GOODLES’ Discount Email – Fun, Bold, But Could It Be Better?

Plus, the latest industry intel and hiring opps for retention marketers

Hey it’s Chase and Jimmy here! 

This morning, we've got a discount email from GOODLES on deck! They nailed the attention game with this one. It’s bright, playful, and puts the deal front and center—exactly what a good promo should do. But is it maximizing conversions?

We broke it down:

What makes this email a winner

Where it falls short

🎯 3 quick wins you can steal for your next discount email

Plus, check out this week's Hiring Vault and the latest industry intel: Walmart’s new AI tool for merchants, Meta’s fact-checking features, and Best Buy’s direct shopper targeting on Meta.

Let’s dive in!

🚀 Beyond Savings: The Strategic Advantage of Modern Tax Compliance

What if tax compliance could be more than just a necessary expense?

Smart DTC brands are discovering that proper tax automation delivers more than just cost savings—it creates strategic capacity for growth initiatives.

Kintsugi customers report:

  • Finance teams redirecting 9+ hours monthly to strategic initiatives

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  • Simplified month-end close process (reduced by up to 3 days)

  • Increased investor confidence with clean financials and minimal audit risk

"It was time-consuming, so we ended up incurring penalties and interests." — Ravi, Obvi

The AI-first platform—built by Meta's former AI engineering lead—transforms tax compliance from a cost center into a growth enabler.

The Gold Standard in Numbers:

  • 98.3% reduction in compliance errors

  • 83% faster registration process

  • 99.8% reduction in penalties and fees

  • No long-term contracts. No onboarding fees. No implementation costs.

Just results.

🤑 GOODLES’ Discount Email: A Bold, Playful Offer That Could Convert Even Better

GOODLES knows how to grab attention, and this discount email does just that. It’s bright, bold, and loaded with personality. The 50% off deal is a strong hook, and the playful design makes it an easy win. But could it drive even more conversions? Let’s break it down.

Header Block

What We Love

Bold, colorful, and totally on-brand. GOODLES leans into its playful, high-energy vibe with a loud orange-and-purple combo. It’s fun, instantly recognizable, and makes the email feel exciting rather than just another promo.

The product is front and center. No distractions – just a giant, overflowing cup of cheesy mac. You don’t need to read a single word to know what’s being sold. The gooey texture and golden color do all the convincing for you.

Leads with the discount. GOODLES doesn’t make you hunt for the deal. A fun, high-impact headline and the 50% OFF badge makes it even clearer. The best discount emails don’t bury the offer – they slap it right at the top, and this one does that well.

What We’d Do Differently

 Trim the text. The header copy is doing too much. Five lines to explain that the discount applies to two bestsellers? Overkill. The key message – “Get 50% off our top mac & cheese flavors” – could be said in half the space, making it easier to digest.

 Clarify the CTA. “HECK YEA” is fun, but it doesn’t tell the reader what happens next. “Grab a Pack” or “Claim Your 50% Off” would make the action clearer and likely drive more clicks.

 Add urgency. Nowhere does it say how long this deal lasts. A simple “Limited Time Only” or “Ends Soon” would push hesitant buyers to act faster.

🔍 TL;DR: The header does a great job of grabbing attention, but it could be sharper. Less text, a clearer CTA, and a touch of urgency would make it even stronger.

Body Block

What We Love

Mobile-friendly design. Everything is clean, centered, and easy to find on smaller screens. The product images are crisp, the text is large, and the buttons pop. A+ for readability.

Discounted price bubbles. Seeing the original price next to the sale price helps shoppers visualize exactly how much they’ll save. Plus, the bright pink bubbles draw the eye without cluttering the layout.

Mix of classic and new flavors. Featuring both a new flavor (Smokey Dokey) and a classic variety pack is a smart move. It increases the chances of conversion by catering to different types of buyers.

Mouthwatering descriptions. The copy under each product is fun and sensory-driven: “A sticky, thicky mac blanketed in gouda cheese.” That’s how you sell food.

What We’d Do Differently

 Write better CTAs. “OOEY GOOEY” and “CREAMY DREAMY” fit the brand voice, but they don’t tell shoppers what happens when they click. “Add to Cart” or “Get Yours Now” would create clearer action cues.

