Press Releases

Kurt Johnston Joins Chippenhook as Director of Business Development

Published

9 years ago

April 4, 2016

INSTORE Staff

(Press Release)
Kurt Johnston has joined the Vassi Design group, parent company of the Chippenhook brand, as director of business development.

Johnston formerly served as director, creative presentation and visual merchandising for the Zales Division of Signet Jewelers. He has more than 30 years of experience working in the luxury visual retail segment and will be responsible for developing new business for the Vassi Group brands.

Brands that are part of Vassi Design Group include:

Specialty Premium Packaging, founded in 1985 in El Salvador, manufactures and commercializes premium packaging for multiple industries, including: wine and spirits, tobacco, beauty, and perfumes, confectionary and promotional materials.

Bufkor, founded in 1895, is one of the original designers and manufacturers of in-case jewelry and watch displays in the U.S. The Bufkor office is in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Chippenhook, founded in 1973, serves the apparel, optical, fashion and international luxury brand markets by offering custom visual merchandising and fixtures. Its headquarters is located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, and it has offices in Hong Kong with manufacturing capabilities in China. Chippenhook offers extensive design, project management, global sourcing and logistics experience.

Vassi Design Group’s parent company is SigmaQ. “Kurt brings a wealth of value-add to the Vassi Group. His keen eye for design and insights into the retail marketplace make Kurt an exciting addition to our team,” says President Paul Dietz.

Johnston will be based out of the corporate office located in Lewisville, TX.

Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success

After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone. Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently. The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.