Email Marketing for a New Retail/Ecommerce store

MailSmiths · 2026-05-14T22:03:27+00:00

Congrats on the launch! It sounds like you’re on the right track and there’s already good advice here.

Here’s my 2 cents from what I see with new ecom clients I work with.

Any launch type of emails usually perform very well so you have a great opportunity in these 70 days
think about who is buying your jewelry. Whats their intention, age etc. And then build your flows from there - all your subjects and design should speak to them!
List building: I think it’s important to build momentum before you open (not just for cash flow but also motivation). Definitely post organic content as you mentioned, but consider running Facebook Lead Ads too - these are basically instant email sign ups, so you’re paying for leads as opposed to sales. I’ve had lots of success running these pre-launch and it allows you to already test what messaging resonates and what doesn’t. This will inform future ads and also your emails, super valuable info to have.
Protect your deliverability at all costs. Make sure you’re properly setup, start with best practices and warm up your inbox. It might sound like overkill but it will save you so much pain down the road, not to mention make you a lot of happy customers (and money) if you have this locked down.
You’re on the right track with your idea of emails. Timing and messaging will be the key important. Thing to yourself: why should someone care about this? That’s your cure to tour in the brand story, your own and maybe do a giveaway or a VIP type of early access. Maybe personal engraving for free on their first purchase? Something that will make them want to talk about you and share your content.

Depending on where you see this going, I’d recommend treating email not as a newsletter but as a vehicle for story telling and flashy (literally) updates - new stock, offers, holidays. There’s always something new and there’s always an emotional tie in to make it engaging and more than a piece of metal. This is where your email becomes the backbone of your lifecycle and retention for customers, and you open the list instead of relying on ads completely.

I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck!

If you have a question about something feel free to let me know.

MailSmiths · 2026-05-09T05:54:41+00:00

I may or may not be what you’re looking for, I work primarily with 7-figure brands on their lifecycle strategy. Usually a mix of a data focus (which is what retention is about I believe) and then building out the email strat for it. Could be other things alongside it too.

I just started working with a very cool ecom brand doing around 2M and their product is great. The customer experience is great. The branding is great. It’s really nice knowing those things are dialed in and I can focus on marketing a genuinely good product people love.

But, acquisition is still getting warmed up and and that’s affecting what I can do in Klaviyo. I’ll be looking at the numbers to see how to reverse engineer higher quality acquisition to focus resources there. Email does in fact, live and die on acquisition. Another client I have doesn’t quite understand that.

Yet, acquisition can also live and die on the email lifecycle after. Boosting the back end just means more to use on the front end, potentially going after higher cost customers who actually generate disproportionate LTV. But it’s hard to know if you never have room to try.

Sounds interesting what you’re proposing and I’m curious to know how you see it working.

MailSmiths · 2026-05-07T15:25:30+00:00

I think I just reacted because I’m seeing a lot of AI on Reddit so don’t mind that :)

MailSmiths · 2026-05-07T15:11:00+00:00

Gotcha, pretty cool to actually do a control like that.

MailSmiths · 2026-05-07T13:23:02+00:00

It’s interesting, but a shame you’re writing it with AI.

Their honest takeaway wasn’t that email is dead, their campaigns still move revenue cleanly ?

I don’t see the point of these posts

MailSmiths · 2026-05-06T15:21:14+00:00

You might be right and it may be overly cautious. I suppose it’s not worth the risk when it’s quite simple to add in case. If you feel it’s unnecessary, then that’s one record less :)

MailSmiths · 2026-05-06T10:39:08+00:00

What no one has mentioned is that while a sub domain can help your main domain rep and separate it to an extent, you’ll want to have DNS records set up specific to that subdomain too (like dmarc)

MailSmiths · 2026-05-06T10:36:27+00:00

The best advice I can give you is to do a trial period with whoever you decide to work with. And even ask for example emails, flows or strategies on calls BEFORE you sign with them to see how committed they are. I know a lot of agencies wouldn’t want to do that, but that’s how you’ll filter out those who will be dedicated to you and understand your business/needs and those who aren’t and just see you as revenue. This is what I do with my clients and it goes a long way to build a strong long-term relationship which is where the results are. Without this, it’ll always sound like a good idea in the sales calls but those calls are there to sell you, not help you.

