Christian retailers visiting Divinity Boutique's booth at the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) may have noticed the company's new electronic mobile order entry system.

Used for the first time at ICRS, the mobile system "will allow us to scan in orders to an iPad, electronically transfer orders to our office in Ohio and  get them processed within days of the show, said Keith Schwartz, president of Nicole Brayden Gifts and Divinity Boutique. "The mobile system will allow us to show  pictures of items, show descriptions, show related items, group things as collections, email items that a customer wants to look at, but is not ready to order, and of  course, it will let us write and ship orders."

Divinity has been doing extensive upgrades to its I.T. infrastructure, spending more than $40,000 to add new computers and systems.

"The new mobile system is our next step in streamlining and improving how customers interact with the company," Schwartz said. "Over the last year, we focused on our  warehouse and distribution systems.  We sped up the time it takes from receipt of an order to when the order ships.  Today, many orders are shipped within 24 hours of  receipt."

American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) announced the finalists for the Carol Awards at a Monday morning press conference during the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS).

“The awards are a natural progression, especially within ACFW, of the training provided by ACFW. They are an acknowledgement of that work by writers,” said Cynthia Ruchti, professional relations liaison for ACFW. “We want the awards to represent the best of Christian fiction.”

ACFW’s fiction awards began as Book of the Year, but were changed to the Carol Awards in 2009 to honor Carol Johnson, longtime Bethany House editorial director. Winners will be announced at the ACFW National Conference in Indianapolis on Sept. 15. Frank Peretti will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award during the event as well. For more information, visit www.acfw.com.

Category
Seaside Reunion by Irene Hannon (Love Inspired * Editor: Melissa Endlich); A Horseman’s Hope by Myra Johnson (Heartsong Presents * Editor: Rebecca Germany); Lost Legacy by Dana Mentink (Love Inspired * Editor: Emily Rodmell) 
 

Contemporary
Heart Echoes by Sally John (Tyndale House * Editors: Karen Watson/Stephanie Broene,/Kathy Olson); You Don’t Know Me by Susan May Warren (Tyndale House * Editors: Karen Watson/Sarah Mason); Beyond the Storm by Carolyn Zane (Abingdon Press * Editor: Ramona Richards) 
 

Debut Novel
Wildflowers From Winter by Katie Ganshert (Waterbrook Multnomah * Editor: Shannon Marchese); Proof by Jordyn Redwood (Kregel * Editor: Dawn Anderson); A Sweethaven Summer by Courtney Walsh (Guideposts Books * Editors: Beth Adams/Rachel Meisel/Lindsay Guzzardo) 

Historical
Where Lilacs Still Bloom by Jane Kirkpatrick (Waterbrook/Multnomah * Editor: Shannon Marchese) At Every Turn by Anne Mateer (Bethany House * Editor: Charlene Patterson) The Discovery by Dan Walsh (Revell * Editor: Andrea Doering) 
Historical Romance
To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander (Zondervan * Editor: Sue Brower) A Promise to Love by Serena B. Miller (Revell * Editor: Vicki Crumpton) Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House * Editor: Karen Schurrer) 

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Downfall by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan * Editors: David Lambert/Sue Brower/Ellen Tarver); Gone to Ground by Brandilyn Collins (B&H Publishing * Editor: Karen Ball); The Soul Saver by Dineen Miller (Barbour Publishing * Editors: Rebecca Germany/Jamie Chavez) 

Novella
You’re a Charmer, Mr. Grinch by Paula Moldenhauer (Barbour Publishing * Editors: Rebecca Germany/JoAnne Simmons); Impressed by Love by Lisa Karon Richardson (Barbour Publishing * Editor: Rebecca Germany); A Recipe for Hope by Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson * Editor: Natalie Hanemann) 

Romance
The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter (Thomas Nelson * Editors: Natalie Hanemann/L. B. Norton); Saving Gideon by Amy Lillard (B&H Publishing * Editors: Julie Gwinn/Julie Carobini); An Uncommon Grace by Serena B. Miller (Howard * Editor: Holly Halverson)

Romantic Suspense
Tidewater Inn by Colleen Coble (Thomas Nelson * Editor: Ami McConnell); Saving Hope by Margaret Daley (Abingdon Press * Editor: Ramona Richards); When a Heart Stops by Lynette Eason (Revell * Editor: Andrea Doering)

Speculative
Daughter of Light by Morgan L. Busse (Marcher Lord Press * Editor: Jeff Gerke); Judge by R.J. Larson (Bethany House * Editors: David Long/Sarah Long); Daystar by Kathy Tyers (Marcher Lord Press * Editor: Jeff Gerke) 

Young Adult
Prophet by R.J. Larson (Bethany House * Editors: David Long/Sarah Long); Like Moonlight at Low Tide by Nicole Quigley (Zondervan * Editor: Jacque Alberta); The New Recruit by Jill Williamson (Marcher Lord Press * Editor: Jeff Gerke)

The 2013 Christy Awards honored a new group of writers and publishing professionals with three new initiatives at the 14th annual celebration that took place Monday, June 24, at the International Christian Retail Show in St. Louis.

