My First Experience with Live-Event Calligraphy Engraving and Brand Activation

Jul 8

Written By Stacey

What a blast!

I had taken a course on engraving and one on luxury lettering, but I still really didn’t know what to expect (specifically speaking) for my calligraphy engraving event at Nordstrom.

I had only visited Nordstrom one time in my entire life. I made one purchase of a tote bag years ago and carried it everywhere. It was the perfect neutral color, the perfect size…I loved it. I rocked that bag until I was forced to swap it out due to extensive wear and failure to fit in a filing cabinet for an art teacher.

What I found after I arrived is that the courses prepared me well for the event, even down to how to dress. They didn’t teach me how to put together my makeup. Shout out to LaToya at the Ulta in the mall (can’t thank her enough!). But everything else was covered!

I spent the majority of my morning, putting together my table…

…writing out ‘Thank you’ on their stationary to warm my hands up and to give to their guests when they came to my table for an engraving…

I think I remembered to give the card about three times. 😬

And I smiled a ton! But that wasn’t too difficult because the staff was very helpful and friendly. They chatted with me like they’d always known me. I was very comfortable.

But being a first-timer to a Nordstrom event, I was still a little nervous.

My first fragrance bottle arrived from one of the staff. She said she was going to attend a wedding and wanted to engrave the name for the mother of the bride on the bottle. The bottle was Chanel , an awesome gift, and I wanted to make it memorable. So, I asked if she wanted the title on it as well…and possibly some florals. She gave me the green light and I went at it like I was at home at my own desk!

One of the greatest tips that would have probably got me the attention of shoppers a lot sooner than I did would have been to have samples already engraved on the table. 🤦🏾‍♀️ I did have a look book suggested by Telisa of Rossien Art. But I had it on a QR code that lay flat on the table. I included a list of sentiments to engrave as well in the look book. It did get used a couple times. But, I still think either a look book on a propped up iPad or actual engraved bottles sitting on the table would’ve been more effective.

Live and learn.

But, once that bottle got underway, the bottles kept coming!

I couldn’t catch them all…But, here are a few of the photos I got between engravings.

Now, I had learned in the luxury lettering course that crafting longer phrases and creating florals can take a lot of time and you really should stick to two words, tops.

In my defense, since I didn’t have any samples showing, the morning crept by without a peep. At one point, one of the staff asked me if I was the engraver and when I told him yes and kinda apologetically said I hadn’t seen anyone at the table yet, he walked on by, and knowingly said, “Oh, they’ll be here.”

He was exactly right. 😂

Buuuuttt….when I got the first bottle, I thought I might only get the one chance….so I went for it anyway. Plus, it was for the Mother of the Bride, y’all! It had to be special!

But…I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised, that’s exactly what brought the customers to the table too!

As for customers, I suppose it’s difficult to resist being able to elevate and personalize these bottles with a custom engraving. They become unique items that are specific to your bond with the recipient. You just know their face is going to light all the way up! Even after seeing the finished product, that’s probably the best part! 😌

I also personally loved how the brand reps would walk by saying, “Yes, Stacey can engrave anything.” And those that would come get the bottle for their customers would ‘ooh’ and ‘aaah’ over the bottle before taking it to wrap it up for them. They picked them up faster than I had time to photograph them! They just loved them! And they gave me the best compliments. It was like having a cheering section! Before I left, one of the brand reps took my information and a couple requested they have me come back again! It all felt really good. 😌

I picked up some other tips along the way that I could share for anyone who is about to engrave at an event. But, the lovely Marie of Maiden September, who coincidentally was engraving at a Nordstrom in Cherry Hill (to which I say, in true inner-Urkel form, makes us like engraving event twins)…