Photos by Ralph Freso
Lavender remains king two years after it was unveiled and became a prominent part of Grand Canyon University apparel at the Lope Shop.
But there is a twist as Lope Shop employees embark on Welcome Week, when thousands of students will move in (approximately 17,000 will live on campus in 2025-26), faculty return to campus full force, and parents and other family are here, too.
Many of the lavender sweatshirts that featured the “speed” GCU logo revealed two years ago have been replaced by the block letters “Grand Canyon” over “University” in white lettering. The new lettering also applies to gray sweatshirts.
An ample supply of sweatshirts with the “running Lope” above the speed GCU logo remains available, said Lope Shop operations manager Garrett Miller.
Lavender became an instant hit after it became available shortly after the fall 2023 semester started, and it has remained an incredibly popular color – especially on quarter zip pullover sweaters for men and women.
“It (lavender) just keeps getting hotter,” said Shelly Schrimpf, Lope Shop assistant director of campus retail and licensing.
Beyond lavender, the Lope Shop will be stocked with an ample supply of their “never outs” – Champion brand T-shirts and hoodies with stitched satin lettering.
Those items are perennial best-sellers, Schrimpf said.
And “We revamped our Nike collection,” she added.
The campus retailer also will unveil four faith-based T-shirts for Welcome Week, and the College of Theology section will include seminary apparel.
Merchandise with Grand Canyon University lettering won’t be the only new items unveiled by the Lope Shop.
“We spent a lot of our new money in plants, games, stress-relievers and room supplies, and a small collection of that to see if there's a need for that on campus,” Schrimpf said. “So that's where we brought in most of our new vendors.”
Relief is available, at least to those who may feel overheated by the relentless, smoldering temperatures that traditionally persist during Welcome Week.
About 500 cooling towels produced by Blubandoo will be available for purchase. The towels, once dipped in water, ignite a cooling effect that lasts for several hours.
Tubs of ice water will be placed near the front of the Lope Shop entrance for Blubandoo consumers to dip their towels, Miller said.
Students and faculty concerned about losing their fobs while trying to enter buildings will be comforted by the availability of FobMate, a device that allows fobs to be attached to cell phones.
The creator of the product is GCU senior Cody Cash, who won the spring 2025 Canyon Challenge and the People’s Choice Award. This marks the Lope Shop’s first collaboration with a Canyon Challenge winner.
Cash, who transferred from Schreiner University, west of Austin, Texas, devised FobMate after losing his keys several times after arriving on campus.
In addition to FobMate, there are several new items designed to alleviate stress. This was in response to a Student Watch research project produced by OnCampus Research for the National Association of College Stores, which tracks student consumer behavior.
“We brought in fidgeties and toys and things that make them feel good when they're in their dorms – plants, lights, things like that,” Schrimpf said.
For those seeking relief from their studies, there’s a Fun in Motion toy stand that carries Mozi, Glozi and Spinballs products. Mozi is a set of rings that produces constant spinning motions while moving up a person’s arm. Glozi is a glow-in-the-dark version of Mozi, and Spinballs is a set of two poi balls tied to adjustable strings featuring 22 vibrant colors.
Those products join Hugarounds, microwave-safe stuffed animals that can be wrapped around the neck and are designed to provide comfort and calm nerves.
The Lope Shop already has been infused by Leafjoy plants that are suited for campus residences and require low maintenance. And the Ink'd Greetings kiosk, where customers can print customizable greeting cards, was moved from the back to near the front of the store and was painted lavender last month. Like FobMate, Ink'd has a tie to GCU. Alumna Autum Prudohome is the greeting card company's chief operations officer.
In preparation for the early onslaught of customers, the Lope Shop will be open during Welcome Week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. It will be closed Sunday and Monday (Labor Day).
GCU News senior writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]
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