Companies and authors submitting more than five products in the 2014 Christian Retailing’s Best awards will want to enter this week for the Early Bird discount. Sponsored by Christian Retailing magazine, the awards celebrate the top new and backlist books, DVDs, gifts and more in the Christian products industry.

Enter by Feb. 14 at ChristianRetailingsBest.com for the Early Bird discount (for every five paid, get one free). Nominations will be accepted until Feb. 24 at the $60 per-product rate. Products may be entered in any one of more than 60 categories.

On the heels of a healthy yet modest holiday shopping season, cautious consumers aren’t quite ready to splurge on Valentine’s Day this year, as they continue to keep their budgets in check. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2014 Valentine’s Day spending survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics, 54% of Americans will celebrate with their loved ones this year, compared to 60% in 2013.

The average person plans to spend $133.91 on candy, cards, gifts, dinner and more, up slightly from $130.97 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $17.3 billion.

Wall art and home décor maker Carpentree has entered the women’s accessories category this season with a new line of “Scripture Scarves.”

Retailing for $17.99, each of the eight ready-to-wear scarves features a scripture verse. The I Have Loved scarf with polka dot and patterns design (pictured) includes the verse Jer. 31:3: “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” Among the other designs are For I Know—Butterflies and Birds, which features Jer. 29:11, and He Will Give His Angels—Blue Polka Dot With Angel Wings, which bears the verse Ps. 91:11.

On the heels of a healthy yet modest holiday shopping season, cautious consumers aren’t quite ready to splurge on Valentine’s Day this year, as they continue to keep their budgets in check. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2014 Valentine’s Day spending survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics, 54% of Americans will celebrate with their loved ones this year, compared to 60% in 2013.

The average person plans to spend $133.91 on candy, cards, gifts, dinner and more, up slightly from $130.97 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $17.3 billion.

Abbey Press will host a six-day Open House event on the grounds of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, April 6-11. Open to all wholesalers, the Open House is part of celebrations for the gift supplier’s 50th anniversary in 2014.

Abbey also has announced that one of its store customers attending the Las Vegas Market has won a free trip to the Open House in April. Wayne and Cindee Whiteman of Heavensent Christian Books and Gifts in Las Vegas are the winners.

Attendees at the Open House will receive free accommodations for a three-day, two-night stay; a commemorative gift; and the opportunity to enjoy the surroundings of the 160-year old southern Indiana monastery.

Kerusso’s Lion Cross T-shirt was one of the highest-ranked designs in a company survey of consumers who wear Christian tees. The shirt also was unusual in that it trended high among men and women.

“Designs often skew towards one demo or another,” said Lorri Carter, vice president of creative development. “This design topped every age group and gender. We have only had a couple of designs perform this strongly in the past, so we have a ton of confidence in this one. Also, I post new designs on Facebook and this design really performs well on social media—lots of comments, likes and shares.”

Global information company The NPD Group is reporting a 1% decline in 2013 US retail dollar sales of toys when compared to 2012.

Retail sales appear to have been impacted by 2013’s shorter holiday shopping season. While the weeks of Black Friday and Cyber Monday saw respective sales increases of 4% and 24% compared to the same time periods in 2012, the remaining weeks experienced softer sales versus 2012. Fourth-quarter sales were down 1%.