotions to see what works best. Do you tend to see more purchases when you offer a particular discount, or is free shipping what really tips the scales for your audience?
Then, take it one step further. With those particular promotions, how does the behavior of the people who placed an order map with the audience segments you’ve just created?
Don’t worry if you don’t have that level of data yet. You can use the data you gather from the audience segments and marketing strategies you create this year to plan your marketing calendar for 4th of July emails next year.
4. Time when you will send your July 4th emails
Now that you know what offers you want to send and who you want to send them to, your next step is to figure out the timing of your July 4th email marketing plan.
Will you run a one-day flash sale, a weekend special, or a promotion that starts a couple of weeks ahead of the holiday?
Here are 3 creative flash sale email templates, plus some questions to think about when it comes to timing.
Do we sell items people will need on July 4th?
Most people plan for the Fourth in advance since they’ll need their supplies on the holiday itself (what’s a cookout without a grill?!).
Depending on what you sell, a one-day flash sale on the actual holiday might not be your best bet. But if you sell compostable utensils, for example, a flash sale might be the perfect promotion.
Which day of the week does the holiday fall on this year?
The Fourth is on a Tuesday this year (2023), and many people may take off for a long weekend, which means they’ll likely stock up on supplies they’ll need at least a few days in advance.
Consider what you have to offer to your customers and factor in the timing of when they’ll likely need to purchase those items.
When do our customers typically purchase our products?
Use your data to see if your products typically sell better on weekends or weekdays, and schedule your 4th of July marketing emails accordingly.
Don’t have that level of data yet? Do a quick survey and ask friends and family when they’d be likely to buy these types of items.
How long does it take customers to receive their purchase?
It’s important to send your July 4th emails early enough that your customers have enough time to make their purchases—and also early enough that you have enough time to fulfill their orders.
If you sell products they may need for travel, think about the timing of the holiday, the travel plans they may have, and how long it typically takes to receive a purchase. Then, work backwards to better understand when you should start sending your messages.
Here’s an easy way to think about it: Father’s Day is on Sunday, June 18, so it might be wise to plant some seeds about any 4th of July promotions you’ll be running starting the week of Monday, June 19.
In many cases, that’ll give your audience enough time to learn about your offer, make a purchase, and receive it in time for when they’ll need it.
How can we create a sense of urgency?
You can create a sense of urgency by clearly conveying to your customers the date by which they’ll need to make their purchases in order to receive their orders ahead of the holiday. For example, you can include, “Only 7 days until the Fourth” in your subject line, or include a countdown clock in the email itself.
5. Tailor your messages to personalize for your audience
Once you know who you want to send your July 4th emails to, what offers you want to send to them, and when you’ll need to schedule your emails, the next step to take is to figure out how you’ll actually craft your 4th of July emails to capture your subscribers’ attention.
Here are some sample 4th of July marketing email subject lines you can try and test:
- Savor the summer sale! X% off now through <>
- July Fourth Sale! Save up to X%
- Red, White, & NEW favorites!
- X% off Patriotic <>
6. Use your 4th of July emails to gather subscriber preferences
Once you’ve done the work to get your 4th of July email campaign off the ground, there’s something else you can do to make your emails work better for you: Use them to gather subscriber preferences.
Emails are not only a great way to communicate your messages to your customers. They’re also an incredibly useful tool to get your customers to tell you what they want and when they want it.
What types of products are they most interested in? Use your 4th of July marketing emails to offer a few examples and ask your customers which products they prefer. Then, use that information to send relevant messages about those products in the future.
How often do your customers want to hear from you? Offer a cadence (weekly, monthly, sales only, etc.), and ask them what they’d like best. Then, send relevant messages to them on the cadence they prefer.
Include these types of emails in your content calendar to get more information about your customers that’ll ultimately help you tailor your messages even more and create relevant, personalized experiences for your audience.
7. Ask for reviews in your emails so that your brand gets social validation
Do you have customer reviews for the items you sell? Include them in some of your tailored messages. Show repeat customers and potential purchasers what others have to say about the products they’re considering or the ones you’re featuring as part of your 4th of July promotion.
