The Herald — Countertop NFC + QR Sign with Custom Logo Engraving

From cheap plastic to countertop heirloom

You know the problem. Google reviews drive business, but the plastic tabletop signs asking for them look cheap on a $200 counter and get ignored. The Herald replaces that plastic with 1/2"-thick hardwood — the same premium material and craftsmanship as a Charis Studios cutting board — hand-finished, laser-engraved, and equipped with tap-to-launch NFC plus a scannable QR code backup.

Your customers see the piece and know your business cares. They tap or scan. They land wherever you send them.

What the tap does

Every Herald ships with an embedded NFC chip and a matching QR code. Configure it through the free Charis Tapped dashboard to open:

• Your Google Business Profile review form
• A digital menu, wine list, or specials page
• WiFi credentials (guests join with one tap, no password)
• A reservation or booking page
• Your Instagram, business Facebook, or Yelp
• Your event RSVP, ticket page, or waitlist

Change what the tap does anytime — no re-engraving, no re-ordering. Every Herald includes free lifetime access to the Charis Tapped dashboard.

The craft

• 4" × 6" × 1/2" upright, hand-milled from solid hardwood
• 4" × 2.5" × 1/2" solid hardwood base
• Upright leans back at a gentle 12° for optimal countertop visibility
• Contrasting hardwood inlay in the top-right corner marks the NFC tap zone with the universal "NFC / TAP HERE" icon
• Precision laser engraving on the face
• QR code laser-etched beneath the message (auto-generated to match the NFC destination)
• Cork base protects countertops from scratches
• Hand-rubbed with food-safe oil and wax to a buttery, matte luster

Engraving options

Every Herald ships with an engraved face — choose one of our four Standard designs, or bring your own brand.

STANDARD DESIGNS — $40
Choose one at checkout. Every Standard design features the prompt "SCAN OR TAP" above the message, laser-engraved into the hardwood. Ships in 5-7 business days.

• SCAN OR TAP — Leave a Review — The Google review sign. Route the tap to your Google Business Profile review form.
• SCAN OR TAP — View Menu — Digital menu, wine list, cocktail list, or specials page.
• SCAN OR TAP — for WiFi — Guests join your WiFi with one tap, no password to share.
• SCAN OR TAP — Connect — Route to your Instagram, Facebook, digital business card, or booking page.

FULLY CUSTOM DESIGN — $50
Send us your vector logo (SVG, AI, or high-res transparent PNG). We create a digital mock-up within 3-4 business days for your approval, then engrave and ship in 10-14 days.

Choose your species

• Cherry — warm reddish-brown that deepens beautifully with age. Reads hospitality; classic; fits most restaurant, salon, and boutique aesthetics.
• Hard Maple — pale cream with tight, closed grain. Reads clean, modern, and premium. Especially striking in minimalist / Scandinavian spaces.
• Walnut — deep chocolate brown with dramatic grain figure. Reads executive, architectural, "leather and library." Especially good in lawyer offices, boutique hotels, and wine bars.
• Curly Maple — hard maple with three-dimensional tiger-stripe figure. Signature Charis premium species. Reads collectible.
• Quarter-Sawn White Oak — honey-tan with ray fleck figure. Reads architectural, upscale, "trending oak-forward interior." Especially strong in upscale bar / restaurant contexts.

Who the Herald is for

Restaurants — Menu, reservation, and review signs at the host stand, each table, or the check-back. One tap saves a table's phone from being handed around.

Cafes & Coffee Shops — Google review sign at the counter. Coffee menu tap-to-view. Loyalty program signup.

Bars — Wine list, cocktail menu, tab-splitter, gratuity page.

Salons, Barbers, Spas — Booking page. Google review. Instagram follow. Gift card purchase.

Dentists, Mechanics, Contractors, Service Businesses — Google review request that customers actually respond to. Contact card.

Hotels, Airbnb, & Short-Term Rentals — WiFi setup. House manual. Concierge recommendations.

Boutiques & Retail — Loyalty program. Instagram follow. Return policy.

Volume & multi-location orders

Restaurant groups, franchise brands, hotel chains, and property managers ordering multiple Heralds get matched-batch grain selection and quantity pricing on 10+ units. Message us before ordering.

About Charis Studios

Charis Studios is a family-owned design house — a father and his two sons crafting hardwoods in a small workshop in Leo, Indiana. Our name comes from the Greek ΧΑΡΙΣ (Charis), meaning "Grace." Every piece is hand-finished, signed, and built to look as intentional in year ten as it does on day one.

Shipping & care

Standard designs ship in 5-7 business days. Fully Custom designs ship in 10-14 days after mock-up approval. Wipe with a soft, dry cloth; refresh with food-safe mineral oil every few months. Cork base is hand-washable in cold water.

Crafting Order. Inviting Grace.