If you participate in any organized sporting events, there’s a good shot you will end up with a medal. Running races generally give out medals for half-marathon and marathon distances, and championships in team sports often also reward players with hardware. Yes, there’s an easy joke here about how these days “everyone gets a medal” but they make great souvenirs to remember athletic experiences.
However, once you take one home, how you do you display it? One or two can be hung on a hook, but above that you want a better way to show them off. Enter the Kickstarter project for Metal Medal Hangers!
Project title: Metal Medal Hangers With A Shelf
Status: Not yet funded.
Close Date For Funding: July 28th, 2012
URL for the project: Find it here
At what level can you back it?:
$10 or more: Your name on our website page as a backer of our project and a small surprise gift mailed to you (US addresses only, International addresses add $5)
$30 or more: ONE – 8 Letter (or less) Custom Hanger without the shelf in your choice of 10 colors, this includes US shipping. International shipping add $17 each. The hanger will be 20″ or less in length and approx. 2.5″ in height. You get to tell us what you want the hanger lettering to say and what color you would like it painted. Color choices are: Stainless Steel, White, Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Brown, Purple, Pink. (Retail of this item is $36.50)
$50 or more: ONE – 20 Letter (or less) Custom Hanger without the shelf in your choice of 10 colors, this includes US shipping. International shipping add $35 each. This hanger is perfect lettering length for a sport’s team or your mantra. The hanger will be 36″ or less in length and approx. 2.5″ in height. You get to tell us what you want the hanger lettering to say and what color you would like it painted. Color choices are: Stainless Steel, White, Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Brown, Purple, Pink. (Retail of this item will be $60.00)
$60 or more: ONE – 10 Letter (or less) Custom Hanger with the shelf in your choice of 10 colors, this includes US shipping. International shipping add $35 each. The hanger/shelf will be 25″ or less in length with a 2.5″ to 3.5″ shelf at the top and approx. 5″ in height. You get to tell us what you want the hanger lettering to say and what color you would like it painted. Color choices are: Stainless Steel, White, Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Brown, Purple, Pink. (Retail of this item will be $75.00)
$98 or more: TWO – 20 Letter (or less) Custom Hanger without the shelf in your choice of 10 colors, this includes US shipping. International shipping add $35 each. This hanger is perfect lettering length for a sport’s team or your mantra. The hanger will be 36″ or less in length and approx. 2.5″ in height. You get to tell us what you want the hanger lettering to say and what color you would like it painted. Color choices are: Stainless Steel, White, Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Brown, Purple, Pink.
$118 or more: TWO – 10 Letter (or less) Custom Hanger with the shelf in your choice of 10 colors, this includes US shipping. International shipping add $17 each. The hanger/shelf will be 25″ or less in length with a 2.5″ to 3.5″ shelf at the top and approx. 5″ in height. You get to tell us what you want the hanger lettering to say and what color you would like it painted. Color choices are: Stainless Steel, White, Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Brown, Purple, Pink.
$280 or more: Great for a small sports team!! TWELVE – 8 Letter (or less) Custom Hangers without the shelf in your choice of 10 colors, this includes US shipping. International shipping add $17 each. The hanger will be 20″ or less in length and approx. 2.5″ in height. You get to tell us what you want the hanger lettering to say and what color you would like it painted. Color choices are: Stainless Steel, White, Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Brown, Purple, Pink.
$700 or more: Great for a small sports team! TWELVE – 10 Letter (or less) Custom Hangers with the shelf in your choice of 10 colors, this includes US shipping. International shipping add $35 each. The hanger/shelf will be 25″ or less in length with a 2.5″ to 3.5″ shelf at the top and approx. 5″ in height. You get to tell us what you want the hanger lettering to say and what color you would like it painted. Color choices are: Stainless Steel, White, Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Brown, Purple, Pink.
From the creatives:
I sell regular hangers on Etsy right now and they do fairly well. I am the only company(when I say company, it is really just me and my husband!) that I have seen that offers a large variety of colors and designs of hangers. I am also the lowest cost as well 🙂 I have made several hangers already and have some pictorial examples below:
What we are offering are several different options for awards and we are going to be using the project funds for several marketing schemes including a new website, so that we don’t have to continue to use Etsy, as well as some print advertising. One of the rewards includes a Thank You added to our website where we will list the names of our backers(unless you want to remain anonymous). All of our hangers are Made in the USA and they are all 409 Stainless Steel.
Thank you, we hope you help fund our project!
Dian from Metal Medals was nice enough to do a question and answer with us, so read on for more details about these awesome accessories, plus we have a giveaway below!
Gear Diary: How did you get started making medal hangers?
I wanted to buy a medal hanger for my sister for her birthday last year, but they were $40 each plus shipping at a competitor company…and I wanted one for myself as well so I didn’t think $80 plus shipping was worth it. Then I remembered that I could probably just make one at work instead. So that is what I did…then later I realized that hockey players get medals too, so I decided to try to launch a side business making medal hangers with a unique twist of color choice and special design choices.
Gear Diary: Did you have a design/metalworking background?
I am an Engineering Manager at a company that makes stainless steel outdoor wood furnaces. I make the metal medal hangers after work and my husband paints them at home.
Gear Diary: What is the typical turnaround from order to shipping?
I usually ship the order the very next day if the order is taken before 3pm. I don’t like to wait and I figure other people don’t like to wait either 🙂 I ship them by priority mail so they usually have the hanger about 3 days after ordering.
Gear Diary: Do you get a lot of non-runner themed medal hanger requests? What’s the most popular non-running sport?
Running is certainly the more dominant sport, but I have made gymnastics, wrestling, dance, tae kwon do, fencing, swimming, and even a paint ball hanger. Hockey has been the most popular non-running sport for me, though. I think mainly because I live in Hockeytown USA 🙂
Gear Diary: Do you have a particular design or style that is your favorite?
Hmm it is hard to pick a favorite! I really like the different colored designs my husband can do. The zebra print, polka dots and camo are really neat! I also love glitter and just love the sparkle on them…so yeah sorry, I can’t pick just one haha!
Gear Diary: If you could participate in one athletic event, regardless of money, qualifications, etc., what would it be?
I’m not sure how to answer this question…I am going to **try** to qualify for Boston in September. My current marathon PR is 3:49:25 and I need a sub 3:40 to BQ. I’m nervous already! Part of the lure of Boston for me is that you have to qualify…my current PR was just set 2 days ago…Right now my only focus is to qualify in September and then after that I have my first ultra in October. I love running!
Gear Diary: What’s your favorite personal medal, and why?
My last year’s Grandma’s Marathon medal because it was my first marathon.
So now that Dian has told us her favorite medal, we want to hear about yours! If you had a Metal Medal hanger, what medal would be your pride and joy? Your first race? An amazing team victory?