 Where’s the social proof? This is a golden opportunity to show off how much people love GOODLES. A short testimonial (“Best mac and cheese I’ve ever had!”) or a quick “100,000+ happy mac lovers” would make first-time buyers feel more confident.

 Highlight the benefits. The flavor descriptions are great, but there’s no mention of what makes GOODLES better than other mac and cheese brands. A quick callout like “14g protein, 7g fiber, 21 nutrients” would appeal to health-conscious buyers.

🔍 TL;DR: The body makes the deal clear and the mac look delicious. But stronger CTAs, social proof, and a quick benefits highlight could drive even more conversions.

Footer Block

What We Love

Short and sweet. The footer keeps it minimal, with just the essentials – social links, shop, contact, and FAQ. No clutter, no distractions.

Fine print does its job. They’ve included the promo’s expiration date to prevent any confusion. If there’s a time limit on a discount, it’s always smart to spell it out somewhere.

Easy unsubscribe options. Giving subscribers control over their preferences is always a good idea. It helps reduce unsubscribes while keeping engagement high.

What We’d Do Differently

 Move the urgency higher up. The promo expiration is in the fine print, but why not call it out earlier? Highlighting the time limit up top would create more FOMO and drive faster action.

 Add more branding. A GOODLES logo or tagline in the footer would help tie everything together visually and reinforce the brand identity. Right now, it feels generic.

🔍 TL;DR: The footer keeps it clean and functional, but a touch more branding and calling out the urgency higher up would make this email more powerful overall.

Final Thoughts: What Email Marketers Can Learn

GOODLES’ discount email brings the fun. It’s bright, engaging, and puts the product and deal front and center – exactly what a promo email should do. While it grabs attention, sharper CTAs, stronger urgency, and a bit of social proof would help turn more subscribers into buyers.

3 Quick Wins to Steal for Your Next Discount Email

 Make CTAs clear and action-driven. Fun buttons are great, but clarity drives clicks. A CTA should instantly tell the reader what happens next.

 Build urgency from the start. If the deal is limited, don’t wait until the fine print to say so. A simple nudge or countdown-style wording can push hesitant buyers to act fast.

 Sprinkle in social proof. First-time buyers need reassurance. A quick testimonial, star rating, or customer count adds instant trust and makes the purchase feel like a no-brainer.

A strong discount email doesn’t just announce a deal. It makes shoppers feel like they need to act now. Keep it clear, make it compelling, and watch those conversions rise.

👀 Industry Intel: AI, Fact-Checking & Shopper Targeting—Key Updates for Marketers

The marketing landscape is evolving fast—here’s what’s happening:

 Walmart Rolls Out ‘Wally,’ an AI Tool for Merchants

Walmart has launched Wally, a generative AI tool designed to help merchants make better product decisions. By analyzing data, Wally assists with assortment planning, pricing strategies, and inventory management—giving merchants a competitive edge.

💡 Why it matters: AI-driven decision-making is becoming the norm in retail. Expect more brands to integrate AI tools for operational efficiency and strategic growth.

 Meta Expands Community Notes to Facebook, Instagram & Threads

Meta is testing Community Notes, a fact-checking tool originally launched on X (formerly Twitter), across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. The feature allows users to add context to potentially misleading posts, aiming to improve content credibility.

💡 Why it matters: This could impact how brands and marketers manage social content. Expect potential shifts in engagement, trust-building strategies, and moderation policies.

 Best Buy Enables Direct Shopper Targeting on Meta

Best Buy is now allowing advertisers to automatically target its shoppers on Facebook and Instagram. The partnership gives brands access to Best Buy’s first-party data, making it easier to reach high-intent consumers with precision.

💡 Why it matters: This move strengthens the link between retail and social advertising. For brands in the tech and electronics space, it’s a major opportunity to refine ad targeting and drive conversions.

👨‍💻 The Hiring Vault

That's a wrap for today!

Appreciate you hanging with Chase and me—hope you found something you can put to work ASAP. If you did, don’t keep it to yourself! Send ecomemailmarketer.com to your favorite DTC marketer and get them in on the action.

New week, new strategies—let’s make it count. Catch you next time! 🚀

🤘 Jimmy Kim

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