7 Flash Sale Email Examples for Your Next Promo

Flash sale email subject lines

Flash sale emails are among the shortest emails you’ll ever write. However, your customers need to want to open them first.

Here are a few good examples of flash sale subject lines from my own inbox👇

Feel free to use these templates to craft a subject line for your campaign:

• ⏰ Hurry! 50% off ALL items – Today Only
• Flash sale! Save 20% on winter collection
• ⚡ Surprise! It’s a Flash Sale – Get 40% Off
• Tonight Only: Exclusive 40% OFF for Email Subscribers!
• Flash Sale Alert: Save 30% Until Midnight! ⌛

Examples of flash sale emails we love

Flash sale emails are usually about a specific item or a collection on sale. Our list of examples includes both types, so let's dive right in!

Category-specific flash sale

Brand: Maya Brenner

Industry: Jewelry & Accessories

This email focuses on a single product category — hoop earrings — making the promotion feel curated and easy to shop. Instead of crowding the email with multiple visuals, Maya Brenner uses a stylish GIF, supported by clickable product cards. The copy is minimal but on-brand, allowing the products to shine.

Key takeaways:

• Focused category sales make the offer feel intentional and targeted
• GIFs add motion and personality without overwhelming the layout
• Product cards double as visual interest and direct CTAs

Buy One, Get One Free (BOGO) flash sale

Brand: Girlfriend Collective

Industry: Apparel & Activewear

Girlfriend Collective’s email stands out by immediately showing a model wearing the promoted products, building an emotional connection. The offer — a free bra with any leggings — is framed visually and textually, with concise messaging and high contrast.

Key takeaways:

• Feature a human model to make the offer feel more relatable and aspirational
• Keep copy minimal: let bold visuals do the heavy lifting
• Include clear redemption steps and show the product range to reduce friction

Sitewide holiday flash sale

Many brands prefer launching flash sales on national holidays, knowing that people might be off work and in the mood for online shopping.

You can pick lesser-known holidays that are more relevant to your products, such as a national fitness day, or an international coffee day.

Brand: The Laundress

Industry: Home & Laundry Essentials

The Laundress ties its flash sale to a niche holiday — National Laundry Day — which cleverly aligns with its product category.

The headline highlights the dollar discount upfront, while the hero image shows the exact products included in the offer. The copy below reinforces both the urgency (“Celebrate”) and utility (“brighten, dewrinkle, infuse”) of the products.

Key takeaways:

• Pair your flash sale with a niche holiday that matches your product theme
• Use lifestyle product photography for warmth and visual credibility
• Keep the offer and action (discount + CTA) visible without scrolling

Sitewide flash sale – Everything Must Go

Brand: MeUndies

Industry: Apparel & Underwear

MeUndies runs a classic “everything is on sale” promo and keeps the messaging laser-focused.

The headline grabs attention instantly, and the email layout is ultra-concise — with a clear CTA button visible above the fold and a GIF featuring bestsellers to ignite interest. Even though the entire store is discounted, the brand smartly highlights its most-loved items to anchor the offer.

Key takeaways:

• Even with storewide sales, spotlight top-selling products to guide clicks
• Use animated visuals (like GIFs) to showcase multiple items in a compact space
• Keep copy minimal and ensure the CTA appears without scrolling

Single product flash sale

Brand: Pond Los Angeles

Industry: Bags & Accessories

This flash sale email from Pond LA is focused entirely on one hero item, and it treats the email almost like a product landing page.

The visuals are crisp and intentional, with small annotations that highlight key features such as fabric, fit, and versatility. The copy is brief but speaks directly to the customer’s lifestyle, showing an understanding of what their audience values.

Key takeaways:

• A single-product flash sale benefits from a “zoomed-in” visual approach
• Use annotations or captions to highlight selling points without clutter
• Position the product in context (e.g. how it’s worn or styled) to increase desire

End-of-season flash sale – remaining stock clearance

Brand: Honest Basics

Industry: Apparel & Sustainable Fashion

Honest Basics uses this flash sale to clear out end-of-winter stock with a tone that’s playful, transparent, and on-brand. A GIF displays the exact colors and items included in the sale, while the copy uses humor and a conversational voice to create connection.

The final section gives customers a peek behind the curtain — hinting at what’s coming next and making the sale feel like part of a larger story, not just a liquidation.

Key takeaways:

• Use last-chance language to drive urgency without sounding pushy
• Show what’s on sale visually — GIFs can increase clarity and engagement
• Let your brand voice shine through: humor and storytelling build trust

VIP-only flash sale – exclusive for members

Brands that are actively growing their email lists, often use VIP perks as an incentive to gain subscribers. This means your audience will expect benefits, such as deeper discounts and exclusive sales.

Brand: Ana Luisa

Industry: Jewelry & Accessories

Ana Luisa positions this flash sale as a VIP perk, offered during a broader Mother’s Day campaign. The email feels personal and trust-building: it features real customer reviews to provide social proof, highlights fast shipping and easy returns to remove friction, and can be personalized further based on click behavior.

It’s a smart example of how exclusivity and reassurance work together to drive conversions, especially when paired with a time-sensitive holiday.

Key takeaways:

• Promote exclusivity by positioning flash sales as “VIP access”
• Use product reviews to reinforce credibility and drive click intent
• Lean into convenience factors like free returns to overcome hesitations

Make use of pre-designed email templates

At Getsitecontrol, we understand that crafting promo emails from scratch can be challenging. That’s why we’ve created a collection of email templates you can customize and launch in minutes.

Once you register an account, you can access the gallery and customize any email to your needs. Just replace the images with your own, type your offer, adjust the rest of the details, and test the email by sending it to yourself or your colleagues. It’s that simple.

Flash sale email templates – copy you can use

Ready to launch your own flash sale? Here are two templates you can adapt.

Template 1 — End-of-season flash sale

Summer collection at half price

[Name], it’s your last chance to grab our summer essentials at 50% off. Fill your wardrobe with our top-selling items now.

[Browse Collection Button]

Free shipping on orders over $50. The sale ends tonight!

You’ve received this email because you’ve subscribed for a {{Brand name}} newsletter.

You can use this template for seasonal sales, remaining stock sales, or holiday sales. Meanwhile, the template below will work better for a category sale or a sitewide sale.

Template 2 — Category flash sale

[Name], it’s a surprise sale!

Save 50% on all accessories

All our accessories are half-priced. Don’t miss our exciting one-day flash sale and upgrade your gear at unbeatable prices. Hurry, this offer vanishes at midnight!

[Shop Now]

You’ve received this email because you’ve subscribed for a {{Brand name}} newsletter.

TL;DR: Flash sale email best practices

Whether you're targeting first-time buyers or re-engaging your list, here are some proven tactics that work:

• For a single product: Highlight its features with strong visuals and minimal copy.
• For a category sale: Use GIFs and product cards to showcase what’s included.
• For a storewide sale: Focus on your bestsellers to drive clicks and purchases.
• Always include: A clear CTA, a time limit, and urgency elements like countdown timers or “limited offer” banners.