10 successful 4th of July email & SMS marketing ideas to revolutionize your revenue (with examples)

Black Friday Cyber Monday may drive the most revenue for your brand, but you don’t have to wait until then to reap the benefits of holiday-centric marketing. 

Across the US, people celebrate the 4th of July with a cookout. That means brands that sell consumer-packaged goods (CPG) have more marketing opportunities during this season.

But this is also the perfect holiday for brands that 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?

If you want to take advantage of July 4th celebrations, start preparing your brand’s email marketing and SMS messaging strategy no later than May.

Need some inspiration? Check out these 4th of July campaign ideas, each backed by real-world examples from brands with stellar Independence Day marketing.

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1. Use customer data to identify holiday needs

When you understand the problems your customers face during Independence Day celebrations—whether it’s sunburn, food prep challenges, or the inevitable day-after hangover—you can better position your products as the perfect solution.

Good contextual positioning comes from tapping into customer data that reveals these holiday-specific pain points. 

For instance, with a CRM platform, you can look at your customer profiles to analyze purchase patterns, browsing behavior, and even support inquiries around previous holidays. This can help you identify the specific challenges your customers face during Independence Day. 

With these insights, you can then craft messaging that resonates because it’s genuinely helpful, not just promotional.

Example: More Labs’ holiday hangover solution

Subject line: Combat your 4th of July hangover! 🍻🍷🍹

More Labs demonstrates a clear understanding of context and positioning with this 4th of July email. For those who partied too hard at their cookout, the brand offers the perfect hangover cure. Their July 4th email includes images that evoke the summer festivities, with their products nestled in the sand.

Brand tip: While More Labs didn’t necessarily design their supplements for this 4th of July campaign idea, they did adapt their messaging for the holiday and seized on the perfect contextual opportunity for revenue. 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.

2. Create visual merchandising to increase AOV

Visual merchandising isn’t just for physical stores. When done thoughtfully in your digital marketing, it can significantly boost your average order value (AOV) by showing customers how multiple products work together. This approach is particularly effective during holidays like the 4th of July when customers are already in a buying mindset.

For example, visually pairing products that are frequently browsed together can set the foundation for a themed collection. When people can see how products complement each other, they’re more likely to purchase them in a bundle, too.

Example: Kirna Zabête’s holiday mood board

Subject line: Monday Moodboard: 4th of July

Apparel brand Kirna Zabête uses this July 4th email to package their products as an Independence Day mood board that highlights holiday-related products.

The mood board makes it easy for people to visualize how multiple products can complement each other within the context of the holiday, which has the potential to increase AOV when someone converts on the email.

Brand tip: Make it easy for customers to shop your look by including direct links to your product. Kirna Zabête links to their entire moodboard so that customers can easily find and purchase any of the items that catch their eye. 

3. Lean into the strengths of each channel

Different communication channels serve different purposes in your customer journey. For instance, SMS creates an intimate, immediate connection with your most engaged audiences, whereas email is more conducive to longer form storytelling and product showcases. 

When planning your July 4th marketing campaigns, consider how each channel fits into your customers’ holiday experience and personal preferences.

For instance, your customer data can reveal which channels drive the most engagement for different segments. Use these insights to tailor your Independence Day messaging appropriately—concise and high-value for SMS, more visual and comprehensive for email—while maintaining a consistent brand experience across all touchpoints.

Example: ThreeMain’s concise SMS approach

SMS character count: 209

SMS represents valuable digital real estate—consumers are protective of which brands they let into their text messages. Three Main, a brand that sells non-toxic, planet-friendly cleaning products, puts that principle into action in this message ahead of Independence Day.

This text doesn’t waste any time, making a subscriber more likely to feel that the brand respects their attention and loyalty. With just one sentence, the brand gets right to the benefits for the subscriber:

• The amount of money they’ll save
• The amount they need to spend
• The code they need to use
• The link they need to shop

Brand tip: Use your B2C CRM to create an omnichannel campaign. Automate flows across email, SMS, and any other key channels to craft a cohesive, seamless experience for your customers.

4. Align inventory management with seasonal promotions

Holidays provide the perfect opportunity to move seasonal inventory before it becomes less relevant. Your July 4th marketing can serve a dual purpose: celebrating the holiday while strategically reducing overstocked seasonal items.

By identifying which products need attention in your inventory cycles, you can create win-win promotions. Your business can optimize its stock levels while customers get access to timely discounts on products they’ll love for the summer season.

Example: NOGU’s seasonal inventory strategy

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, takes advantage of the timing of the US holiday to promote a big sale.

While the brand admits they’re 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: Consider pairing this tactic with our previous point and promote strategically across channels. It’s a great way to drive extra engagement and clear out even more of your inventory so that nothing goes to waste.

5. Think beyond just the holiday

When planning for an upcoming holiday like July 4th, think of the context of the holiday in addition to the holiday itself. 

