Simple Isn't Always Easier

I've been at my job a little over a year now. Since I started, I've been trying to convince the marketing guru to give me a little more creative license with the html email I design for every sale. Our emails are always so choc-full of sale items, the ridiculous list usually ends up ruling (or even ruining) my design. I subscribe to about a million (give or take one or two) email campaigns from other retail websites, and NONE of their emails have a mile-long list of sale items. They just have simple text and cool graphics.

FINALLY! My boss put his proverbial foot down and said this week we could do a simple email, no items. It was a rare opportunity, since the 'gist of our sale this week is "10% off everything." I was so excited I could hardly think straight. My mind reeled with the countless cool ideas I've seen. I got to work straitaway, eager to deviate from our "norm" and produce something ground-breaking and fresh. I thought, gee, how much time I will save on this one!

Little did I know, those people who are designing and sending all those really cool graphic emails have:

1) a lot more talent than I
2) a lot more time on their hands

It took me three entire work days with no lunches to produce the following:

http://www.cavenders.com/images/email/GrandOlSale2007/GrandOlSale2007.html

Incidentally, I did have to add a bunch of listy stuff at the bottom, but at least I was able to stave off the ever-encroaching items enough to keep them from affecting my main image.

Enjoy.