The Charleston Place Residency: The After School Special

ID.

Sipland Services:

Event and Brand Activation

PARTNERS:

The Charleston Place

Venue:

The Charleston Place

Extras:

Beverages by Body Vodka, El Guapo

01. The Project Download

For our exciting residency at The Charleston Place, Sipland developed a distinctive brand identity inspired by the "back to school" season. The first step in crafting the experience was choosing a name. We landed on The After School Special, to evoke the nostalgia and playfulness of the event's spirit.

We looked to the world of traditional collegiate ephemera. Envisioning vintage school memorabilia, from letterman jackets to chalkboards, paired with a modern twist.

02. Event naming & Branding

03. Designing the Experience

For the design and concept, we continued to embrace the "back to school" spirit of the residency. We created custom embroidered hats, notebooks, and tote bags, all contributing to the playful after-school vibe. To complement this atmosphere, we chose the espresso martini as the perfect cocktail. We offered two variations: a non-alcoholic option and a low-ABV alternative, ensuring there was something for everyone. To really up the ante, we even brought in a marching band, adding an extra layer of excitement and energy to the event.

04. the event

Sipland took over The Charleston Place for the month of September with an exclusive pop-up residency called the After School Special. From Friday, September 6th through Sunday, September 29th, visitors were invited to experience a specialty martini bar featuring both alcoholic and non-alcoholic espresso martinis at the Carriage House in Market Street Circle. For those choosing the non-alcoholic option, Sipland used bitters from El Guapo, a woman-owned company based in New Orleans, known for creating some of the only non-alcoholic bitters on the market. The low-alcohol version featured Body Vodka, a spirit with 25% less alcohol than traditional vodka, offering a lighter yet still satisfying alternative. The After School Special was a celebration of Charleston, the changing seasons, and Sipland’s vision for a broader, more inclusive beverage landscape that includes a growing array of low and no ABV options.