Loyalty management leader Aimia recently released Rewarding Interactions: Are You Ready for Customer Intimacy?. The global report highlights the importance of connecting with customers beyond the transactional level—and planning for interactions before and after the purchase activity.

“Real loyalty isn't created at the close of the sale,” said Rick Ferguson, vice president, knowledge development for Aimia. “It's created when the brand and the customer become intimate through multiple interactions before, during and after the purchase. Companies that strategically use those interactions to learn more about their customers will build greater loyalty, create new revenue streams and develop lifelong customers.”

East Tennessee's Cedar Springs Christian Stores carries a wide array of Duck Commander-branded products. Now the gift department in the West Knoxville location is adding a women’s fashion line from Missy Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame.

Cedar Springs is displaying the new brand in the store’s boutique near other clothing lines rather than with Duck Commander products.

Swanson Christian Products’ Accounts Receivable Supervisor Mary Reed has retired, effective March 29, after 42 years of service to the Christian products industry.

”Ms. Mary”—as she is commonly referred to by Swanson associates and store owners, managers and payables employees—had touched virtually every Christian retailer’s account, having started her employment with Swanson in 1972.

Donald G. Leetch, one of the four co-founders of DaySpring Cards, died Feb. 19. He was 88.

Leetch traveled in evangelistic work for several years, during which time he met Leola, whom became his wife in 1952. Together they founded Norwalk Church of the Nazarene and later Nazarene Christian Day School.

Loyalty management leader Aimia recently released Rewarding Interactions: Are You Ready for Customer Intimacy?. The global report highlights the importance of connecting with customers beyond the transactional level—and planning for interactions before and after the purchase activity.

“Real loyalty isn't created at the close of the sale,” said Rick Ferguson, vice president, knowledge development for Aimia. “It's created when the brand and the customer become intimate through multiple interactions before, during and after the purchase. Companies that strategically use those interactions to learn more about their customers will build greater loyalty, create new revenue streams and develop lifelong customers.”

Jerry B. Jenkins will keynote and emcee the awards banquet at the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Leadership Summit on April 28.

The awards banquet will feature a celebration of ECPA’s 40th anniversary and an industry alumni reunion. The event kicks off the annual ECPA Leadership Summit for industry leaders in Christian publishing, held April 28-30 at Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Nelson Books, an imprint of Thomas Nelson, has announced the promotion of Chad Cannon to vice president of marketing. Cannon joined Nelson Books in April 2012 as senior director of marketing.

“I consider it an honor and a privilege to partner with our world-class authors to help them amplify their messages worldwide,” Cannon said. “I'm thankful for my team and the way they think creatively to get our books noticed in a noisy world. It's with excitement that I share this promotion with them as they're the backbone of what we do at Nelson Books.”