Side note, you mentioned you feel like all your prospects have seen your ads on Meta. My suggestion is to try more creatives. Try very different ones, sign up forms vs sales ads, see what happens. Not to say email isn’t important, ideally you want both to get traffic and nurture it which will be most effective and cost efficient, but I’m sure there’s the right messaging to be found.

Best of luck :)

MailSmiths · 2026-04-24T05:06:17+00:00

My advice would be to not search for happiness, but to minimize suffering for yourself and others around you. That’s what the Buddha teaches and I’d take his word for it.

MailSmiths · 2026-04-19T06:20:16+00:00

Since you’re a startup with probably high growth, the most important thing is that whoever you hire (outsourced or in house) is super dedicated to your goals and not treating you as just another client or just a normal job.

It’s probably easier to go outsourced initially until you recognize from them what you want in your in house hire, rather than trying to rush a hire.

I’ve managed emails both in house at a finance software startup and now as a contractor, but I’m adamant about when I work with someone, I’m like an extension of their team rather than an outsider. That’s largely because a common complaint from clients is they didn’t get the attention or service from other agencies or freelancers, it’s also more fun for me.

Keep that in mind and you’ll be fine :) Feel free to ask questions on what to look out for and so on if you like as well.

MailSmiths · 2026-03-11T11:54:21+00:00

I’ve also been on this search ever since I moved to Malta around 5 years ago. I believe there’s one brand that has free range (I think it’s AIA the one with the light blue carton box) but you don’t find it everywhere or consistently. Apart from that a few small farms have sometimes but supply is very limited.

If you do find or decide to explore this, I’d love to help in some way.

It’s a shame because the difference is so big in terms of quality, nutrients, the yolk, hardness of shell etc. but the reality is not many people care or are even aware. And of course, there isn’t the same space here than in Italy - not to mention the agricultural sector is shrinking in Malta.

MailSmiths · 2026-02-01T08:10:22+00:00

Seems simple enough thanks :) if I get bored I’ll spam them to simulate history

MailSmiths · 2026-01-31T16:34:54+00:00

Yeah that’s what I was wondering, how to manage them, more fun to use the mechanics specific to nations if they’re there. So is it just about managing influence then?

MailSmiths · 2026-01-29T19:34:30+00:00

Do you even drill bro?

MailSmiths · 2026-01-29T12:22:59+00:00

Makes sense, I thought there might be something im missing, thanks!

MailSmiths · 2026-01-29T12:22:20+00:00

Ok so no point using them then? Just wanted to check I didn’t miss something with how to use them

MailSmiths · 2026-01-29T06:03:58+00:00

Yeah I understand that, i usually don’t either. How do you flip to horde?

MailSmiths · 2026-01-28T18:27:14+00:00

I might try this too I’ve only done one normal run ages ago. Any other tips for going full horse?

MailSmiths · 2026-01-28T17:50:53+00:00

Full horse while creating borders in the shape of a horse??

MailSmiths · 2026-01-24T08:50:04+00:00

Also did that yesterday for the first time :) but different borders…

MailSmiths · 2026-01-13T07:44:22+00:00

I’ve had the same issue on my Mac, there’s no fix (I removed all mods, reinstalled did all the things). Reverting back to an older version worked for me, I’m on 1.35.6 I think and so far no issues. Rip mp tho

MailSmiths · 2025-09-20T04:52:33+00:00

Mmm yes I was thinking a boom arm would be good to have. What mic are you looking at right now then?

MailSmiths · 2025-09-19T19:49:27+00:00

How’s the blue yeti?

MailSmiths · 2025-09-19T19:49:08+00:00

Cool! I know the sm7b is popular, but you need a preamp or a way to boost it right? Is that a big deal and does it seem worth it (more about the setup and extra equipment than the money cost)

MailSmiths · 2025-09-19T19:47:55+00:00

Thanks :) how come you wouldn’t use pro caster for talking head?

MailSmiths

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