You can include customer reviews into your automated flows, too. When someone makes a purchase, send a follow-up email asking them to leave a review.
8. Get social and take advantage of user-generated content
Do your customers follow you on social media? Are they active in liking and engaging with your content? A great way to drive more of that activity is to feature user-generated content (UGC).
Ask your customers, via email or your social channels, to post about the products they’ve purchased and to tag your brand in their posts using your social handle or hashtag for a chance to be featured.
For example, say you sell swimming supplies. Ask your customers to take pictures using their floats, goggles, and swim gear on their vacations, at their pool parties, or at the beach, using your brand’s social handle (@sallysswimgear) and using your brand’s hashtag (#swimonthefourth).
You can then curate this content and feature it in your emails and on your own social handles (e.g., in your Instagram stories, in photo albums on Facebook, etc.)
UGC is a great way to stretch your marketing resources and to create compelling content for the people who’ll purchase your products by the people who’ve already purchased them.
9. Focus on the theme of independence
Finally, remember what the 4th of July is all about—celebrating our country’s independence.
Wish your customers a happy Independence Day, encourage them to spend time with family and friends doing the things they love, and keep the overly sales-y messages on the holiday to a minimum.
Holidays are a great time for sales and promotions, but brands can leave a bad taste in many customers’ mouths by failing to recognize the true meaning of a holiday.
15+ July 4th email and SMS messaging examples
With your holiday marketing campaign prep work completed, it’s time to work on the design and layout of your email.
For inspiration, check out these examples of Fourth of July marketing emails from 15 brands that are doing it right.
1. Magical Brands builds brand awareness by targeting a wider audience
Subject line: July 4th Cook Out Recipes 🇺🇸
Magical Brands, a leader in the cannabis and edible industry, took a tasty approach to their 4th of July marketing email.
The Fourth is a holiday that many Americans celebrate with a cookout in their backyards, picnics on a beach, or in any sunny outdoor spot where they can set up their grills.
Brand tip: Instead of directly promoting their products, Magical Brands shares some cannabis-infused recipes that readers can use to whip up delicious treats for the holiday.
It’s a clever way to build brand awareness with a wider audience: Magical Brand’s July 4th email grounds their somewhat unconventional product in a traditional, culturally accepted holiday.
2. Athletic Brewing creates a holiday-themed product
Subject line: 4th of July Mixed Packs
What’s a cookout without an ice-cold beer on hand? Athletic Brewing Co. knows you can’t have one without the other. This non-alcoholic craft beer brand uses their 4th of July email to promote a special mixed six-pack available just for the holiday.
Brand tip: Create a product focus especially for the Fourth of July. It gives your subscribers the opportunity to try flavors they may not have tasted before, and also takes the guesswork out of trying to shop for the perfect cold one.
3. More Labs appeals to the partiers
Subject line: Combat your 4th of July hangover! 🍻🍷🍹
For those who choose to go the alcoholic beverage route this July 4th, More Labs has got you covered.
With science-backed supplements that combat modern-day stressors, More Labs offers the perfect hangover cure. Their July 4th email includes images that evoke a feeling of summer festivities, with their products nestled in the sand.
Brand tip: While More Labs didn’t necessarily design their supplements with July 4th in mind, they lean into the holiday theme with this email layout. The header image weaves subtle fireworks into the background and all the text is either red, white, or blue—very fitting for a July 4th email.
4. The Clear Cut incorporates fireworks into its creative
Subject line: Spark This 4th of July 💥✨
Seasonal holidays are the perfect opportunity for your brand to inject your email campaigns with a dose of lighthearted wordplay—if, of course, it aligns with your brand’s voice and tone.
Fireworks and the 4th of July go hand in hand. Jewelry brand The Clear Cut experiments with this well-known pairing in their July 4th email copy, which includes puns like “sparkle,” “spark,” and “fire-up” to help their jewelry resonate with readers—even if diamond rings aren’t a typical 4th of July purchase.
Brand tip: If you don’t have a summer product to feature, try using creative copy and design to integrate elements of the holiday and attract more customers.
