Biz Briefs: New 2018 Christian symbol designs being released
Published 12:00 am Sunday, July 15, 2018
Rufty’s Chrismon Shop, a division of Piedmont Floral Galleries, is hosting its annual Chrismon Open House on Saturday, July 21, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Rufty’s is family owned and operated and has been in business for over 65 years. They are the creators of the Christian symbol designs and the only supply shop for this craft. Seven newly copyrighted booklet kits and 16 new single pattern kits for 2018 will be on display and available for purchase.
Booklets provide instructions for multiple patterns and are included in a kit which contains the beads and wire needed to complete the ornaments. The booklets and single patterns have been in the developmental stages for many months. All patterns are copyrighted and nondenominational and are purchased by churches and individuals in every state and in the United Kingdom. These crafts are used on mission trips in many countries abroad as well.
Rufty’s will hold Christian symbol classes during the week leading up to the open house on July 19 and 20. There will be classes for every level from the beginner to advanced. Call 704-636-7790 for information and to pre-register for classes.
This popular Christian craft is wonderful for creating fellowship and a great tool for group or individual Bible study, say the owners. Many are also made for gifts, new church members, people with spiritual or physical needs, and heirlooms for children and grandchildren to bring Christian faith and hope to others.
These most recent pattern books and booklet kits are in addition to an already extensive collection of over 75 multi-pattern booklet kits currently offered by Rufty’s. The new kits, as well as all others, will be available for purchase at the open house.
Rufty’s is at 280 Furniture Drive, Salisbury (exit 71/Peeler Road). Regular hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to the multi-pattern kits, Rufty’s offers hundreds of single pattern kits. For those interested in learning more, a question and answer session will be held at 11 a.m. during the open house. There will be drawings for gifts and light refreshments will be served.
All of Rufty’s designs may be seen on the website except for the new 2018 designs: christiansymbolkits.com.
Carolina Color buys Chroma Corp.
Carolina Color Corporation has acquired Chroma Corporation, based in McHenry, Illinois. Chroma Corporation is a specialty color and additive concentrate business serving packaging, electronics and other markets.
With this acquisition, Carolina Color continues to grow its manufacturing footprint throughout the U.S. to leverage its growing suite of colorant and additive technologies to better serve existing and prospective customers. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“We are pleased to see Chroma, with its solid reputation in the Midwest, join our incredibly strong color businesses, Carolina Color, Breen and Hudson, which were combined last year into Carolina Color,” said George Abd, chair of the board of the company.
“We will continue to acquire key businesses with the capabilities and resources in locations that complement our current portfolio with the singular goal of meeting the colorant needs of both large and small plastic converters,” added Howard DeMonte, president of Carolina Color.
Chroma has provided total color solutions from its corporate headquarters for more than 50 years. Chroma produces custom formulated masterbatch colors, dry colors, additive concentrates and pre-color compounds for the packaging, electronic, safety, automotive, recreational, medical and consumer products industries.
“We are exceedingly pleased to become part of this exceptional business,” added Chroma CEO Tom Bolger. “We were not considering a sale when approached, but we quickly warmed to the idea after meeting the team, hearing the vision, and reviewing Carolina Color’s considerable progress. … I look forward to working with the entire Carolina Color team as we move the company forward together.”
The board of Carolina Color Corporation has appointed of Tom Bolger, formerly CEO of Chroma Color, as the CEO of Carolina Color. Reporting to him will be Howard DeMonte, president; Matt Barr, vice chairman and chief commercial officer; Jeff Smink, chief operating officer; and Michael Pisch, chief financial officer.
Bolger has had more than 30 years in the color and additive concentrate fields beginning with Chroma in the 1980s and including positions with Wilson Color, M.A. Hanna, Polyone and returning to Chroma where he has been the CEO since 2005 and owner since 2016.
Carolina Color’s Chairman Abd said, “We could not be more pleased to have an executive of Tom Bolger’s character, reputation and knowledge leading our growing organization. Tom’s creativity, drive and experience in both growing businesses organically and through acquisition is a perfect complement to our strategy for this business. We look forward to great success for the business under Tom’s leadership.”
Bolger said, “I am very excited about the opportunity to lead this great organization. The combination of Carolina Color, Breen, Hudson and Chroma creates a unique and rapidly growing player in the market and I look forward to working with the exceptional team at the company to become an even better partner to all of our customers and to explore and pursue further growth opportunities.”
Carolina Color is composed of four leading specialty color and additive concentrate supplier brands in the plastics marketplace. The brands include Breen, Chroma, Hudson and Carolina Color. This combined business, with sales of greater than $150 million, has an extensive manufacturing footprint throughout the U.S. Carolina Color was acquired by Arsenal Capital Partners in late 2017.
