AM Inbox: KB Toys tries subject line branding

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The Retail Email Blog monitors the email marketing campaigns of more than 100 top online retailers. Here are highlights from our inbox this morning:

KB Toys, 7/10 — KBtoys: Sizzle & Save Up to 50% on Hot Toys + Free Shipping
This is the first time this calendar year that KB Toys has used their brand in their subject line. This can be a worthwhile subject line tactic, especially with more consumers signing up for permission-based email. With the holidays approaching—and holiday email volume set to increase by around 45%—making your emails easier to recognize is probably worthwhile. Already, retailers including EB Games, HPshopping, Musician’s Friend and Petco find the tactic so effective that they include their brand name in the subject line of every email they send. And several other retailers such as Cabela’s and Sam’s Club routinely including branding in their subject lines (see Subjectivity Scanner below). This is a tactic worthy of A/B testing if you haven’t done it recently. For more on subject line branding, check out Reportlet: Branded Subject Lines Underused by Retailers.

SUBJECTIVITY SCANNER: Select noteworthy subject lines
Sam’s Club, 7/10 — Sam's Club has Games that Rock!
Furniture.com, 7/10 — Sizzling Savings - Up to 75% at the Furniture.com Framed Art site!
Sears, 7/10 — Sears 72 Hour Sale. On Your Mark. Get Ready. Save.
Musician’s Friend, 7/10 — Musician's Friend: Extra 15% Off Accessories - Final Days!
Cabela’s, 7/10 — Last Chance Summer Sale Deals @ Cabelas.com
HPshopping, 7/10 — Your HP Home & Home Office Store Deals - Week of July 9, 2008
Hallmark, 7/10 — Get a head start on holiday fun July 12 & 13
Circuit City, 7/10 — Hurry! Outlet Blowout & back-to-school specials end Saturday
Toys “R” Us, 7/10 — Only 3 Days Left to get SUPER DEALS on Back To School items!
Northern Tool, 7/10 — Chad, Top Customer-Rated Products Inside
Road Runner Sports, 7/10 — Only Our Favorite Runners Get This! See Inside...
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