10 Essential Email Flows for DTC Brands. Our Klaviyo Guide.

Discover 10 essential email flows that every ecommerce store needs to increase conversions, keep customers engaged, and ensure repeat purchases. Whether you're just starting or refining your strategy, these flows will help you deliver the right message at the right time to your customers.

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Omar Juman

Blog /10 Essential Email Flows for DTC Brands. Our Klaviyo Guide.

Email marketing remains one of the most powerful tools in an ecommerce brand’s arsenal. But to truly harness its potential, it’s not enough to just send a one-off promotional email now and then. To build lasting relationships, increase customer loyalty, and maximize revenue, your brand needs a series of well-crafted email flows that guide your customers through every stage of their journey.

​In this article, we’ll dive into the 10 essential email flows that every ecommerce store needs to boost conversions, keep customers engaged, and ensure repeat business. Whether you're just starting or refining your strategy, these flows will help you deliver the right message at the right time to your customers.

1. Welcome Series

A sequence of emails sent to new subscribers or customers when they join your email list for the first time.

Why You Need to Have It:

​This is your brand’s first impression, where you set expectations and introduce your values, products, and offers.

Without a welcome series, you lose the opportunity to engage customers right at the point when they are most interested, resulting in lower open and conversion rates.

Goal of This Flow:

To make a strong first impression, increase brand awareness, and encourage that crucial first purchase.

Messaging to Include:

  • A warm introduction to your brand
  • Exclusive first-purchase discount or offer
  • Highlight best-selling or popular products
  • Social proof such as customer reviews or testimonials

Best Practice:

  • Send the first email immediately after sign-up.
  • Offer a discount or incentive in the first email.
  • Highlight your brand’s story and values.
  • Keep the series between 3-5 emails spaced over 7-10 days.
  • Use dynamic product recommendations based on user preferences.

2. Abandoned Cart Flow

Triggered when a customer adds items to their cart but doesn’t complete the purchase.

Why You Need to Have It:

Customers often abandon carts for various reasons, but a well-timed reminder can nudge them to finish their purchase.

You’re leaving money on the table by not following up with customers who have already shown purchase intent.

Goal of This Flow:

To recover lost revenue and remind customers about the products they were interested in.

Messaging to Include:

  • Reminder of the abandoned items
  • Free shipping offer or discount to incentivize purchase
  • Social proof or urgency (limited stock or time-sensitive offers)

Best Practice:

  • Send the first reminder within 1-3 hours of abandonment.
  • Use product images and direct links back to the cart.
  • Offer a discount or free shipping in the final email.
  • Include urgency (limited stock or countdown timers).
  • A/B test the frequency and timing of follow-ups.

3. Post-Purchase Thank You Series

Sent after a customer completes a purchase to thank them, confirm their order, and set expectations for delivery.

Why You Need to Have It:

It helps solidify the relationship with the customer, reinforces brand loyalty, and creates an opportunity to introduce them to other products.

Without this flow, you miss the chance to build rapport with customers right after they’ve bought from you, which could impact repeat purchase rates.

Goal of This Flow:

To express gratitude, provide important order details, and encourage a long-term relationship.

Messaging to Include:

  • A genuine thank you message from the brand or founder
  • Order confirmation and next steps for delivery
  • Links to FAQs or customer support
  • Product care tips or usage suggestions

Best Practice:

  • Send the first email immediately after the purchase.
  • Include all necessary order and delivery details.
  • Suggest complementary products in follow-up emails.
  • Invite customers to share their experience or leave a review.
  • Incorporate your brand’s personality and warmth in the tone.

4. Browse Abandonment Flow

Triggered when a customer browses products but doesn’t add anything to their cart or make a purchase.

Why You Need to Have It:

This flow re-engages customers who have shown interest but may need more persuasion to make a purchase.

Without it, you’re missing out on nudging potential customers who are already interested but haven’t yet converted.

Goal of This Flow:

To remind browsers of the products they were viewing and encourage them to take action.

