The Challenge

Forge Athletics had great coaches and loyal members, but the space felt flat: white walls, taped flyers, and vinyl decals that were peeling near high-traffic zones. New members struggled to find the right studio, promo signage looked temporary, and staff spent time rehanging posters. The team needed a fast, low-disruption way to add brand, clarify wayfinding, and support sales at the front desk and in the retail corner.

Objectives

• Elevate first-impression brand energy the moment members walk in.
• Add clear wayfinding for studios, lockers, and recovery rooms.
• Promote add-ons (foundations package, small-group training, merch) near the point of sale.
• Keep maintenance simple with wipe-clean graphics and a quick refresh path.

Solution (What We Printed)

Entry Feature Wall (~160 sq ft): Bold wordmark, “Stronger Here” tagline, subtle grid texture that reads premium up close.
Wayfinding Run (~200 sq ft): Direct-to-wall arrows and room labels for Studio A/B, Locker Rooms, and Recovery; contrast-checked for quick scanning between classes.
Program Wall (~120 sq ft): Rotatable series highlighting monthly challenges and new programming. Designed for easy repaint and reprint each quarter.
Retail Corner (~60 sq ft): Price board and “member favorite” callouts aligned to the POS to lift impulse buys.

Why direct-to-wall: zero seams to catch chalk or sweat, high color accuracy for brand red/charcoal, and quick refreshes with a simple repaint.

Process & Timeline

• Day 1–2: Artwork lock using site photos for scale and placement.
• Day 3: Surface check, laser alignment marks, small on-site color swatch.
• Day 4 (early AM): Entry feature wall (about 2 hours including setup).
• Day 4 (late AM): Wayfinding run (about 2.5 hours).
• Day 4 (mid-PM): Program wall and retail corner (about 1.5 hours).

Doors stayed open. We printed between class blocks; cones and a slim work zone kept lanes clear.

Technical Specs

• Printer: Industrial UV wall printer (CMYK with UV curing).
• Resolution: 510–720 dpi effective viewing distance.
• Inks: Low-odor, abrasion-resistant UV.
• Surfaces: Eggshell acrylic on level-4 drywall; light prep and tack-cloth.
• Protection: Optional matte clear coat at the retail corner and water-bottle fill area.

Results (Measured & Observed)

• Member Experience: Coaches reported more first-day selfies at the entry wall and smoother traffic flow to studios.
• Wayfinding: Fewer “where is…?” interruptions at the desk during peak blocks.
• Sales Support: Front desk noted an uptick in add-ons and retail tie-ins when the POS wall went up.
• Upkeep: No seam lifts or edge cleanup; nightly wipe-downs stayed quick.
• Refresh Path: Program wall is now on a quarterly rotation—paint and reprint, no panel removal.

Budget Snapshot (for Planning)

• Design prep and proofs: fixed, modest.
• Printing: priced per square foot with multi-area efficiency.
• Optional clear coat at high-touch zones.
• No vinyl removal fees. Future changes = repaint + reprint.