Host the Unforgettable

By Kyle Lawrence, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Ranger Station

Hospitality is a muscle.

Sure, some people are naturally gifted—just like with anything. But at the end of the day, the more you practice, the stronger that muscle becomes. I’ve always been drawn to hospitality so deeply that I even majored in it (I know… a bit of a weirdo move). When I transitioned out of the industry about ten years ago, I thought that degree had become irrelevant—maybe even a wasted investment.

Turns out, it’s been the foundation of everything I’ve done since. Hospitality is the quietly powerful backbone of every successful retail brand. It’s the part that goes beyond the product and into how people feel in your space.

The DNA of an Experience

When my wife and I got married, one of the first things we bonded over was how much we loved inviting people into our home—sharing a table, creating a moment, and making sure guests left feeling better than they arrived. That feeling isn’t random. It’s shaped by details, the environment, and intentional choices.

What makes an experience unforgettable?
How do you anticipate the emotional energy you want people to carry out the door?
How do you create a space that inspires and connects rather than leaves people saying, “Well… that was fun and now I’m hungover”?

Memorable doesn’t have to mean expensive. Yes, you can spend a lot of money—but you don’t have to. And as any great host knows, guests usually want to contribute when the experience is worth it.

The Ranger Station Philosophy

At its core, Ranger Station is built on the belief that unforgettable experiences can begin with something as simple as a scent—walking into a room and instantly feeling grounded, inspired, or welcomed. A scent can become a signature, a memory, a piece of home.

And this holiday season, our team wanted to take that philosophy even further—to inspire our community to create their own unforgettable moments. We want to spark a domino effect of hospitality across the country—people gathering around tables instead of scrolling alone on their couches, sharing stories instead of consuming someone else’s.

Because you can’t spell “unforgettable” without “table.” 

Breaking the Biggest Barrier: Cost

To show what’s possible, we decided to set the pace. We threw our own holiday party—and then committed to paying for a few of your parties this season too.

A couple of weeks ago, we invited our friends and team into our home for an unforgettable night. We documented every detail, and over the coming weeks we’ll be sharing content from that evening (and from the parties of our giveaway winners) to help inspire your own hosting this season.

Here’s how we built our version of “unforgettable”:

The Anatomy of an Unforgettable Party

1. The Unforgettable Entry

Start strong. Capture the senses immediately.

We lit a Balsam Fir Mammoth candle in our entryway—right next to the tree—to amplify the warmth and depth of the evergreen scent. Garland draped over our arches and mantle created a visual echo of the fragrance. Before guests even said hello, they felt the tone of the night.

2. Create Guest Buy-In (In a Fun Way)

Asking guests to contribute isn’t rude—it's strategic. It creates engagement, investment, and most importantly, fun.

Our tradition is a blind wine-tasting game. Everyone brings two bottles, One under $20, One over $20.
The wine gets brown-bagged, numbered, and blindly tasted. Ratings are anonymous. Some years a $100 bottle wins; more often, a $5 Trader Joe’s bottle does—and that’s the magic. This year, a $40 bottle took the crown. And yes, the winner got a Ranger Station candle.

3. Unforgettable Food & Beverage

We skipped a full dinner and went for elevated, flexible bites:

• Charcuterie (always a crowd-pleaser, allergy-friendly, and pairs well with wine)
  
  
• Fresh oysters—flown in from Virginia at about $1.25 each, only need about 50-100 depending on how many oyster lovers you have.
  
  
• A surprise guest appearance: caviar (brought by a guest that was a nice add to the oysters)
  
  

Learning to shuck oysters was easier than I expected, and now they’ve become a defining element of our parties. Even guests who don’t love oysters talk about them.

For cocktails, we batched two options—one tequila-based, one bourbon-based—to keep things easy, fast, and consistent and of course lots of sparkling water as a non alcoholic beverage. Non alc beers are a great option too! 

4. The Unforgettable Element

We added one unexpected, disruptive touch: a cigarette appetizer tower.

We’re not smokers, but we found the idea on Pinterest and couldn’t resist. Only a few guests indulged, but everyone talked about it. It was visually striking, totally unexpected, and—importantly—photo-worthy.

Every party needs one element that makes people say,
“Wait… what is that?”

5. Unforgettable Party Favors

We wanted guests to leave with something meaningful, useful, and tied to the night.

We put out a bowl of Quickdraw perfume sprays—instant, pocketable signature scents for our guests to take home. It’s a small gift that becomes a daily ritual and a memory trigger.

Flex Your Hospitality Muscles

I hope this inspires you to host—whether you go big, stay small, or join forces with a friend or family member.

Because without hosts, the holiday season isn’t what it is meant to be.
It’s the hosts who create the magic.
The hosts who set the table.
The hosts who make the unforgettable possible.

Cheers to you, hosts.
And here’s to a season full of unforget(tables) worth gathering around.