Messaging to Include:

  • Mention the products they browsed
  • Suggest similar or complementary items
  • Add urgency with limited stock or low inventory messages

Best Practice:

  • Personalise the email with the products they viewed.
  • Suggest similar or related products.
  • Use scarcity tactics like “limited stock” messages.
  • Include a clear call to action with a direct link back to the product page.
  • Send within 24 hours of browsing.

5. Cross-Sell/Upsell Flow

Sent to encourage customers to purchase complementary or higher-value items based on previous purchases.

Why You Need to Have It:

It maximises the lifetime value of each customer by encouraging additional purchases.

You’re missing out on opportunities to increase average order value and create additional revenue from existing customers.

Goal of This Flow:

To introduce customers to complementary or upgraded products to enhance their shopping experience.

Messaging to Include:

  • Suggest products related to their previous purchase
  • Highlight the benefits of bundling or upgrading
  • Offer an exclusive discount on related items

Best Practice:

  • Send within a week of the customer’s last purchase.
  • Tailor the recommendations based on the customer’s buying history.
  • Offer a discount or exclusive offer on suggested products.
  • Include high-quality product images and descriptions.
  • A/B test product recommendations for relevance.

6. Re-engagement (Winback) Flow

Targeted at customers who haven’t made a purchase or engaged with your brand for a set period of time.

Why You Need to Have It:

Re-engagement emails help you win back lapsed customers and remind them of the value your brand offers.

Without this flow, you lose the opportunity to re-engage potentially high-value customers who may have simply forgotten about your brand.

Goal of This Flow:

To re-engage inactive customers and encourage them to make a repeat purchase.

Messaging to Include:

  • “We miss you” messaging
  • Exclusive offer or discount for returning customers
  • Highlighting new products they may have missed

Best Practice:

  • Send after 3-6 months of inactivity.
  • Include a personalized offer to incentivize re-engagement.
  • Showcase what’s new or improved in your product range.
  • Make the messaging friendly, showing appreciation for their past support.
  • Test different offers or messaging to see what drives re-engagement.

7. Birthday/Anniversary Flow

Automated emails sent on a customer’s birthday or the anniversary of their first purchase.

Why You Need to Have It:

This personal touch shows appreciation and encourages loyalty through exclusive offers tied to special occasions.

You miss the chance to connect with customers in a personal, meaningful way and create positive associations with your brand.

Goal of This Flow:

To celebrate the customer’s milestone and encourage a purchase with an exclusive, time-sensitive offer.

Messaging to Include:

  • “We miss you” messaging
  • Exclusive offer or discount for returning customers
  • Highlighting new products they may have missed

Best Practice:

  • Send after 3-6 months of inactivity.
  • Include a personalized offer to incentivize re-engagement.
  • Showcase what’s new or improved in your product range.
  • Make the messaging friendly, showing appreciation for their past support.
  • Test different offers or messaging to see what drives re-engagement.

8. VIP/Rewards Flow

An email series designed specifically for your most loyal customers, offering them exclusive benefits, rewards, or early access to new products.

Why You Need to Have It:

Your VIP customers are your most valuable, and nurturing this group can significantly increase their lifetime value. Offering them exclusive perks strengthens loyalty and encourages repeat purchases.

Without this flow, you may lose the opportunity to make your VIP customers feel special, leading them to switch to competitors.

Goal of This Flow:

To reward loyal customers, increase retention, and boost repeat purchases through exclusive offers and rewards.

Messaging to Include:

  • Acknowledgment of their VIP status and loyalty
  • Exclusive offers, early access, or sneak peeks at new products
  • Personalised product recommendations based on their history

Best Practice:

  • Define what qualifies a customer as a VIP (e.g., total spend, order frequency).
  • Offer early access to new products or exclusive discounts.
  • Personalise emails with dynamic product recommendations.
  • Use a clear, celebratory tone to make them feel valued.
  • Test different reward structures to see what drives the most engagement.

9. Customer Feedback/Review Request Flow

An automated email flow that requests feedback or product reviews after a purchase is completed and the customer has had time to use the product.

