🛒 Missed BFCM Carts? Recover Them Now

Hey, it’s Ray.

BFCM may be over, but the selling season definitely isn’t. 

December is one of the highest-intent shopping months of the year, which means one thing:

Those abandoned BFCM carts? They’re still warm.

And right now is one of the best windows to recover them.

This is your playbook to turn missed BFCM carts into fast, predictable revenue, using strategies that consistently work across ecom brands year after year.

Timing Matters More Than Anything

Your “when” is just as important as your “what.”

• Send the first reminder within 1–4 hours.
  This window consistently sees the highest recovery rates because the shopper still remembers the product and was already shopping during peak-season urgency.
  

• Follow up again within 24 hours.
  A gentle nudge here keeps your brand top-of-mind without feeling pushy.
  

• Add a final reminder at 48–72 hours.
  This picks up the “I got distracted” shoppers—always a surprisingly large group.
  

Show Them Exactly What They Left Behind

People abandon carts for dozens of reasons, but interest isn’t one of them. They already liked the product.

That’s why personalization works so well here:

• Show the exact products they added.

• Use clear product images to jog the shopper’s memory.

• Include reviews or quick social proof.
  (Shoppers trust other shoppers…always.)

The clearer and more specific the reminder, the higher the recovery rate.

A Smart Incentive Goes a Long Way

Not every cart needs a discount.

But when an incentive is needed, even a light nudge is often enough:

• A small 10% code

• Free shipping

• A bonus gift with purchase

The key is not the size of the offer, but the clarity and time limit.

People respond to simple, low-friction incentives, especially immediately after BFCM, when they’re still primed to look for deals.

Use Email + SMS Together (The Reliable Duo)

Email works incredibly well for abandoned carts.

SMS works incredibly well for urgent reminders.

Together? Much stronger.

Here’s the proven sequence most brands rely on:

• Email first → great for visuals, product details, and explanations

• SMS second → short, direct, high-open-rate reminder with a link to checkout

You’re reaching the shopper in two different modes, increasing the chance that one of them catches attention.

Automate Everything So You Don’t Miss a Single Cart

Manually following up isn’t realistic, especially during the holiday rush. That’s why abandoned cart flows exist.

A strong, automated setup includes:

• A 3-step sequence (1 hr → 24 hrs → 48–72 hrs)

• Product-specific messaging

• Consistent branding

• Smart segmentation (new vs. returning customers, high-value carts, etc.)

• A/B testing subject lines, offers, and timing

Once activated, this runs 24/7 and picks up revenue you’d otherwise lose without lifting a finger.

Add Social Proof to Seal the Deal

Holiday shoppers are comparison-shopping more than ever. 

Sometimes they just need reassurance.

• Highlight a review for the exact product in their cart

• Add customer photos when possible

• Mention best-seller status or repeat-purchase popularity

This kind of proof helps remove hesitation while reinforcing trust, especially important in December when shoppers are buying gifts.

Make December Easy

When your abandoned cart flows are dialed in, personalized, automated, and optimized, you don’t have to chase lost sales. Your recovery system does the heavy lifting for you.

You’ll spend less time scrambling to follow up and more time watching previously “lost” orders come back to life. Just hit reply, and let’s get your post-BFCM recovery flows running before the holiday rush winds down.

Make this December your smoothest and most profitable recovery period yet.

Talk soon,
Raymond Chen
Founder & CEO, 11 Agency

More Ways to Level Up Your Email Game 

Q4 is here, and with the holidays right around the corner, your email marketing has to be dialed in. 

Every click, every open, and every flow can mean the difference between hitting record revenue or leaving money on the table. 

Here’s how I can help you maximize Q4: 

Done-for-You Email Strategy: If you’re ready to scale but don’t have the time, I’ll build out a complete email system designed to capture more revenue, convert more customers, and keep sales flowing through the holidays. Book a call with me here. 

Free Resource: Not ready to commit just yet? Grab my FREE 10-page KPI audit and 128-point health scorecard, a proven toolkit to quickly optimize your email performance before BFCM. Get it here!

Take Your Email Marketing Even Further

If you’re up for boosting your email game, I’ve got a few more gems for you:

📺 New Video: 2x Your Ecommerce Sales in 6 Minutes

Serious about growing your ecommerce brand? In this quick tutorial, I’ll show you how to:

• Build a winning Klaviyo flow

• Improve email deliverability

• Drive more sales with a smarter email strategy

Whether you're starting out or scaling, this video gives you the exact steps to make email marketing work. 👉 Watch now:

🎯 Fix Your CTA, Fix Your Clicks
Still seeing low click rates even with solid subject lines and great content?

Chances are, your email CTA needs work. We asked Lawrence Soliman, our Lead Copy Strategist, to break down how to write email calls to action that actually get clicks—plus 5 high-performing examples you can swipe.

👉 Read the blog: How to Write an Irresistible Email Call to Action (Plus 5 Examples!)

💡 Let’s Connect on LinkedIn
I share daily email marketing tips, behind-the-scenes insights, and strategies that actually work. If you’re looking for extra value beyond this newsletter, let’s connect!👉  Follow me here.