5. Kirna Zabête uses holiday colors to appeal to consumers
Subject line: Monday Moodboard: 4th of July
Apparel brand Kirna Zabête uses their July 4th email as a medium for sharing an Independence Day mood board that highlights some holiday-related products.
Whether you want to dress up or dress down, you can feel confident that you’ll be on-theme for any 4th of July event with this email.
Brand tip: If your brand has any products that are red, white, or blue, you can put together an effective July 4th email even if they’re not technically July 4th-themed products.
6. Gray Malin goes for a discount on July 4th
Subject line: July 4th Sale – 30% Off All Beach Aerials
The 4th of July commemorates more than just America’s independence—it’s a day when people can celebrate summer weather, being together with loved ones, and delicious food. So a July 4th email campaign has a lot of room for creative interpretation.
Photographer Gray Malin showcases a curated collection of his beach aerials in his brand’s 4th of July email. Even though photography isn’t something readers typically shop for leading up to the holiday, his pictures are still relevant to the seasonality of the day.
Brand tip: Providing a discount and then focusing your email messaging and creative around the colors and the theme (think sparkles and red, white and blue) can help attract holiday shoppers.
7. ThreeMain keeps it short and customer-centric
SMS character count: 209
Most people only subscribe to 2-3 brands via SMS—which means your real estate on a subscriber’s phone is incredibly valuable. Three Main, a brand that sells non-toxic, planet-friendly cleaning products, puts that principle into action in this message they sent out ahead of Independence Day.
It doesn’t waste any time, making a subscriber likely to feel that the brand respects their attention and loyalty. With just one sentence indicating the point of the why they’re contacting you, the brand gets right to the benefit the subscriber will receive and how they’ll get it:
- The amount of money they’ll save
- The amount they’ll need to spend
- The code they’ll use
- The link they need to get it
Brand tip: In the SMS channel, share your most valuable and interesting offers, and keep messages brief.
8. NOGU capitalizes on the change of season
SMS character count: 240
Early July means summer is in full swing in all 50 US states, making it a prime time for ecommerce brands to focus on seasonal designs. NOGU, a Canadian jewelry brand that gives portions of their proceeds to charity, takes advantage of the timing of the US holiday to promote a big sale.
While they may be looking to move along a set of inventory that may go out of style, their subscribers will likely be excited to get first access to these big discounts.
Brand tip: See if you can link an upcoming holiday to what’s going on with your inventory. If you have too much on hand and are willing to offer a discount, you might be able to move more product by tying it to whatever holiday is coming up.
9. High Beauty links their marketing strategy to the weather of the season
Subject line: The Truth Behind These Common Skincare Myths
People who take their skincare routines seriously and live in places with more than one season tend to switch up their routines according to the weather. Nearly everybody uses more skincare products in summer—in the form of sunscreen.
High Beauty, a vegan skincare collection that uses hemp seed oil as a main ingredient, knows their audience wants the latest information on skincare, and that this content might be even more popular in summer.
This email publicizes a blog that will help their subscribers stay up to date on how to best protect their skin—something the average person is probably thinking more about in the dead of summer, as they’re exposed to more sun and more heat.
And High Beauty connects it all to their upcoming 4th of July sale, offering a discount.
Brand tip: Think about an upcoming holiday like July 4th in terms of more than just what it means symbolically. What’s happening weather-wise this time of year? What might that have to do with your products and how they can deliver value to your subscribers? And how can you tie it all together in one readable email?
10. TheMagic5 appeals to patriotism—without getting political
Subject line: The 4th of July sale is ON
THEMAGIC5 creates custom-fit swimming goggles based on a 3D scan of your face. Of course, early July is a great time to buy new goggles, and the brand showcases the fact that they produce their goggles on US soil—a fact that matters to patriotic folks across demographics and political parties.
Brand tip: Consider including a fact about your manufacturing process that may matter to your subscribers. If it corresponds to the upcoming holiday, even better!
