Approximately 250 stores were represented at the 14th Annual P. Graham Dunn Dealer Conference, held at the company’s campus in Dalton, Ohio.

Catherine Bristol of The Lighthouse in Mankato, Minn., has been to the Dealer Conference a few times. One of her main goals in coming this year was to learn more about the laser personalization program.

P. Graham Dunn’s Dealer Conference drew retailers interested in seeing new products, learning about the company’s laser personalization program and being inspired and instructed through the seminars on offer. The conference was held Tuesday to Wednesday, March 18-19, at the company’s Dalton, Ohio, campus.

Guest host Crystal Vilkaitis of Crystal Media won the praise of retailers who felt she offered practical advice for effectively using social media. Both of her Tuesday seminars—“Social Media for the Time-Challenged Retailer” and “A Perfect Match”—were well-attended.  The first guided retailers on how to mainstream their efforts so they could spend more time with their customers, and the second encouraged  integrating social media and email marketing to increase foot traffic into their stores.

Faith-based technology company BelieveTek is launching the “Teking Action” cause-marketing initiative next month in conjunction with Blood:Water Mission, a Nashville-based nonprofit seeking to end the water and HIV/AIDS crises in Africa. BelieveTek created the “African Safari” collection of tech products to support the mission’s work.

“BelieveTek was started with giving back as a mission and working with the youth movement to show their faith on cool tech products,” said Josh Warren, company president. “We are excited to partner with Blood:Water Mission and support the work they do. Getting clean drinking water to those in need is a must and we want to help.”

Christian Retailing invites anyone involved in the Christian trade to help choose the top gifts and other products of 2013 in the Christian Retailing’s Best awards. The voting period runs through March 31.

Click here to vote. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CRBest2014

Carpentree has announced a new licensing agreement with Duck Commander for a product line featuring quips and quotes from the Robertson family of A&E Duck Dynasty fame. Phil, Si, Willie, and Jase Robertson's unique bits of wisdom are featured in artwork with duck feathers and other distinctively Robertson graphics.

“Carpentree is honored to work with the Robertson family and the Duck Commander brand to offer gifts and wall décor that people will love to give, share, and outfit their homes with,” said Jordan Hobson, the company’s national sales director.

St. Patrick’s Day will see 133 million celebrants this year, according to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) consumer survey. They’ll be spending $4.8 billion on the day’s festivities, which is essentially flat with last year.

Conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics, the NRF survey shows that the average person will spend approximately $35 for the holiday, increasing traffic for stores and restaurants selling all things green.

Consumer confidence in the U.S. economy is looking up, according to a recent study. The University of Michigan/Thomson Reuters consumer-sentiment index rose to 81.6 at the end of February, versus a final reading of 81.2 at the end of January.

Some economists have predicted that consumer spending may increase as a result of the improved sentiment, particularly as the inclement weather that has plagued much of the country begins to abate. Wage growth and increased hiring have also been pinpointed as elements that could further improve consumer sentiment and spending.