Worthy Publishing has sold more than 340,000 copies of Dr. David Jeremiah’s The Jeremiah Study Bible: NKJV since its 2013 release. In light of the success of the New King James edition, Worthy plans to offer a New International Version (NIV) edition in November.

“More people read the NIV than any other version of the Bible,” said Dr. David Jeremiah, a New York Times best-selling author and founder of Turning Point. “If you want to put the Bible in the hands of as many people as possible, you have to go where they are. The NIV is a good translation. It’s one I read often.”

Steven Furtick’s new Multnomah book, (Un)Qualified: How God Uses Broken People to Do Big Things, has landed on several major best-seller lists in its debut week of sales.

WaterBrook and Multnomah, imprints of Crown at Penguin Random House LLC, are taking steps to update their brand identities. The imprints are no longer presented as the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group but are now being developed into two distinct imprint identities. Following a shift in company strategy, each imprint will now serve unique audiences within the church and publish in specific categories. WaterBrook Press will be called WaterBrook, and Multnomah Books will be referred to as Multnomah. 

The imprints also have relaunched their website with a mobile-friendly format, simplified navigation and fresh design. The updated look and enhanced content at waterbrookmultnomah.com will allow visitors to more easily interact with WaterBrook and Multnomah online and discover comprehensive information on each book title, including links to purchase from a variety of Christian and general market retailers.

Ave Maria Press Editorial Director Robert Hamma plans to retire in July. For 25 years, he has served Ave Maria, and prior to that, he was an editor at Paulist Press.

Hamma learned the publishing business at Paulist, where he acquired and edited books, worked with RENEW and developed resources for RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) and college-level theology. In 1991, Frank Cunningham hired him as a book editor at Ave and editor of Spiritual Book Associates Book Club. In that role, Hamma also served as editor of Spiritual Book News. He was promoted to editorial director in 1996. 

Mardel is opening a new store at Greenwich Place, a 106-acre development in Wichita, Kansas. 

The new, 25,000-square-foot Mardel location is now under construction.

"Barring any delays, we hope to open in the fall of 2016," said Bob Miller, communications coordinator with the chain, which has more than 30 locations in seven states.

Greenwich Place also will have a Bed Bath and Beyond, DSW Shoes, World Market and BuyBuy Baby, according to the Wichita Eagle.

Mardel has one other store in the state in Overland Park.

More than 125 million Americans plan to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, according to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) annual St. Patrick’s Day Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insight and Analytics. Consumers are expected to spend an average of $35.37 per person, down slightly from last year’s $36.52. Total spending for the March 17 holiday is expected to reach $4.4 billion based on U.S. population 18 and older.

Fans of St. Patrick’s Day plan to celebrate in a number of ways. According to the survey, 82.1 percent will wear green to show their Irish pride, 31.3 percent plan to make a special dinner, 28.7 percent will head to a party at a bar or restaurant and 21.1 percent will attend a private party. In addition, 22.8 percent plan to decorate their homes or offices in an Irish theme.

Nick Jones, managing director of Lion Hudson PLC in Oxford, U.K., announced he will retire June 6 after 35 years working in the publishing industry. After March 31, Jones will step down from his day-to-day role as managing director and become managing director emeritus until his retirement June 6. Deputy Managing Director Suzanne Wilson-Higgins will become Lion Hudson’s new managing director of April 1, working closely with Jones over the next couple of months until his retirement date.

Jones has been managing director of Lion Hudson for the last three years. Prior to this, he was managing director of Angus Hudson Ltd. and became deputy managing director of Lion Hudson when Lion Publishing PLC and Angus Hudson merged in 2003.