Case Study: The University of Minnesota & the Masonic Children’s Hospital

How the U of M Customized Gift Boxes for the Masonic Children’s Hospital

If there’s one thing we love at Merchology, it’s making meaningful connections with our community. It’s rewarding to deliver premium merchandise and gifts that make someone’s day, but it’s another thing entirely to see products uplift the spirits of the people around us who need it most. When our community is impacted for the better, we feel we’ve truly done our job.

That’s why, when the head coach for Minnesota Gophers football, P.J. Fleck, reached out to create these custom MerchBoxes, we knew we were about to work on a very special project. Merchology has a close friendship with the University of Minnesota, and we’re no strangers to the good work they do in our community. Specifically, the Gophers have a strong connection with the Minnesota Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital, and they’re constantly using their talents for leadership and service to make an impact on the patients and their loved ones. Over the years, the Gophers have brought big smiles to children’s faces and a sense of reassurance and encouragement to their families.

 

 

Customized Gift Boxes for Children’s Hospital Patients

Coach P.J. Fleck had the idea to create custom gift sets for pediatric cancer patients through his charity Row the Boat. The charity mainly partners with the M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House. Row the Boat supports these organizations by donating funds from Row the Boat apparel and merchandise! The phrase “Row the Boat” is a mantra that’s part of P.J. Fleck’s coaching motto. It’s meant as an encouragement to never give up, and as a reminder of the energy, sacrifice, and direction it takes to overcome difficult challenges.

Fleck’s idea was to design custom MerchBoxes that could be given to every child that comes to the Masonic Children’s Hospital for cancer treatment. He, along with friends Brittany Christenson & Nick Engbloom, wanted to fill the MerchBox with gifts that would offer comfort and distraction from the difficult circumstances that surround hospital life. With the help of our team, they were able to do just that.

 

 

Row the Boat Custom MerchBox

With lots of collaboration, the Row the Boat custom MerchBox came together! The box itself, which was customized with the help of Box Up, features U of M colors, Row the Boat logos and branding, and photos of the Gophers with their awesome fans. Printed on the underside of the lid is a message from P.J. Fleck himself, along with autographs from players!

By working with our merchandising team, Row the Boat selected products that would be useful and fun for children receiving treatment in the hospital. At Merchology, you can create customized MerchBoxes and fill them with any products you choose! The gifts included in this special Row the Boat MerchBox are:

Customized BIC Coloring Book - Shades of Relaxation (Animals)

The customizable BIC Shades of Relaxation Coloring Book is designed to help you feel focused and calm. Coloring calms your mind and helps your body feel relaxed. It can even improve sleep and lessen anxious feelings. This customized BIC Coloring Book features animals, so it’s exciting for kids to color, and it has a blank space on the cover for logo decoration.

 

 

Custom BIC Coloring Pencils

Along with the coloring book, we added this customized box of BIC Coloring Pencils! It’s a small, convenient colored pencil set that’s easily organized and features bright colors. For these MerchBoxes, the Row the Boat logo was added.

 

 

Embroidered Dri Duck Black Enclave Waffle Beanie

This logo-embroidered Dri-Duck Beanie has a cozy waffle-knit texture to keep in warmth and keep out moisture. It has an athletic unisex design that gives it a versatile style. We embroidered the Row the Boat logo front and center!

 

 

Custom Printed HIT Promo White Pennant - 5" x 12"

For a bit of cheer, this customized pennant was printed with the Row the Boat logo! It’s a fun flag to hang on your wall, mirror, or door, and this specific pennant was created with the hope of encouraging everyone who sees it.

 

Custom-Made Woodchuck USA Wood Key Chain

Woodchuck USA is a Minnesota-based brand known for its beautiful custom wood gifts, and we included a custom football-shaped wood keychain in this MerchBox! It was laser-engraved with the Row the Boat logo as a small keepsake for patients and their families to hold on to for years to come.

 

Scheels, a brand in collaboration with Row the Boat, donated adorable dog stuffed animals for patients to keep by their side on the hard days. Together, these custom items make up a thoughtful, lighthearted gift that will be given to children who come to the Masonic Children’s Hospital for cancer treatment.

 

 

How the Gophers Are Using the Buy Now, Ship Later Merch Solution

The Buy Now, Ship Later Merch Solution is a helpful tool that allows you to manage the number of products you have shipped at a time. With Buy Now, Ship Later, we will store your products and ship out the quantity you need, when you need them! Check out the Buy Now, Ship Later page to learn more!

Row the Boat ordered their custom MerchBoxes using the Buy Now, Ship Later solution, and they’re requesting boxes to be shipped as they are needed when new patients arrive.

We’re so grateful for the opportunity to help encourage our community by partnering with Row the Boat and the M Health Masonic Children’s Hospital!

 

 

Interested in Starting a Similar Project?

Contact us to create your own custom MerchBox! Whether you’re looking for custom giveaways, company gifts, or special occasion gift boxes, we can help you put together the perfect MerchBox for your brand! Or, shop our collection of themed MerchBoxes for events, holiday gifts, and employee appreciation!