Project Spotlight: Belk Stage Backdrop

This February Belk, is gathering all of their managers for their seasonal meeting at the Charlotte Convention Center. XP Retail was given the task to produce the grand backdrop for the main stage. The custom backdrop measured 32 feet wide and a towering 23.5 feet tall, and has six windows with supports to hold six styled mannequins. The contrast between the pink wall and the white and blue outfits fit a Belk themed event perfectly.

Project Details: Matrix Frame Profile 120, shadow box profile and support bar aluminum extrusions were used to construct the frame. The frame was first test built in the Matrix Frame warehouse before being broken down and re-constructed onsite. Once the XP Retail crew had assembled the frame in the Convention Ballroom, the printed graphic was installed and shadow box profile was used to finish off the front of the windows. It took a crew of 12 people to lift the frame onto the stage and connect it to the stage rigging where it was elevated into place. With the frame standing in place, additional supports and a blockout backer was added. Finally, window openings were trimmed and support brackets were installed to allow the mannequins to be set in place revealing the full effect of the display.

Project Spotlight: Century 21 Department Stores

Century 21 Department Stores, established in 1961, is legendary for its exceptional offering of pure designer merchandise in every category up to 65% off retail every day. Primarily based the Northeast they recently embarked on their first location in Florida at Sawgrass Mills Mall.

For this new location Century 21 wanted to highlight not only their great savings and department signs, but draw attention to their online shopping, social media and credit card program. High color graphics in light boxes were used to highlight these items and key locations such as entrances and archways were chosen to grab attention. Clean, white, double-sided, back lit graphics were chosen to provide easy department location finders throughout the store. The new store looks amazing and is sure to draw attention in their new market location.

Project Details: Profile 100 and 200 Matrix Frame aluminum extrusion system with silicone edge fabric graphics (SEG) printed by dye sublimation on their exclusive Luxx fabric. Light boxes utilized LED’s that can remain on continuously without generating heat. Frame and graphic installation by XP Retail.

Belk Bowl Innovation Lab

The 2016 Belk Bowl Innovation Lab Contest offered local schools in Mecklenburg and Union counties the opportunity to remodel and upgrade the technology in their current media center to create a more welcoming, innovative learning space. The renovations included an open, flexible floor plan that can be arranged to create private work stations or large group gatherings, easy to move desks, chairs, tables and more. Cornelius Elementary School, the 2016 Belk Bowl Innovation Lab winner, won a $100,000 media center remodel that was completed prior to the start of the 2016 school year.  XP Retail is proud to have participated in this year's Belk Bowl Innovation Lab Project providing signs, art, and light boxes for the project.

Project Spotlight: Charlotte Hornets Player Wall

When outfitting out the arena for the Charlotte Hornets, XP Retail worked with the organization to come up with an easier, more cost efficient way to change out their player wall. With each new seasons players will change and the vinyl wall they had previously was not only expensive to change, but difficult to get the art work to match up with where the previous player was located.

The Solution: XP Retail installed 15 Profile 26 side by side Matrix Frames with black powder coated aluminum spacers. These graphics looked great and were easily changed out this season to accommodate the new players with a seamless presentation. The use of fabric graphics additionally eliminated glare giving a clear view of the players wall from any angle.

Project Spotlight: The Tom James Charlotte Showroom

The Tom James Company, with over 100 offices worldwide, is the world’s largest provider of custom and bespoke clothing. XP Retail recently began working with the Tom James Charlotte location to give their corporate art a fresh new look.

For this project, two factors were key components of a successful partnership between XP and Tom James. First, the graphics needed to be easy to work with and change. As a key player in the fashion industry, where style and fabrics are always evolving, they want their showroom to stay on trend as well. Secondly, they liked that their art would be printed on fabric as it would give their modeled clothing a true-to-life feel. They also found it fitting because, being in the textile market since 1966, they understand and appreciate the art of fabric.

Project Details:

Profile 26 Matrix Frame aluminum extrusion system with silicone edge fabric graphics (SEG) printed by dye sublimation on their exclusive Decotex fabric. Installation by XP Retail and Matrix Frame USA.