Chef Rick Tramonto invites readers into his home in his new Steak & Friends: At Home, with Rick Tramonto cookbook, to release in April from Andrews McMeel Publishing.

Focused on food, faith and family, each chapter of the 304-page hardcover cookbook, written with Mary Goodbody, opens with one of the chef's favorite Scripture verses and includes 150 steak and seafood recipes with all the trimmings.

Abbey Press has shut down its consumer catalog division and its companion Web site, laying off 34 staff, though the trade marketing division continues operations. The catalog division has been in business since the early 1960s and last year mailed 6.5 million catalogs.

The division experienced declining sales for five years before closing, Saint Meinrad Archabbey Business Manager John Wilson said. "We've tried a variety of solutions to keep the catalog business going because we wanted to give it every chance to succeed," he said, adding that the decision to discontinue the division was made after an exhaustive process.

Retailers and restaurants might fare better for today's St. Patrick's Day as consumers gear up to celebrate the Irish holiday. According to the National Retail Federation's 2010 St. Patrick's Day report, conducted by BIGresearch, celebrants were to spend an average of $33.05 on decorations, party favors and green attire, up slightly from $32.80 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $3.44 billion.

"With many people still worried about the economy, St. Patrick's Day is a great opportunity for consumers to have a little fun," said Tracy Mullin, NRF president and CEO. "Retailers as well as restaurants should see an increase in traffic this year as people begin to shake off their winter blues and celebrate this traditionally festive holiday with friends and family."

Easter celebrants will spend slightly more this year with the average person expected to shell out $118.60, up from $116.59 last year, according to the National Retail Federation's 2010 Easter Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, which polled more than 8,000 people this month. Total spending is expected to reach more than $13 billion.

Jeff West, owner of Witness Gifts Marketing, died March 6, 2010, at his home in Akron, Ohio. He was 47.

Through his own company and previously through Magi Marketing, West, a CBA member for years, sold gifts into Christian retail stores. During his four years with Magi, he sold to smaller accounts in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, said Kent Barnard, national sales manager for the company.

Harvest House Publishers author Lisa Boalt Richardson has partnered with Heart for Africa to help build a needed facility for orphans in Kenya.

A certified tea specialist, Richardson said that a portion of the proceeds from her new book, The World in Your Teacup, will help build a septic system for the orphanage.

Kay and Derron Castille are closing their store, Agape Inspirational Books, Gifts and Flowers in Darlington, Pa., after five years.

"The bookstore itself has been doing really well as far as sales go," Derron Castille said, but he and his wife decided to close the store in March to spend more time with their two older children before they leave home.

The Castilles both have full-time jobs aside from running the store and were not able to hire a full-time manager.

Derron, who is also a florist, brought in fresh flowers, which did "help a lot for maintaining the business," he said. As a result, the store was able to sell quite a few bereavement products along with the flowers. "We did do a lot of consoling of our customers in times of bereavement," he added.

"We were trying to keep this ministry open," Derron said. "(But) God really put it on my heart to step away from this and focus on my two children."

AmericasMart Atlanta recently cited Christian Retailing in a Twitter "tweet" as one of its favorite gift retail publications.AmericasMart is the site of a new inspirational, multi-line gifts showroom, with several companies-Gifts of Faith, His Hands Laser, Bristol Gift Co., Holy Land Gifts, LuTroo and Nicole Brayden Gift/Divinity Boutique-displaying their wares there from its introduction in January during the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market. The showroom is also conducting a small show this weekend, March 20-22.

List based on sales data for Feb. 1-28, 2010, provided by Christian Books & More Gold and used with permission.

March 19-23
Columbus MarketPlace Show
Columbus MarketPlace
1999 Westbelt Drive
Columbus, OH 43228
800-686-MART
www.thecolumbusmarketplace.com