· 11 min read

Click-Worthy Summer Email Subject Lines ☀️🏖️

Summer email subject lines might be a little tricky to craft the perfect combination that drives clicks and conversions. While there’s no secret formula, you can take inspiration from common ones used by famous brands.

As the weather is heating up, consumer spending is significantly increasing. What does it mean to you?

It’s time to start planning your summer email marketing campaigns and promote your brand through marketing campaigns designed to appeal to the summer season.

Whether you will spread the word about your summer sales or promote summer deals and products, I’ve done complete research for you, so you don’t have to spend hours trying to find how top e-commerce brands send summer emails that get clicks all the time.

Feel free to gather inspiration from the following summer email subject lines, and you’ll deliver enticing summer emails in no time.

If you need to add a little spice and craft funny emails, we have also gathered humorous email subject lines.

1. "Summer Hot Savings, You Don’t Want to Miss."

Since summer is a season most people are looking forward to, they want to make the most out of it. That’s why FOMO (fear of missing out) is a strong strategy for writing summer email subject lines.

Subscribers tend to open email subject lines that promise to maximize summertime opportunities. Here are some examples that you can inspire from:

  • What everyone is ____ this summer
  • Emily, Your summer savings will disappear soon
  • Join the party and get the most out of summer
  • Don’t miss the sweetest summer deals of the season

"Summer Hot Savings, You Don’t Want to Miss."

8fit aims at the consumer's fear of missing out with the subject line above to increase sales and attention to the discount campaign.

8fit summer email subject line

Recommended article: 50 Best Practices of Abandoned Cart Subject Lines

2. “Yum in the sun 😎”

Using emojis in the email subject lines could help your campaigns stand out in an inbox. However, as Search Engine Journal points out, emojis may catch the receiver’s eye, but that doesn’t mean they will open it.

That being said, emojis are often considered suitable for summer vibes. Just try not to overdo it.

Starbucks uses emojis in summer email subject lines to drive clicks:

“Yum in the sun 😎”

When you open the email, they are promoting new summer drinks available in stores.

Starbucks summer email example

More Summer Subject Lines Like This:

  • Pull&Bear: 🕶 + 👟 + ☀️ = Summer!
  • Crocs: Florals are in for SUMMER 🌸
  • Pura Vida Bracelets: What’s hot this summer 🔥☀️🔥
  • Estee Lauder: Escape to Summer ☀️🌊
  • Penguin Books: 📚️ + ☀️= 🎉🎉🎉

3. “It's time for dresses and skirts!”

Apart from FOMO and using emojis, one way to drive clicks and increase open rates is what Protest Sportswear does; catching attention with summer trends.

They play at subscribers’ needs with an ordinary statement in the subject line. This email aims to make recipients click to see the dresses and skirts offered.

Inside the email, we see another summer-vibey line:

"The sun is out, so it's also time to get your legs out!"

Protest summer email subject line example

More Summer Subject Lines Like This:

  • Aerie: Your new summer shorts are inside
  • Ulta Beauty: 🥅 Our summer goal 👇

4. “Your Butt Has Summer Plans”

Most brands prefer to promote summer bestsellers, while others choose to do it with some humor. The latter is what Everlane does.

With a summer email subject line saying “Your Butt Has Summer Plans,” Everlane draws attention to their shorts with a humorous statement. With a clear CTA and fun copy they successfully engage their subscribers.

Everlane summer email subject line example

More Summer Subject Lines Like This:

  • Urban Outfitters: The 7 pieces you need this summer ☀️
  • NYX: This NEW body oil is a summer essential!
  • SHEIN: Summer shopping isn’t complete without these picks

5. "School’s out for summer!"

Summer season means graduation and the end of school terms. Join the celebration by marketing your offers and products with the right subjectlines. Here are some "end of school" subject line examples you can steal:

  • School’s out for summer!
  • Celebrate the end of school with [brand]’s summer discounts!
  • 20% off everything at [brand] for new graduates this July
  • You did it! Here’s our exclusive discount code
  • Put the books away and get outside with [brand]
  • Grads are rad! Check out our exclusive end of school offers
  • Hot promo codes for cool school leavers
  • Hey teacher! Leave them kids alone!
  • Trade-in your old textbooks today for CASH
  • Just another school year? Not quite…

6. “Dog Days of Summer Sale! 🐶☀📬”

Some brands took advantage of wordplay to get subscribers to click. That’s what Postable does to get noticed in busy email inboxes.

Postable uses subtle humor with the subject line “Dog Days of Summer Sale” with a dog emoji to increase open rates. So can you; even if you are not a big fan of humor and jokes, you can still experiment with puns for seasonal emails.

In case you don’t prefer humor, here are some alternatives:

  • Blue Apron: Get that instant summer feeling with $80 OFF.
  • AllSaints: Best of the Summer Sale
  • Abercrombie & Fitch: Summer Sale is still ON.
  • Tailgate: The summer sale keeps shining.
  • Old Navy: These shorts are actually $10 & summer is actually here!

7. End of Summer

Just like FOMO, the sense of urgency is a powerful trigger to imply that time is running out. With the end of summer closing in, people realize the summer days are numbered and all the things they forgot to do. For example, the end of the summer means the approaching school days for kids.

You can use these feelings in your email marketing strategy and craft emotional email subject to get subscribers to open the emails and take action:

  • Don’t let your summer slip away!
  • Summer is almost over, and the heat is on
  • Your last chance for summer savings
  • Squeeze the last drops of fun out of summer

"Summer is sooo last season"

Storehouse "waves goodbye" to summer like a pro with a fun and conversational subject line.