11. Corporate keeps it simple and direct
Subject line: July 4th Sale
You don’t necessarily need to connect your 4th of July marketing campaign to the weather, or the time of year, or what’s happening in the world. The simple fact that you’re offering a discount is enough of a reason to alert your subscribers.
That’s exactly what Corporate, a sneaker and clothing shop, does with this email. The subject line is simple and direct. The body copy is clear, telling the reader how much they’ll save and providing the link to shop, front and center.
The design is simple and straightforward, without distracting bells and whistles.
Brand tip: If you don’t have the time or resources to create a strategy that may be more complex, a simple approach often works. Remember: Your subscribers signed up to get your emails. They want to hear from you. Corporate’s direct, simple email earned both a high open rate and a high click rate.
12. Quikflip creates urgency
Subject line: ⏰ Don’t miss out on our July 4th Sale!
Quikflip, an outerwear apparel brand that sells hoodies and jackets that convert into backpacks, makes a bold move in this email: They give subscribers less than 15 hours to take advantage of the 25% off discount.
The strategy paid off with a high open rate.
The email also features product images that are surrounded by firework-like graphics, an American flag at the top, and copy that makes an authentic connection between the independence that comes with outerwear and the holiday: ”Quikflip celebrates independence every day! Don’t get caught carrying your hoodie when ours converts to a backpack.”
Brand tip: Shorten the amount of time that your discount offer is available and track your open and click rates to see if it moves your subscribers to purchase.
13. Wildling rewards their VIPs with a gift
Subject line: 10% Off + Free Shipping! Code: FIREWORKS
Wildling Beauty makes gua sha and cupping tools along with wild-crafted skincare products. Their 4th of July email offers an exclusive sale for VIPs to thank them for their loyalty.
The discount—10%—is enough to make a difference when purchasing, and helps VIPs feel like they belong to an exclusive community. The email also offers free shipping through the end of the holiday.
You may notice that while the discount code is FIREWORKS, a nod to the holiday, the brand doesn’t use other typical Independence Day themes. And that’s OK. If thematic design and copy don’t feel authentic to your brand, don’t force it.
Brand tip: Use the holiday as an occasion to treat your most loyal customers and help build community. If red, white, and blue feels like a stretch for your brand, find more subtle ways to incorporate 4th of July themes.
14. The Honest Company keeps the momentum going after the 4th of July
Subject line: HOURS LEFT: 20% off (almost) everything 😱
Preview text: Stock up on all your faves!
The Honest Company, Jessica Alba’s brand that sells non-toxic and hypoallergenic baby products and beauty, sent this email on the morning of July 5.
It’s a smart move—customers loyal enough to subscribe might want some extra time, especially during a holiday when so many are traveling and relaxing.
This email uses the subject line to spark urgency—”there are only hours left” on a day when there’s a good chance the average subscriber is back at work, or at least back to their normal schedules and more likely to be looking at their email.
The design sparks that same sense of urgency—the clock is a gif, and it literally ticks as a regular clock would. Finally, The Honest Company includes CTA buttons not only to the sale they’re advertising, but also to their founder’s collection.
Brand tip: Consider extending your sale beyond the actual holiday, and remember to track your results.
15. Draper James offers a really big discount
Subject line: Best of Sale – Up to 60% Off ❤️🤍💙
Preview text: Top finds from our sitewide sale. Hurry – deals end at midnight!
Draper James, a women’s apparel brand, took advantage of the holiday to offer a huge sale. 60% off is a giant discount—so of course they gave that number a spotlight in the most important line of their email: the subject line.
They follow up with design choices that are both on-brand and thematically appropriate for the holiday. They also include CTA buttons to both the 30% sale and the 60% sale, flashing images of specific products and their exact prices.
Brand tip: Advertise your biggest sale on a holiday, and display specific products in the marketing emails.
Make a bang with your July 4th emails
Creating a content calendar can help you capitalize on any of the holiday shopping weekends that tend to drive sales for your business.
Use these marketing ideas and July 4th email examples to have a successful 4th of July email campaign, and let them inspire you to think about how you can create content calendars for the holidays to come.
It’s not too early to start prepping for Labor Day with these tips and email examples.