March 14, 2017

Meet Roxy Szigat of Rox Ink Calligraphy in Hermosa Beach

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Roxy Szigat.

Roxy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all began as an elective course in grade school and grew into a love for the art of lettering. I made cards and designed stationary for fun. Friends began asking me to address their holiday greeting cards and requests for wedding invitation addressing followed soon after. It became evident that this would be a great opportunity to earn extra income.

My calligraphy services have evolved from simply addressing envelopes to creating signage on the most random objects and surfaces to providing services for commercials for companies such as 3M Post-it and at local in-store events for companies such as Sephora and The Container Store.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Calligraphy is becoming a lost art. This is not to say that there isn’t a market for this skill – on the contrary; however, convincing consumers to pay a fair rate for this highly discretionary purchase, when wedding budgets are already tight, can be challenging. Not always, but sometimes.

My pricing is based on time. Easier fonts take less time, while more ornate fonts take more time. While some consumers may find time-based pricing abstract and difficult to digest, others appreciate it and place a high value on the art of calligraphy and skill involved. Fortunately, these are the majority of my clients.

Please tell us about ROX INK Calligraphy.
As a scribe, creating and personalizing beautiful art is my goal for every project.

Rox Ink Calligraphy is known for offering quality work at affordable rates, but my specialty really is customer service.

The majority of my clientele are (stressed) brides who are, more often than not, sleep-, budget- and time-deficient. Taking time to understand all aspects of their event, including location, style, calendar date and the personal taste of my client is key. Only then can I offer flexible solutions within budget and on time – without sacrificing quality or presentation – which hopefully results in a restful night’s sleep for my client.

My services are provided with the mindset that long-term client relationships are being developed. Many of my clients are returning clients, bringing corporate business to me, as well as the weddings of their second, third and sometimes fourth child.

It is an honor to be a part, no matter how small my part, of these special and so very personal events.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Receiving my very first Osmiroid pen set and a variety of bottled inks is one of my favorite childhood memories. My creativity flourished – the possibilities were endless. I practiced Italic fonts day and night.

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