Storehouse end of summer email subject line

Create Summer-Ready Popups to Collect Subscribers

Before you start thinking about what to write in that subject line, you should keep in mind that consistently growing your email list MATTERS for successful email marketing results.

So, how do you keep expanding your email list without lifting a finger? One common way that actually works is using subscription popups. You can collect leads without hassle just by displaying a popup on your website.

Create your email popup with Popupsmart for free.

Here are some summer popups created with Popupsmart to encourage visitors to signup to your email list:

summer popup form example
summer popup

Bonus: 70 Summer Email Subject Lines for Retailers

  1. Summer is Getting Closer: Grab a Deal Now
  2. Our Holiday Deals? Summer Pretty Good
  3. Yelp: Rise and Shine, It’s Beach Time
  4. Swimwear 365: Seas the Day
  5. LOFT: Meet Your Summer Loves
  6. ShopBop: The Go-To Summer Shoe
  7. DAVIDsTEA: Your summer iced tea is on us.
  8. Topshop: The big summer sale edit
  9. rag & bone: Summer Whites
  10. Weekend Sherpa: Beaches & Beverages
  11. J.Crew Factory: Get extra 30% off these summer MVPs
  12. Blaster Tag: Blaster Tag Summer Hours & Mobile Parties
  13. CustomInk: You could win a summer prize pack or an iPad!
  14. Toms: Take your toes on an adventure | Beach-ready styles
  15. Gap Kids: rarely on sale! stock up on summer must-haves
  16. lucy: Cool. Carefree. Capris.
  17. DSW: Big brands. New sandals. $29.95 & under prices.
  18. REI: Make Summer Epic
  19. Kate Spade: Hello Sailor
  20. LOFT: Summer’s “It” color is…
  21. Rip Curl: Earn Your Stars & Stripes
  22. Chandon: Don’t Miss Our Summer Party!
  23. Topshop: The five shoes of summer
  24. Virgin America: Float away this summer with fares from $69 one way
  25. Kate Spade: Your summer style muse (and her chicest secret weapon)
  26. CB2: jumpstart summer with these 3 hot offers
  27. THACKER NYC: The B I G B A N G Sale Starts Now! ??
  28. Topshop: Kendall + Kylie swimwear has landed
  29. Birchbox: What’s Your Biggest Summer Beauty Bummer?
  30. Food52: We pledge allegiance to the picnic.
  31. Rent the Runway: A sale that’s better than fireworks
  32. Rip Curl: Made For Independence Day
  33. Unison: Red White +Blue Cool
  34. Whole Foods Market: Beer Cocktails and Grilled Pizza? Hello, Summer!
  35. Crate and Barrel: Let the fireworks begin
  36. Minibar Delivery: Red, White & Brews ?? ?
  37. Name Bubbles: Before you head off to that BBQ…
  38. Gap Kids: this is BIG (for sandcastles & pool parties)
  39. RON ROBINSON: Swim Into Summer
  40. Pharmaca: Shop EWG-approved sun care, on sale now!
  41. DSW: Sandals $29.95 & under = a happy closet
  42. AliExpress: Heads up: Get your hands on the hottest gadgets
  43. Rip Curl: WAVE THE FLAG
  44. The Music Zoo: 30 Red, White and Blue Guitars & Basses for Summer
  45. lucy: Summer’s on sale. up to 40% off
  46. Del Mar Racing: Summer is Heating Up
  47. Pottery Barn: July 4th Savings + Free Shipping
  48. J.C. Penney: Under $10 summer styles for the family—polos, tees & more
  49. Stars, Stripes, and Sales
  50. Who’s Your Daddy (Father’s Day sale line)
  51. Bloomingdale’s: Sun’s Out! 10 Beach-Bound Essentials for Him & Her
  52. DAVIDsTEA: It’s time for something exotic…
  53. Banana Republic: Summer dresses to wear everywhere
  54. The Stationery Studio: Up to $25 Off Patriotic Parties
  55. NORDSTROM: Sun’s out: Pop-In@Nordstrom de Soleil
  56. Pottery Barn Kids: Summer-ready savings! 20% OFF all tabletop + more saving
  57. Food52: The holy trinity of summer salad tricks.
  58. Neiman Marcus: Try out a lighter palette for summer
  59. The Land of Nod: Games for All Summer Long
  60. Guitar Center: Fun in the Sun Savings End Today
  61. Whole Foods Market: 8 Summertime Sips That Sparkle
  62. Old Navy: 60% OFF your summer essential
  63. Tory Burch: The Miller Sandal: Pick a new shade for summer
  64. Etienne Aigner: Everything You Need For A Stylish Summer Getaway
  65. Sloat Garden Center: Birds, bees, and warm weather color!
  66. Real Simple: How to Plan the Perfect Summer Getaway
  67. Charming Charlie: NEW crossbodies & summer dresses. Yes & yes!
  68. Chandon: Perfect Summer Party Day 1: Sparkling Red Snow Cone
  69. Summer Gets Better
  70. Get a Head Start on Summer

Conclusion

Regardless of your business size, the summer season brings a special opportunity to promote deals and products to your subscriber base. You need to turn it to your advantage by crafting funny, emotional, curious, or promising subject lines. No matter which tone you’ll be using in your subject line, make sure to match it to your brand voice.

Take inspiration from how top e-commerce brands write catchy summer email subject lines, and you’ll craft yours like a professional.

Which one will you be using? Share with us in the comments below.

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