By Steve Panosian
It is fascinating to discover an American company in the residential technology space that is over 100 years old, with sixth-generation family members directly involved in the business. Draper at Home is a well-known manufacturer of projection screens, custom indoor and outdoor shading solutions, and audiovisual equipment. I recently sat down with Clint Childress, Director of the Shade Products Group to talk about their latest portfolio of indoor and outdoor shading products, A/V projection screens, and MicroLED display mounting solutions that underscore their expertise and competency in the space.
The expansion of our design-build market is based on a paradigm shift, moving from a home theater room type of market to the whole home market, and now the whole property market. This is our vision for further developing the outdoor shading market. Enclosing spaces outdoors with shading extends the four walls, only out-of-doors.
Steve: Tell us about your personal background with Draper.
Clint: I’ve worked at Draper for 24 years. I started here right out of college in the Shade Products Group, with about four people in the sales department, plus support staff. Over the last 24 years we have grown to become the largest manufacturer of roller shades in the US. with a team of approximately 30 salespeople dedicated to shading. We recently added 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space, which now totals half a million square feet, for all the products we manufacture here in Spiceland, Indiana.
Steve: When did Draper at Home evolve to further tap into the residential channel?
Clint: We renewed our focus on the residential market at the beginning of 2023 because we saw the opportunity for tremendous growth. We are a recognized name within the CEDIA and Systems Integration channel because of our projection screens, however, even with our AV products, there is a clear opportunity to build a stronger residential focus, and this is something I am currently working on.
We have made significant changes to dedicate the necessary resources to the residential market and the CEDIA channel in particular. Our strategy is to bring a wider range of offerings comprised of video display products, projection screens, projector lifts, and direct-view LED mount structures to the residential market, leveraging things where we offer a clear competitive edge.
On the shading side, our focus is on interior custom roller shading systems that others don’t offer in this channel. We have a strong and mature lineup and the ability to bring more products to market through our partnerships and the breadth of products we manufacture.
Steve: Draper also offers a wide range of products in the commercial space, right?
Clint: In addition to shades, projection screens, and AV lifts and structures, we also manufacture gym equipment, basketball backstops, and gym divider curtains for K-12 schools and higher education venues. We also do a lot of big heavy steel and aluminum work including fabricated manufacturing. Our production facility runs with two shifts totaling as many as 800 employees during the peak Summer months.
Steve: What are the latest innovations you’re bringing to market?
Clint: We are a company that brings 120+ years of manufacturing experience in developing products that expand our niche. We are cognizant of the fact that designers are more involved with high-end residential clients and our design objectives for shading products factor both appeal and functionality, and most recently, child safety has also become a significant design factor.
Our FlexShade – FlexStyle – and other motorized shade product lines now include the new Ascend cordless shade operator. They operate more smoothly and feature easy-to-install brackets. No hanging cords or dangling bead chains enhance the product aesthetics and also help eliminate concerns about child safety and meet the recently updated ANSI safety standards. It’s easy to use – you can push it up or pull it down, using just your fingertips, and once you stop moving it, it holds at that position. You really have to experience the elegance of the design first-hand to appreciate the technology and engineering.
Exterior shading products are also important to our customer base and while we have a very mature lineup, we continue to offer a portfolio that remains diverse, and packed with competitive offerings.
For several years our exterior lineup has included non-edge capture systems and edge capture systems, commonly called zip shades. More recently we designed and introduced a tension edge capture and zip specifically for the systems integration and design market. We wanted to offer the ability to shade everything that’s outside. It’s important for the design-build channel because of the high interest in maximizing the living experience outside the home.
The expansion of our design-build market is based on a paradigm shift, moving from a home theater room type of market to the whole home market, and now the whole property market. This is our vision for further developing the outdoor shading market. Enclosing spaces outdoors with shading extends the four walls, only out-of-doors. The edge capture zip systems enable you to enclose a patio, or a porch, and then add a lighting package and entertainment package to add more value to a project.
Climate conditions are not necessarily a limiting factor. Fall, Winter, windy days, Summer days with the bugs and mosquitoes, it doesn’t matter what’s happening outside. That is where the zip shades are designed to function as a barrier against nature. There is just a thin piece of very see-through fabric between you and the outside. It keeps out the bugs but is a wind and temperature barrier that can be temperature controlled.
Steve: How involved is installing these outdoor shading solutions?
Clint: Outdoor shading installation is a bit more complicated because the environment is less controlled than the interior. The construction variables are much different than designing interior shading around windows. We offer extensive training support with training videos, and we periodically sponsor a road show where we visit different locales and hold training events. This is an important opportunity and investment for us. We support a two-day immersive experience on what it takes to properly install exterior shading. The price tags are bigger, and the dollar opportunity is stronger. The product must be installed properly, and that is why we aim to get it right the first time.
Regarding design recommendation support, we have a Business Development Manager for the system integration channel. We have resources to make sure we are giving all the support we can, which includes drawings and details with explanations designed to make sure our customers have as solid an experience as possible with the product.
We clearly understand that expanding the living footprint outdoors opens the opportunity for all the other products that go along with our outdoor shading – outdoor entertainment, appliances, furniture, lighting, etc.
Steve: You mentioned that you have a business developer. How does this person work with an architect, designer or homeowner who is hands-on in selecting or looking for things that will complement their design vision?
Clint: We have several people supporting different areas of expertise. Product Managers make sure that all of our different layers of support are working together. We have a Sales Director for sales support, and a customer service support department as well. Working with architects and designers is usually handled by business development or the National CI Manager. We also have a team of four people on our technical support staff who support residential installation projects.
Design-wise, the online digital lookbook and hardcopy fabric book provide plenty of options and inspiration to designers and architects. Our sales tools support the dealer, and our fabric collection book provides a sample collection that is perfect for the residential homeowner or designer.
Ordering and availability are also supported online. When considering a collection, you can look at our fabric inventory levels to circumvent inadvertently ordering something that might be delayed or discontinued.
Steve: Talk about your projection screens and MicroLED wall mount products.
Clint: Draper At Home offers different filmscreen surface options to accommodate various viewing environments and projector types. Our TecVision line of premium surfaces includes formulations for different lighting and viewing conditions, and they have been certified for color accuracy by the Imaging Science Foundation.
To deploy that viewing surface technology we have several different options. Draper At Home offers ceiling recessed and wall/ceiling mounted electric screens, and more basic manual roll-down models as well. Our newest screen, the StyleLine, is a fixed frame screen with different options for the border. Those looking to design a home cinema will find we have engineered a lineup of projection screens that render a truly immersive experience.
We’ve also expanded our Audio Video product range to include mounting solutions for MicroLED displays. There’s a growing demand for large high-definition video walls in both commercial and high-end residential settings. Our mounts and structures are designed and manufactured in-house with the high precision required to ensure perfect alignment of the LED panels, which is critical for a seamless video wall installation. Our standard and custom support structures are modular to allow for flexible configurations, easy scalability, various display sizes, and different aspect ratios.
Steve Panosian is a Senior Editor for Technology Designer Magazine and Technology Insider Group. He is an independent consumer electronics industry consultant specializing in the CE Home Theater and Custom Installation market with over 40 years of experience in retail sales and various manufacturing roles.
