During the holiday season, I had the opportunity to provide three days of live engraving in NYC for Salt & Stone’s first New York City pop-up. SOMMWHERE, a beautiful creative studio on Rivington Street in the Lower East Side, hosted the pop-up. The Scent Library pop-up brought together fragrance, books, gifting, and on-site personalization.
Inside Salt & Stone’s NYC Holiday Pop-Up
The three-day experience began with a private influencer event, followed by two full days that were open to the public. Planned and produced by Son of Noise, the pop-up invited guests to explore Salt & Stone’s fragrances. They also got to shop their popular body mists, candles, and exclusive holiday gift sets.
The experience also featured a selection of thoughtfully curated books from Seen Library. This created a space that encouraged guests to discover both new scents and new stories.
The SOMMWHERE creative studio was completely transformed for the occasion. The team placed flickering candles throughout the venue, filling the space with a warm glow. It was the perfect atmosphere for guests to experience the different Salt & Stone fragrances. The combination of the beautiful candlelight, elevated product displays, and library-inspired details created the perfect setting for a holiday pop-up in New York City.
Live Engraving on Salt & Stone Body Mists and Candles
My role throughout the three days was to provide live hand engraving on Salt & Stone body mists and candles. Guests could personalize their purchases with a recipient’s name, initials, or a short handwritten message such as “I love you” or “Happy Holidays.”
I finished each engraving with either gold or silver to give the lettering an added pop of color and make the personalization stand out against the product packaging.
Since the pop-up took place in December, many guests were shopping for holiday gifts for their friends and loved ones. Live engraving added an extra-special touch to those purchases. Instead of leaving with a standard candle or body mist, guests were able to give something that had been personalized by hand specifically for the recipient.
Turning Holiday Gifting Into a Brand Experience
As an NYC live calligrapher and engraver, this is one of my favorite parts of offering on-site personalization. A handwritten name or meaningful message can instantly make a gift feel more thoughtful and intentional.
Guests also get to watch the live engraving process. This makes personalization part of the overall brand experience rather than simply an added service.
The Salt & Stone Scent Library was incredibly popular, with a steady flow of guests coming through the doors throughout the weekend. It was such a fun three days of engraving beautiful products, meeting New Yorkers, and helping shoppers create memorable holiday gifts.
On-site personalization gives customers another reason to engage with a brand, providing them with a one-of-a-kind keepsake they can take home.
Bring Live Engraving to Your Next NYC Event
Planning a pop-up, product launch, or holiday brand activation? Riha Calligraphy Co. provides live engraving, live calligraphy, and on-site personalization. I offer my services throughout New York City, New Jersey, and the surrounding tri-state area.
