Kerusso has been named the official apparel partner for Like Dandelion Dust, a new movie based on the novel by New York Times best-selling author Karen Kingsbury.

Winner of more than 30 film festival awards, including a dozen Audience Choice Awards for Best Picture, and recipient of the Heartland Truly Moving Picture Award, USA Weekend said the movie may be "the next Blind Side."

1. For starters, does everyone on your team understand the clear purpose and goals of the organization?

2. Is there any sign of uncertainty about what is required by all team members?

3. Is everyone mutually accountable?

4. Have you stepped up your own energy and passion as a creative, effective leader?

5. Has anyone commented about the company or store being a better place to work? Are people having more fun and enjoying a greater sense of fulfillment?

DaySpring marks day of encouragement

DaySpring is celebrating the National Day of Encouragement--Sept. 12--by giving away a half-million encouragement cards the week of Sept. 6.

Active DaySpring retailers have received a supply of the free encouragement cards-appropriate for all ages-to give away to their customers. The scripture on the card comes from Gen. 12:2: "I will bless you...and you will be a blessing." The message inside is: "I'm so thankful that one of the many lives you've touched is mine. I pray God multiplies back to you the blessing you are, many times over."

Artist and author Sandy Clough's gift books have sold 1 million copies, garnering her Harvest House Publishers' Harvest Gold Award.

Clough's gift titles with Harvest House include An Invitation to Tea (2009), You Can Do Tea (2010) and Prayers to Soothe Your Soul (2010).

Christian products industry veteran Michelle Amster has launched Merch-It, a new retail design consulting agency.

Merch-It's first client is Johnsen & Taylor Bookstore, slated to open in Wheaton, Ill., in late October. The bookstore is a joint venture by Carol Stream, Ill.-based Tyndale House Publishers with South Africa-based Christian Publishing Company, comprised of Christian Art Gifts and CUM Books.

Amster was retained to design the 4,800-square-foot store after one of the investors of Johnsen & Taylor saw her work at The Pointe bookstore, located at Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston.

Good Paper addresses poverty

With its handmade, fair-trade greeting cards, San Francisco-based Good Paper has high goals-the eradication of poverty and the transformation of lives around the world.

The "Sanctuary Spring" eco-friendly card line has created jobs for women who have escaped prostitution in the Philippines, providing safe, dignifying and empowering work. The company also produces the "Cards From Africa" line, which has been featured in media outlets such as O Magazine, Newsweek and NBC's Today show and which employs orphans in Rwanda who have lost their parents to genocide or disease.

‘Fix-It and Forget-It' for Christmas

New York Times best-selling cookbook author Phyllis Pellman Good aims to help those who feel the pressure to deliver perfect holiday meals, with her new Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook: 600 Slow Cooker Holiday Recipes.

With 500 recipes from home cooks across the country, Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook offers menu ideas and guidance for each recipe, Ideas for Meaningful Holidays and Happy Hosting Tips.

1. Walk in the Light LED Mini Flashlight (Kerusso) $4.99

List based on sales data for Aug. 1-31, 2010, provided by Christian Books & More Gold and used with permission.

Sept. 11-13
Atlanta Fall Gift and Home Furnishings Market
AmericasMart
Atlanta
404-220-3000
www.americasmart.com