AM Inbox: Putting a human face on your newsletter

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

Orvis, 4/13 — Rosenbauer's tips and top picks
Orvis has built this email around the advice and product recommendations of 10-time author and fly-fishing expert Tom Rosenbauer, who is also the marketing director of Orvis Rod & Tackle. He talks about his favorite rods, new gear that he likes and gives a little advice about saltwater fly fishing. Having guest writers like this helps put a human face on your emails and makes them more personal, because it’s not just an anonymous marketer recommending stuff to you. Several other retailers also have occasional guests, including Neiman Marcus and Spiegel. Neiman’s fashion director, Ken Downing, issues his Runway Reports from the various major fashion shows around the world, and Spiegel likes to have guest stylists that recommend and comment on outfits constructed from Spiegel’s assortment.



CompUSA, 4/15 — NEW LG Monitors & Samung TVs Now Available
In this year’s Oopsy Hall of Fame class, I admonished Bloomingdale’s for misspelling the name of a charity it was supporting. Messing up a company’s name or brand name is just the worst misspelling of all. In this email, CompUSA misspells Samsung—and does it in the subject line. Please be careful with your suppliers’ trademarks.

PetSmart, 4/14 — Chews dogs love to gnaw on plus free shipping!
A big supporter of pet adoption, PetSmart has created Furry Tails, a contest that rewards the best pet adoption stories. PetSmart alerted subscribers to the contest most recently in a March 12 email. Now the finalists have been selected and they are soliciting folks to vote to determine the winners.



SUBJECTIVITY SCANNER:
Barnes & Noble, 4/13 — As Featured Today on Oprah: Scam Proof Your Life
Northern Tool, 4/13 — Chad, Top-Rated Pressure Washers - Many On Sale
Bluefly, 4/13 — Tee'ser... [promoting tops and tees]
DisneyShopping, 4/13 — Get Your First Tax Break Here!
TigerDirect, 4/13 — Hard Drive Heaven: 650gb Ext $219...250gb Ext $69 & 1gb DDR $49 (Ends 4/16)
Petco, 4/14 — PETCO Top Rated Products + Get FREE Shipping
Costco, 4/14 — Catch Big Savings on Flat Screen TVs
Circuit City, 4/14 — Act fast—save hundreds instantly at Circuit City
Neiman Marcus, 4/13 — SHORTS for all lifestyles + DOUBLE InCircle Points
RadioShack, 4/15 — Hit the road with Bluetooth (R)
Drugstore.com, 4/15 — Save up to 40% during our Natural Sale