Coleen Rossi’s Trinity Cross Collection is available in 2,200 stores across the country, but it took the founder’s walking through some hard times before achieving that success.

The Arizona-based single mom of four boys believed that God was directing her to bring the Trinity Cross pendant design to market when she encountered the artist who made it, but it took her two years to respond to God’s call. When she began to exercise what she calls “a little bit of faith,” God blessed her well beyond her expectations.

Mercy Rule, a new film from Kirk Cameron, was released Valentine’s Day in an exclusive partnership with Family Christian Stores. Cameron has expressed his desire for the movie and its message to become for families what Fireproof is for marriages.

Cameron conducted a poll on his Facebook page to determine whether fans wanted the upcoming film to show in theaters or go straight to DVD. The results showed that more than 62,000 of his fans wanted to purchase the movie in DVD form from a trusted Christian retailer.

Gift companies planning to enter the 2014 Christian Retailing’s Best awards have until Monday, Feb. 24, to nominate their products. Sponsored by Christian Retailing magazine, the awards celebrate the top new and backlist gifts, books, DVDs and other Christian-themed products.

Companies are invited to enter online at ChristianRetailingsBest.com in any one of more than 60 categories, including the 12 gift categories such as Wedding, Jewelry and Accessories/Apparel.

Abbey Press applauds the talents of hard-working people, including military personnel, teachers, nurses and hairstylists, with its “Helping Hands, Grateful Hearts” collection. The new products—plaques, totes and more—feature designs and sentiments aimed at celebrating those who serve their communities.

Produced in Abbey Press’ southern Indiana facility using all U.S.-made materials, the line includes 5-by-7-inch plaques ($14), mini desktop plaques ($8), coordinating tote bags ($18) and coffee mugs ($11). The company plans to add a magnet set and tumblers to the collection in July.

Hachette Nashville has hired Patsy Jones as vice president of marketing. Jones will begin her new position Feb. 24.

“As a seasoned retail marketing professional, Patsy brings keen insight and experience from two significant retailers that understand our core markets,” said Rolf Zettersten, senior vice president and publisher for Hachette Nashville.

Bookstore sales dropped to $13.19 billion last year, a decrease of 1.6%, according to preliminary estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the smallest such drop since 2007.

In 2012, bookstore sales fell 3.3%, while in 2011, sales plummeted 10.2%. The slighter decrease in 2013 sales also may have been buoyed by the optimism in the overall retail market, which saw sales up 4.0% last year.

LifeWay Christian Stores set a goal last fall of donating 100,000 Hindi language Bibles across South Asia, but customers gave enough for twice that many.

“LifeWay has proven once again it is an organization with a heart for the world,” said Tom Eliff, president of the International Mission Board (IMB). “Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine The Thomas Project would be such an overwhelming success.”