AM Inbox: Musician’s Friend newsletter redesign

RetailEmail.Blogspot monitors the email marketing campaigns of more than 100 of the top online retailers. Here are highlights from our inbox this morning:

Musician’s Friend, 3/22 — Musician's Friend: Free Shipping On All Guitars And Acoustic Drums
Musician’s Friend has redesigned its Week In Review email newsletter, making several significant changes. First, cosmetically, they’ve gone with a much cleaner look with fewer lines and boxes, using lighter gridlines instead of black ones, and introducing more white space so it doesn’t look so cramped—all of which should increase the readability of the newsletter. Second, they move the sidebar from the left-hand side to the right-hand. Subscribers with their monitors set on lower resolutions may not see or notice the sidebar as a consequence because it will be off screen right. Third, they add the date in the upper right-hand corner above the navigation bar. And last but certainly not least, they simplified the navigation bar, dropping the Amazon-like tabs in favor of text links. Along with that change, they also decided they could do without the search field at the top. Musician’s Friend used this new navigation bar in a March 20 email, but this is their first redesigned Week In Review email. It’s worth noting that the old version of Musician’s Friend’s newsletter had the same style as their website with the boxes and tabs, which makes me wonder if this newsletter redesign is a prelude to a site redesign.

The redesigned newsletter (left) next to the old version:


Northern Tool, 3/22 — Chad, Tool Organizer Giveaway
This is a fun contest that builds brand equity and encourages interaction. Northern Tool, in partnership with Triton, is having a Show Us Your Tool Wall contest. A “two ways to win” teaser entices subscribers to click through to the website to learn the details, which are:

Option 1: Send us a photo of your disorganized tool wall or work area. The wall/area in need of the most help will win a Triton DB2 Complete Organizer Kit valued at $150.
Option 2: Send us a photo of your organized tool wall or work area. The most organized photo entry will win $50 worth of Triton Organizational products of your choice.

So it’s a chance for the hopelessly disorganized to get help, and a chance for the obsessively clean to show off their spotless work spaces. It’s an inclusive win-win contest.



SUBJECTIVITY SCANNER:
Crate & Barrel, 3/22 — The beauty of Ready to Assemble
Spiegel, 3/22 — Spring's Best Accessories: It Bags, Ballerina Flats, Must-Have Metallics & More!
Neiman Marcus, 3/23 — The Hip Event + FREE 3-DAY DELIVERY: New exclusives & a great gift!
Ross-Simons, 3/22 — HUGE INVENTORY BLOWOUT! Up to 80% off Already Slashed Clearance Prices!
Diamond.com, 3/22 — A Taste of Italy. Save 20%
Crutchfield, 3/22 — Closeout savings on HDTVs, car stereos, and more
Banana Republic, 3/22 — Spring sale starts today: Save up to 40%, online and in-store!
Bluefly, 3/22 — Today Only - Buy 2 or More Tops & Casual Shirts Get an Extra 10% off
FTD, 3/22 — Hop to it!
KB Toys, 3/22 — Sale on Select Easter Plush
Saks Fifth Avenue, 3/22 — Get a SAKS GIFT CARD worth up to $450 + FREE SHIPPING
Home Depot, 3/22 — 20% Off Select Ceiling Fans and Lighting
Nordstrom, 3/22 — Hot New Swimsuit Brands: Milly, Diane von Furstenberg & More FREE SHIPPING with Shoe Purchase (Details Inside)