As we start a new year, let's take a look at Christmas emails past. The 2013 holiday season was filled with promotional emails galore. Here are a few that caught my attention.

Black Friday Subject Lines

I'd like to give a shout out to these companies with subject lines that set themselves apart from the rest of the crowd:

Betsey Johnson

A Black Friday Offer You Can't Refuse

Bon-Ton

Get your BLACK FRIDAY list ready | Over 500 Door Busters

Ready, set, click! Shop 500+ Black Friday Door Busters online.

$100 COUPON ends tonight! Black Friday Round

Current Catalog

❸ ❷ ❶ Black Friday Triple Offer Starts Now

e.l.f.

☻☺☻☺☻☺☻ bbbbbbbbBBBBBLACK

Ethan Allen

Black Friday Goes Red: Are you ready?

(I'm a sucker for alliteration...)

Fisher-Price

Black Friday Frenzy! 20% Off, Plus FREE SHIPPING!

(interesting how both the e.l.f. and Hartstrings subject lines were exactly the same; Hartstrings showed up first in my inbox...)

Hartstrings

bbbbbbbbBBBBBLACK!

Imagine Toys

Tech the halls

(and in true J. Peterman style...)

J. Peterman

Unequivocal Blackness Today - Up to 67% Off & Free Shipping.

Jared

Gift Ideas She'll Definitely Take A Shine To + Free Overnight Shipping!

Judith Ripka

Bling in the New Year with Judith Ripka

Magic Cabin

Black Friday savings with all the fixings

(This gave me an idea for a subject line for a Black Friday reminder email: A second helping of Black Friday sales)

Nasty Gal

BLACK OUT—40% Off All Black Everything!

Nicole Miller

Don't Go Cold Turkey - Shop Our Sale. Up to 70% off.

The Container Store

Oh! Oh! Oh! FREE SHIPPING on Stocking Stuffers

Both Ikea and Mod Cloth had similar headlines with a play on words that captured both the immediacy of the offers and their value:

Ikea

Seize the days

Mod Cloth

Seize the deal

Mod Cloth also wins points for including content as well. The subject line – Feast your eyes on 5 Black Friday Tips + our fab 50% off sale! – says it all.

And now for the emails that made my list of nice and not so nice...

Ho-ho

Fossil earns extra points for a compelling subject line – The feeling is virtual – and copy that pays off the concept, which is promoting e-gift cards.

 

Ugg also ties in its subject line – Looking for the perfect gift? You're getting warmer – with clever copy:

 

Nordstrom also slips in a cute email selling slippers:

Vineyard Vines manages to tie in product to the holiday with both subject line – Check it out! New Sport Shirts are in... – and headline/imagery:

Tiffany brilliantly builds on its brand equity (See? I told you I like alliteration):

And Dwell Studio puts a clever spin on last-minute shopping:

These emails use compelling design to convey Christmas messaging. Nicole Miller keeps you coming back with its 12 Looks of Holiday:

Shopbop promotes its holiday boutique with a unique visual:

And J.Crew separates itself from the rest of the pack with this simple email:

Ho-hum

Here are a few emails that left me scratching my head. I think Bergdorf Goodman confused Christmas with Easter:

Neiman Marcus missed the mark with this one:

And Bumble and bumble lives up to its name. This email had me pulling out my hair over the headline:

Now that Christmas 2013 is behind us, what are your New Year's email resolutions for 2014?