In the real estate world, the first few weeks of an agent’s journey can feel a lot like being sent back to school. There are legal documents to sign, software platforms to learn, and a mountain of brand standards to internalize. For the team at CENTURY 21 Legacy, a powerhouse franchise with 9 offices across Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, the challenge was clear: how do you take a process that feels like a chore and turn it into a celebration?
At its core, Legacy exists to serve agents so they can better serve clients. We sat down with team members Madi Smith and Lucas Christiansen to understand how this philosophy shapes daily operations, including an onboarding experience that goes beyond the typical “bag of merch.”
Custom Boxes to Help Move Beyond the “Sack of Stuff”
For years, the team welcomed new agents with a collection of branded items. It was functional, but it lacked the “wow” factor that matches the company’s mission.
Now, each receives a welcome box to create an experience and a sense of belonging. Once paperwork is complete, agents are “given that box [so] they feel like, ‘Oh my god, I’m part of something.’” The box itself was designed to impress. It’s polished and professional, more like a luxurious PR package than a generic shipping container, with printed designs inside to continue the experience.
Designing the Experience with Canva and BoxUp
When it came time to bring the vision to life, the team didn’t want to settle for a plain box with a sticker. They wanted a sleek, professional look that portrayed their level of expertise.
The design process started in Canva, where Madi mapped out the general aesthetic: where the logos would sit, what the side patterns would look like, and—most importantly—what the agents would see the moment they lifted the lid.
“I designed the general idea in Canva… then I used the BoxUp editor and played around with it,” Madi says. “I was honestly really impressed because you could move the box around in 3D, close it, and open it back up. I was able to move our patterns ever so slightly so they wouldn’t get cut off by the tabs. It made the process so easy.” Attention to detail extended when BoxUp’s design team reached out about a logo issue, showing the care put into the final product.
The result? A “luxurious” black and gold display mailer that features the CENTURY 21 pattern on the sides and the company’s core values printed on the inside.
More Than Just a Box: It’s a Mission
At CENTURY 21 Legacy, the philosophy is simple: Serve the agents so the agents can serve the clients. With over 300 agents to support, the team focuses heavily on “Leaving a Legacy”—a name chosen to honor those who came before while building a future of integrity and community involvement.
“Our agents are here to make sure our clients have the easiest and most enjoyable experience… we are here to make sure our agents have the easiest time they can to be able to do that. Their success is our success.”
The onboarding box is the first tangible proof of that support. It’s packed with essentials that help an agent hit the ground running:
- A high-quality water bottle and notebook/pen set.
- A branded t-shirt and car tags (which Madi now sees all over town!).
- Mints, chapstick, and a custom pint glass.
CENTURY 21 Legacy Team featuring their onboarding box printed by BoxUp
Custom Boxes Carry the Power of the “Photo Op”
Beyond the internal culture boost, the boxes have become a marketing engine. In an industry where “everyone knows five realtors,” standing out on social media is vital. The boxes provide an instant, professional “photo op” for brokers to shout out their new hires.
“It can be awkward to ask people for photos sometimes,” Madi notes. “But saying, ‘Hey, hold your box while I take a photo’ is easy. It gives brand-new agents something house-related to post before they even have their first listing.”
Advice for the Real Estate Industry
After a year of using BoxUp, Madi’s advice for other franchises is simple: don’t be afraid to try it.
“Worst case scenario, you design your box, you get the free proof, and if you don’t like it, you move on with your life. There’s not a lot of upfront cost,” she says. “But when I got that first box, I ran around the office showing everybody. I was so giddy. It really helped us solve a problem we had been racking our brains over for a long time.”
By focusing on the “human” side of the transaction and treating their agents like VIPs from day one, CENTURY 21 Legacy isn’t just hanging licenses—they’re building a community, one box at a time.
Learn more about CENTURY 21 Legacy here: c21legacy.com
Want to level up your team’s onboarding?
Whether you’re a small boutique or a massive franchise, your first impression matters.
- Design Like a Pro: Use our Canva templates to map out your look, then upload directly to our 3D editor.
- Order A Custom Sample: Use code PROOF at checkout on a Quantity 1 order of your box to see your design in person before placing a bulk order.
- Commit to Quality: Our boxes are durable enough to be shipped flat and “pop” together in seconds, saving your admin team hours of assembly.
Check out BoxUp’s Real Estate boxes now.