Why You Need to Have It:

Gathering reviews and feedback is crucial for social proof and improving your products and services. Positive reviews can help drive conversions, while constructive feedback allows you to address issues.

Without this flow, you miss the opportunity to leverage customer testimonials to boost conversions, and you might not gather valuable insights to improve your product offerings.

Goal of This Flow:

To collect product reviews and feedback that can be used to improve your business and provide social proof for future customers.

Messaging to Include:

  • A request for a product review or testimonial
  • Easy-to-follow review submission instructions
  • An incentive (e.g., a discount) for leaving a review

Best Practice:

  • Send the email a few days after the customer has received their product.
  • Include a direct link to the review submission page.
  • Offer a small incentive for submitting a review (e.g., discount or points).
  • Make the process quick and easy for the customer.
  • Use personalised messaging to show appreciation for their feedback.

10. Back-in-Stock Flow

Triggered when an out-of-stock item a customer showed interest in becomes available again.

Why You Need to Have It:

This flow re-engages customers who wanted an item that was previously out of stock, providing an excellent opportunity to recover potential sales.

You lose the chance to inform customers who were interested in a product that it’s available again, potentially resulting in lost sales.

Goal of This Flow:

To notify customers about the availability of previously out-of-stock products and encourage them to complete their purchase.

Messaging to Include:

  • A message notifying the customer that the product is back in stock
  • Product details and a link to the product page
  • A sense of urgency (e.g., "Limited stock available")

Best Practice:

  • Use dynamic content to show the product the customer was interested in.
  • Add urgency by highlighting limited stock availability.
  • Send the email as soon as the item is restocked.
  • Include a clear call to action to drive them back to the product page.
  • Test different incentive strategies (like free shipping or discounts) to see what improves conversions.

Mastering email automation is essential for growing your ecommerce business.

These 10 email flows — from the Welcome Flow to the Back-in-Stock Flow — help you engage customers at every stage of their journey.

By building relationships, nurturing leads, driving repeat purchases, and leveraging feedback, you ensure that every interaction adds value to your brand and keeps customers coming back.

From boosting customer retention to increasing conversion rates, these flows are designed to help you unlock your store’s full potential.

Don’t miss out on the benefits of having a well-structured email strategy — it’s a powerful tool for long-term growth.

If you want to implement these email flows or need help growing your ecommerce business, we’re here to help.

Book a free Ecom Growth Call with us today, and let’s unlock your brand’s potential!

Thanks for reading! 
​Omar Juman 
​Co-founder @ Blue Drop Studio 

Keep on reading

Here are a few more articles we think will interest you.

Get Exclusive Strategies, Tools 
& Insights to Scale Your D2C Business​

Join the
Ecom Growth ECOLLECTIVE
Newsletter

Ready to take your ecommerce business to the next level?
As a member of the Ecom Growth Collective Newsletter (it's free), you’ll get actionable strategies, expert insights, and industry updates straight to your inbox. Whether you're looking to boost sales, get started, or stay ahead of industry trends, we’ve got you covered.

By signing up via email, you express consent to receive marketing communications
from Blue Drop Studio. See privacy policy and terms of use for details.

Get Exclusive Strategies, Tools 
& Insights to Scale Your D2C Business​

Join the
Ecom Growth COLLECTIVE
Newsletter

Ready to take your ecommerce business to the next level?
As a member of the Ecom Growth Collective Newsletter (it's free), you’ll get actionable strategies, expert insights, and industry updates straight to your inbox. Whether you're looking to boost sales, get started, or stay ahead of industry trends, we’ve got you covered.

By signing up via email, you express consent to receive marketing communications from Blue Drop Studio. See privacy policy and terms of use for details.

Contact 

hello@bluedropstudio.com
020 3727 5012

© Copyright 2025 Blue Drop Studio Limited. All Rights Reserved.

THIS SITE IS NOT A PART OF THE FACEBOOK™ WEBSITE OR FACEBOOK™ INC.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS SITE IS NOT ENDORSED BY FACEBOOK™ IN ANY WAY. FACEBOOK™ IS A TRADEMARK OF FACEBOOK™, INC.