The average ecommerce brand loses up to 70% of its carts.
That means someone browsed your products, clicked “add to cart,” then vanished. But what most brands don’t realise? A smart abandoned cart email strategy can recover up to 20–30% of those lost sales — automatically.
The problem? Most cart emails are forgettable. Or worse — they sound robotic, desperate, or off-brand.
In this guide, we’ll break down 5 high-converting abandoned cart email examples, why they work, and how you can adapt them to your brand.
Contents
- What Makes a Great Abandoned Cart Email in 2025?
- Example 1: The Playful Reminder
- Example 2: The Urgency Drop
- Example 3: The Social Proof Nudge
- Example 4: The Incentive Hook
- Example 5: The Founder Follow-Up
- Bonus Tips + Best Practices
- Final Thoughts + Template Link
1. What Makes a Great Abandoned Cart Email in 2025?
Today’s consumers are smart. They know what a cart reminder is. So instead of treating it like a system-generated message, treat it like a conversation.
The best cart emails:
- Sound human — not like a bot
- Use personality and tone that match your brand
- Make the CTA feel urgent, not pushy
- Include visuals of what was left behind
- Provide a frictionless path back to checkout
You don’t need 6 follow-ups. One or two well-written emails can recover a surprising amount of revenue.
2. Example 1: The Playful Reminder
Subject: Did you forget something... or are we being ghosted? 👻
Body: Hey [First Name],
We noticed you left something behind — and we’re not mad, just concerned 😅
Your cart’s still here, and it's feeling a little lonely.
[Product Image] [CTA Button: Return to My Cart]
Don’t worry, no judgment. Just good vibes and great coffee.
Why it works:
- Light-hearted tone breaks through inbox noise
- Friendly CTA lowers pressure
- Reinforces brand voice while nudging conversion
3. Example 2: The Urgency Drop
Subject: Your cart expires in 3 hours ⏰
Body: Quick heads up: we can only hold your cart for 3 more hours.
After that, we’ll release the items back into the wild.
This isn’t pressure — it’s logistics 😉
[Product Image] [CTA: Get It Before It’s Gone]
Why it works:
- Creates a natural deadline
- Leverages urgency without gimmicks
- Increases conversion window before customer moves on
4. Example 3: The Social Proof Nudge
Subject: Join 5,000+ happy customers who didn’t miss out
Body: Thousands of people just like you love [Your Brand Name]. Here’s what they had to say:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “This is the best decision I made all year.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Great product. Great people. Even better results.”
Your cart’s still waiting — and it’s worth it.
[CTA: Complete My Order]
Why it works:
- Builds trust through user-generated proof
- Helps new customers feel safer buying
- Turns FOMO into a friendly push
5. Example 4: The Incentive Hook
Subject: 10% off if you order in the next 2 hours 🎁
Body: We get it — you needed some time. And we respect that.
But if your cart’s still on your mind, here’s something to sweeten the deal:
10% OFF — just for the next 2 hours.
Use code: ALMOSTTHERE10
[CTA: Claim My Discount + Checkout]
Why it works:
- Offers a genuine incentive without sounding needy
- Creates urgency with a time limit
- Perfect for first-time buyer conversion
6. Example 5: The Founder Follow-Up
Subject: A quick note from [Your Founder’s Name] 💬
Body: Hey — it’s [Founder Name],
Just wanted to say thanks for checking us out. We know buying something new isn’t always an easy decision.
If you have any questions, I’d love to help personally. Otherwise, your cart’s still waiting — no pressure.
Cheers, [Founder Name]
[CTA: Return to Cart]
Why it works:
- Feels deeply personal and non-automated
- Builds founder-led trust and brand affinity
- Great for premium or high-ticket products
7. Bonus Tips + Best Practices
- Send 1–2 emails only. Don’t spam.
- Test subject lines heavily. They’re 80% of the battle.
- Use SMS as a follow-up channel, if opt-in exists
- Include dynamic product blocks, not just text
- Track revenue per email, not just open/click rate
8. Final Thoughts + Template Link
Abandoned cart emails aren’t about guilt-tripping your customers. They’re about reconnecting, reminding, and nudging with personality.
Even one good cart email can add thousands in revenue each month.
Or dive deeper into ecommerce email mastery with our Email Marketing Course.
