ENGRAVING BUSINESS
Saratoga Custom Engraving opens in Spa City
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> Saratoga Custom Engraving is making its mark on the Spa City business scene as the community’s new go-to local engraver.
Owned and operated by founder Amanda VanPelt, Saratoga Custom Engraving opened earlier this summer at 81 Railroad Pl. in downtown Saratoga Springs.
The new shop offers custom engraved products such as gifts, home decor and promotional items for businesses.
All engraving is done instore, on a laser engraving machine affectionately called “Saratoga Sue,” a name chosen through a social media contest when the business first launched.
This machine can precisely engrave on materials, including wood, acrylic, stainless steel, leather, slate, and granite. VanPelt has even used the machine to engrave on foods like burger buns, watermelons, and macaroons.
“I have a lot of fun,” she said, happy she started this new endeavor.
When VanPelt stopped in an engraving shop while traveling in Canandaigua last year, she thought it was cool and couldn’t believe Saratoga Springs didn’t have something like it - but had no idea she’d soon be opening one of her own.
However, when she was laid off after working at an insurance company for more than a decade, that store she visited popped into her head.
VanPelt began doing
some research, and before she knew it was on a plane to Detroit to make an investment in her new laser engraver.
“It just seemed up my alley,” she said of the engraving business, for which she gets to design different products.
“I’ve always loved to be creative. I’ve just always kind of had that knack for wanting to create things,” said VanPelt, whose father and grandfather were both hobbyist woodworkers.
Some of Saratoga Custom Engraving’s most popular products are stainless steel tumblers, as well as cutting boards featuring handwritten recipes engraved into the wood.
VanPelt said customers love the sentimental one-of-a-kind engravings that can help capture a moment or memory, like a note handwritten by a loved one or lyrics to a first dance song. When Dave Matthews Band was in Saratoga Springs for a concert at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the shop has lots of visitors wanting song lyrics or setlists engraved.
Often when customers receive a newly engraved item like this, they get emotional at the shop, VanPelt said.
The Saratoga Custom Engraving retail shop also carries engraved Saratoga souvenirs with horse-themed designs.
Lots of the items in Saratoga Custom Engraving’s inventory are reminiscent of what shoppers might find on Etsy, but they’re made in Saratoga Springs by a small local business, which many customers like to support.
“This town is amazing,” said VanPelt, a local native who currently lives in Wilton. “So far it has been like the best town to have a business in.”
Looking ahead to the future of Saratoga Custom Engraving, VanPelt envisions the business growing through working with fellow local businesses, creating commercial bulk products. Already, the shop has engraved wine glasses and mug club steins for area establishments.
Saratoga Custom Engraving is open from 10 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, 10 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, 10 to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
More information about Saratoga Custom Engraving is available online at w w w.facebook.com/SaratogaCustomEngraving and on Instagram @saratogacustomengraving. The official website, www.saratogacustomengraving.com, is launching soon.
Saratoga Custom Engraving can be contacted by calling (518) 450-7032 or emailing amandac@saratogacustomengraving.com.