The 6 Most Effective Automations to Drive Engagement & Revenue

Plus, this week's top eCom stories in quick clips.

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Hey, it's Chase and Jimmy here.

We've got another packed line-up for you this morning, so here's what we're diving into:

✔️ From one-time to lifetime: How to turn BFCM buyers into repeat customers
✔️ The 6 automations driving eCommerce growth in 2025
✔️ Must-watch replay: The t(ai)riffying evolution with Taylor Holiday
✔️ Quick clips: This week's top eCom news stories

👉 Let’s dive in.

From one-time to lifetime: How to turn BFCM buyers into repeat customers

The sale isn’t over when checkout ends.

Most BFCM shoppers disappear after their first purchase (unless you know how to keep them around).

Join Omnisend’s live session to learn how to turn those new customers into loyal, repeat buyers through smart segmentation and post-purchase flows.

You’ll walk away knowing:

How to set up post-purchase flows that build loyalty from day one
The biggest mistakes brands make after BFCM (and how to avoid them)
Segmentation tactics to turn holiday shoppers into repeat customers

The 6 Automations Driving eCommerce Growth in 2025

Automation isn’t just efficient; it’s essential.

In 2025, the best-performing brands use automation to personalize at scale and keep customers engaged long after the first purchase.

From re-engaging abandoned carts to celebrating milestones, the right automations build relationships that drive repeat purchases and boost lifetime value.

Here are six proven automations every retention marketer should have locked and loaded 👇

1. Abandoned Cart Emails

Still the MVP of ecommerce automation. Abandoned cart emails remind shoppers what they left behind (and why they wanted it in the first place).

They recover lost revenue, but more importantly, they re-engage intent.

How to make yours stand out:

  • Send the first reminder within 3–4 hours of abandonment.

  • Add a second follow-up within 24 hours with social proof or urgency.

  • Include product images, dynamic recommendations, and a clear CTA.

Examples:

The Gentle Reminder:
Subject: “You left something behind, [Name]”
Body: “We saved your cart for you! Complete your order before it’s gone.”

The Urgent Push:
Subject: “Your cart’s about to expire!”
Body: “Items in your cart are going fast. Snag ‘em before they’re gone.”

2. Product Recommendation Emails

Think of these as your digital personal shopper. Recommendation emails leverage behavioral and purchase data to spotlight complementary or trending products your customer will actually want.

Best use cases:

  • Post-purchase to cross-sell related items.

  • After browsing sessions to retarget high-intent shoppers.

Example:
Subject: “Because you loved [Product]…”
Body: “You’ve got great taste, [Name]. These pair perfectly with your last purchase. Need help with sizing? Simply hit reply.”

Pro tip: Don’t just push “similar” items. Show complementary ones. If they bought skincare, recommend accessories or refills.

3. Back-in-Stock Alerts

These are urgency in disguise. Back-in-stock automations capitalize on scarcity and interest you already earned.

Example:
Subject: “It’s back… but not for long!”
Body: “The [Product] you wanted just restocked. Grab yours before it sells out again.”

Layer in dynamic product recommendations (“If you like this, you’ll love these…”) to keep shoppers browsing even if they miss out again.

4. Welcome Series

Your welcome flow sets the tone for your entire customer relationship. Oh, and it’s one of the highest-converting automations you’ll ever build.

Why it matters:
New subscribers are at peak interest. Strike while attention’s high.

What to include:

  1. A warm intro to your brand voice and values.

  2. A “shop favorites” or “get started” CTA.

  3. A first-purchase incentive if it fits your strategy.

Example:
Subject: “Welcome to [Brand]! Here’s how to get started”
Body: “We’re so glad you’re here. Explore our bestsellers and see why thousands love us.”

If you already have a strong welcome series, audit it annually. Update creative, A/B test subject lines, and align it with your latest products or campaigns.

5. Post-Purchase Feedback Emails

Feedback emails aren’t just for collecting reviews. They close the loop on customer satisfaction and open doors for your next sale.

Timing tip: Send 14–30 days after purchase, depending on your product type.

Examples:

  • Simple ask:
    Subject: “How’s your [Product] treating you?”
    Body: “We’d love your thoughts. Leave a quick review to help us improve.”

  • Incentivized approach:
    Subject: “Tell us what you think and score 20% off your next order”
    Body: “Share your experience with [Product] and get 20% off your next purchase.”

Keep it short, friendly, and frictionless. The easier it is to respond, the higher your completion rate.

6. Birthday or Anniversary Emails

Everyone loves to be celebrated and automated milestone emails deliver that personal touch at scale.

Examples:
Subject: “Happy birthday, [Name]! Your gift’s inside 🎁
Body: “You deserve something special. Enjoy 25% off on us.”

Pro tip: Don’t stop at birthdays. Celebrate first-order anniversaries, loyalty milestones, or “year with us” dates. Small recognition moments create lasting loyalty.

Why These 6 Still Matter in 2025 & Beyond

Even with AI personalization and predictive analytics on the rise, these six flows remain the foundation of every high-performing retention strategy.

They’re where automation meets empathy. Using data not just to sell, but to connect.

Start here, optimize often, and let your automations do what they do best: build relationships that keep revenue coming in long after the first click.

Must-watch replay: The t(ai)riffying evolution with Taylor Holiday

The session everyone was talking about at Commerce Roundtable San Diego is now live.

Taylor Holiday breaks down how DTC brands adapted through the chaos (and the strategies helping them scale today). Watch the full replay from Commerce Roundtable San Diego.

🗞️ Quick Clips:

  • Wellness is winning: Celeb-backed brands raise big: Functional wellness brands are pulling major capital. Trip, the adaptogen-infused beverage brand, raised $40M (now valued at $300M) with support from Joe Jonas and Ashley Graham. Meanwhile, Cymbiotika secured $25M from investors like The Weeknd and Post Malone as it expands into Target and nationwide retail. Both brands are tapping into the demand for aspirational, ingredient-driven wellness products.

  • Amazon vs. AI shopping agents: Amazon is suing Perplexity over its Comet AI agents, alleging they make unauthorized purchases while disguised as regular users. While Amazon’s CEO says he’s open to third-party agents, he’s drawing the line at tools that compromise customer experience or skip merchant permission.

  • Gen Z isn’t cutting spending (they’re just skipping lunch): Despite pullbacks at Chipotle and Cava, Gen Z is still splurging on luxury. Coach parent Tapestry added 2.2M new customers last quarter (35% from Gen Z) driven by demand for handbags and fashion accessories. The data shows younger shoppers are prioritizing expressive, elevated purchases… even if it means packing a sandwich.

Annnnd that’s a wrap for this edition! 

Thanks for hanging with Chase and me. Always a pleasure to have you here.

If you found this newsletter helpful (or even just a little fun), don’t keep it to yourself! Share ecomemailmarketer.com with your favorite DTC marketer. Let’s get them on board so they don’t miss next week’s drops.

Remember: Do shit you love.

🤘 Jimmy Kim & Chase Dimond

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