The first Christy Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Lee Hough, longtime literary agent with Alive Communications. He started at the agency in 2001 and in 2010 was named vice president.

“I want to thank all the authors, editors and publishers,” said Hough, who is battling cancer. “I’m at peace; I have gratitude. I am so looking forward to seeing the Lord.”

The Christy Awards also inducted its first two members into the Christy Award Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame members are those who have received at least four Christys. Karen Hancock was the first inductee with four awards (2003-2006) for her books, among others Arena and The Shadow Within. Lynn Austin, who has received eight Christy Awards, was also inducted. She won awards in 2002-2004 and 2008-2012. Her first Christy was awarded for Hidden Places and her most recent for Wonderland Creek. Hancock and Austin presented this year’s Christy Awards.

Also created this year was the Book of the Year Award, given for the breakout novel Into the Free by Julie Cantrell, which also received the Christy in the First Novel category.

“A little over a year ago I was an unpublished novelist,” said Cantrell. “I never dared to dream I could be in a room with people whose books I’ve read. When I wrote Into the Free, I didn’t have a clue I was writing Christian fiction; the book was just who I was.”

This year’s Christy Awards, held at the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel, were emceed by agent Steve Laube of The Steve Laube Agency, with keynote speaker Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary Agency.

See the full list of winners at www.christyawards.com.

Retailers gained tips on how to effectively reach the Catholic market in a workshop presentation from Louis McBride, store buyer for Baker Book House, Monday morning during ICRS.

Much of the Catholic market is underserved, so the Grand Rapids, Mich., store set out to meet the needs of those customers. With an average annual sales volume of more than $2 million, his store’s year-to-date sales of Catholic product is about $1,600.

“That’s a big improvement of $97 four years previous,” McBride said.

In the workshop, he offered product suggestions and shared ways to overcome objections in regard to carrying Catholic product.

McBride reminded retailers that there is a business element to stocking Catholic product.

“Whether or not you agree with the Catholic faith, there is a market here that is being missed and not well served,” he said. “That’s the other side of it. We all know as a CBA store, there is a business side and a ministry side. Catholics as Christians, too, can be ministered to and can minister to you in return, so carry the product they are looking for. It’s a win-win situation.”

Reluctance, anxiety or lack of product knowledge inhibits some retailers. But for starters, if retailers want to build their product selection, they can offer rosaries, missals, Catholic Bibles and devotional books.

There are also add-on sales opportunities. For example, a customer who purchases a rosary may also want to buy a rosary holder or companion guide. Catholic product may be stocked as gifts for confirmation, first communion, “Welcome to the church” or “Welcome back to the church” items.

One tip he offered was to hold an event featuring a Catholic speaker. Another bit of advice he shared was to hire a Catholic team member and have him share his knowledge with other staff.

Geri Gorman, buyer at Oriental Trading Company, said she wanted to attend the workshop to learn more about what opportunities there are and how to best serve Catholic customers. Currently, the company does six to eight mailings a year of a “Fun and Faith” catalog, which includes limited Catholic product.

“We carry a few products in our catalog, but there is always potential to grow and serve more customers,” Gorman said.

Comedian and author Chonda Pierce was recently honored as the "Top Certified Female Comedian" by the RIAA for career certifications comprising of eight gold and three platinum DVDs.

On June 22, Pierce performed to a sold-out, hometown crowd at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.

She received RIAA Platinum certification for Havin' a Girls' Night Out DVD, released in 1998 by Word Entertainment. Pierce also received RIAA Gold certifications for Chonda Pierce...On Her Soapbox (Word Entertainment, 1999), Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid (Integrity Media, 2002) and Have I Got A Story For You (Integrity Media, 2003).

Winners have been announced in the 2013 Christian Retailing’s Best awards sponsored by Christian Retailing magazine. HarperCollins Christian Publishing won nine awards, with Thomas Nelson taking home six and Zondervan three, while B&H Publishing Group was presented with eight awards. Baker Publishing Group received four awards, and in Gifts, DaySpring won two awards.

New York Times best-selling author Jonathan Cahn (The Harbinger, FrontLine/Charisma House) presented the awards June 25 at the International Christian Retail Show in St. Louis. Tammy Trent offered a song from her upcoming Sunny Days release (September Days Records/Infinity Music Distribution).

Winners have been announced in the 2013 Christian Retailing’s Best awards sponsored by Christian Retailing magazine, with DaySpring as the top gift winner. Kerusso, Thomas Nelson, Carpentree, Lighthouse Christian Products were the other winners in the gift categories.

New York Times best-selling author Jonathan Cahn (The Harbinger, FrontLine/Charisma House) presented the awards June 25 at the International Christian Retail Show in St. Louis. Tammy Trent offered a song from her upcoming Sunny Days release (September Days Records/Infinity Music Distribution).