Republic Head Office
Project: Republic Head Office
Location: Leeds
Graphic Design: Double Elephant
Main Contractor: Leach Colour
Client: Republic Clothing Group
Contract details: Supply and fit graphic wallpaper
Crop tops, leg warmers and scrunch socks were essential 1985 fashion items, when a group of enterprising Leeds lads formed Just Jeans to satisfy the demand for the ubiquitous fashion staple - denim. Trading initially from a basement cellar, the company took off rapidly and a year later opened its first official store, 'Best Jeanswear', in Albion Street, Leeds.
Throughout the following decade more stores followed. Determined that it would not become just another multiple retailer with each and every outlet looking the same, the company strategy determined that shopping at 'Best' would be a fun experience in a unique and entertaining environment.
Following extensive market research in 1998 the 'Republic' store fascia was born and subsequent re-branding of the store portfolio followed. With 83 outlets now in operation and ambitious plans to double its portfolio in three years, Republic still considers itself to be a chain of independent stores run by their own management teams 'as if their names were above the fascia'.
After we won an open-tendered contract in 2006 to supply all Republic's graphics for three years, with an estimated total value of £1 million it was natural that they would turn to the same company to produce and fit striking graphic wallpaper for their headquarters.
They had seen and rejected many of the digital wall coverings available in the market place and wanted a system which would show the drama, vibrancy and quality that their product portrays. The IMPRESS digital wall covering system turned out to be the right solution, with a combination of unrivalled print resolution, durability of finish and dramatic colour saturation. The product also met their stringent fire classification requirements.
One of our installation team installed the wall coverings during out of office hours to ensure that staff were not subjected to any disruption to their working day.
