The number of shoppers using mobile devices to make purchases has increased by 10% in just two years (from 25% in 2012), according to an ongoing shopper-behavior study by The Integer Group and M/A/R/C Research.

Increased mobile purchasing by Hispanics (up 11% year over year), Asian-Americans (up 10% year over year), and the 15-34 and 35-49 age brackets (up 10% and up 12% year over year, respectively) were largely responsible for this increase.

Ingram Content Group celebrated the opening of its first print and distribution facility in California on Oct. 3. Located in Fresno, it is Lightning Source’s second facility that uses state-of-the-art, automated print-on-demand (POD) technology to print and distribute books to customers. The California location joins Ingram’s logistics network of 23 facilities and offices around the world.

"Ingram is pleased to continue investing in the future of books with the addition of a new print-on-demand facility in Fresno,” said John R. Ingram, chairman and CEO, Ingram Content Group. “Having a print and distribution presence on the West Coast is critical to our ongoing growth and expansion of services for clients and customers. Fresno’s central location allows us to quickly reach major population centers in California and the West, and we’ve found great talent here to support our operations.”

HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) announced its acquisition of majority ownership of Thomas Nelson Brasil (TNB) from joint-venture partner Ediouro Group.  HCCP, TNB and Ediouro will continue to work closely together. 

The TNB acquisition directly aligns with HCCP’s strategic plan to grow its international presence to support its English-speaking authors who have a global platform while at the same time continuing to publish local voices and content relevant to Brazilian readers.

Kregel Publications announced late last week that it will add an imprint for books published in partnership with Ratio Christi Student Apologetics Alliance.

“This agreement came about when Kregel was working with Tom Gilson, Ratio Christi’s national field director, on the book True Reason: Confronting the Irrationality of the New Atheism,” said Dennis Hillman, publisher at Kregel. “In our talks about what Gilson does at Ratio Christi, I realized how much that organization is doing to help Christian students express, explain and support their faith on college campuses amidst immense secular influence and an antagonistic attitude toward biblical faith. Ratio Christi teaches Christian apologetics—the historic, scientific and philosophical reasons for following Christ. They are making an impact in reaching people for Christ, and that is part of our mission statement as an evangelical Christian publisher.”

Concordia Publishing House returns to the adult Christian fiction market after a lengthy hiatus with Katie Schuermann’s debut novel, House of Living Stones, which releases in November.

An accomplished musician and pastor’s wife with roots in the Midwest, Schuermann writes about what she knows and loves.

American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) celebrated its awards gala Saturday evening, Sept. 27, at St. Louis’ Hyatt Regency Downtown at the Arch. Nearly 600 conference attendees, industry professionals and guests were present at the gala.

Author Robin Lee Hatcher received the 2014 ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award, which was announced earlier at the International Christian Retail Show.

Left Behind star and Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage received a distinguished honor during the 2014 Catalina Film Festival on Catalina Island. Cage was awarded the Charlie Chaplin ICON Award, which was presented prior to the special festival screening of Left Behind on Sept. 26.

The award is part of the 100-year celebration of Chaplin’s legendary career and advent of his iconic tramp character. It is presented annually to an actor or filmmaker whose work embodies Chaplin’s qualities of realism, diversity and courage within his craft.