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 an email, SMS, or ad?

Example: High Beauty’s summer skincare connection

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—namely, sunscreen.

High Beauty, a vegan skincare collection, knows their audience wants the latest information on skincare, and that this content might be even more popular in summer. 

Brand tip: If it makes sense for your economics, pair your holiday outreach with a discount. Even though High Beauty’s email is about summer skincare, they still acknowledge the 4th of July by offering a 25% discount on their products.

6. Align your brand values with the spirit of 4th of July

The 4th of July celebrates American independence and values—which creates a natural opportunity to highlight aspects of your brand story that resonate with these themes. 

Smart brands identify which elements of their story resonate most strongly with different customer segments. Building these connections thoughtfully can help your messaging feel authentic rather than opportunistic, creating an experience that’s both meaningful and memorable.

Example: TheMagic5’s American-made positioning

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 here, the brand showcases that they produce their goggles on US soil—a fact that matters to patriotic folks across demographics and political parties.

Brand tip: Even if your products aren’t American-made, there are other values you can showcase that are still relevant to the holidays, such as a commitment to quality or the fact that you’re an independent, local business.

7. Use clarity to drive immediate action

Sometimes the most effective approach is the most straightforward one. Not every 4th of July campaign needs elaborate themes or complex promotions. 

A clear, direct message about your offer can cut through the holiday noise and drive immediate action, especially when engagement metrics show your audience responds well to straightforward communication.

This approach can be particularly effective for brands with limited resources or tight timelines. The key is ensuring your message is crystal clear and your call to action is compelling, even in its simplicity.

Example: Corporate’s no-frills approach

Subject line: July 4th Sale

Corporate, a sneaker and clothing shop, adopts a no-frills approach in this email. The body copy is clear, telling the subscriber how much they’ll save and providing the link to shop, front and center.

The direct, simple approach paid off for Corporate: this email earned both a high open rate and a high click rate.

Brand tip: You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. If you don’t have the time or resources to create a CRM strategy that may be more complex, try a simple approach instead.

8. Build urgency through limited-time offers

Creating a sense of urgency is one of the most powerful motivators in marketing. 

When applied strategically to your 4th of July campaigns, time-limited offers can drive immediate action from customers who might otherwise postpone their purchase decision. The key is making the deadline feel both real and significant.

Example: Quikflip’s deadline-driven approach

Subject line:⏰ Don’t miss out on our July 4th Sale!

Quikflip, an outerwear brand that sells hoodies and jackets that convert into backpacks, makes a bold move with this email: they offer subscribers a 25% off discount, but establish a sense of urgency by using an alarm clock in the subject line and noting in the fine print that the sale ends on July 4th at midnight.

The emoji strategy paid off with a high open rate.

The email also features firework-like graphics and copy that connects the brand’s products to the concept of independence: “Quikflip celebrates independence every day! Don’t get caught carrying your hoodie when ours converts to a backpack.”

Brand tip: Track open and click rates for emails with time-sensitive language to refine your approach for future marketing campaigns and identify which customer segments respond best to urgency-based messaging.

9. Reward loyal customers with exclusive VIP offers

The 4th of July presents a perfect opportunity to recognize and reward your most valuable customers. 

Creating special offers exclusively for your loyal customers not only drives revenue but also strengthens emotional connections with your brand. These customers already know, like, and trust you—showing them extra appreciation during holidays can transform them into brand advocates.

Segmenting your audience based on purchase history and engagement lets you deliver these personalized VIP experiences. Even small perks like early access or free shipping can make loyal customers feel genuinely appreciated and part of a special community.

Example: Wildling’s VIP recognition strategy

Subject line: 10% Off + Free Shipping! Code: FIREWORKS

Wildling Beauty’s 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.

Brand tip: 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 okay. If thematic design and copy don’t feel authentic to your brand, don’t force it.

10. Extend your campaign beyond the 4th of July

While most brands focus their marketing efforts on the days leading up to July 4th, there’s significant opportunity in the immediate post-holiday period. 

Many consumers are still in vacation mode or catching up on emails they missed during celebrations, making this a strategic time to reach them with final offers.

Analyzing post-holiday engagement from previous years can reveal optimal timing for these extended campaigns. This approach gives you an edge when other brands have already moved on, allowing you to capture additional holiday-related sales while tracking the incremental value these extended campaigns generate.

Example: The Honest Company’s day-after strategy

Subject line: HOURS LEFT: 20% off (almost) everything 😱

Preview text: Stock up on all your faves!

The Honest Company, Jessica Alba’s brand of non-toxic and hypoallergenic baby and beauty products, 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 checking 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, all in one place.

Brand tip: Even if your 4th of July campaign is “officially” over, don’t stop keeping an eye on performance. Continue to collect data with your CRM to see if there are any post-holiday insights you can turn into action for the following year.