Suppliers of Christmas cards—traditional and nontraditional—are reporting increased sales for the 2010 holiday season.

Abbey Press saw sales up more than 35% over last year. “We have held our retail prices and number of cards in a box for several years, and I think that has been a positive,” said Sue Ann Kloeck, national sales director. “In addition, our new designs have been very successful this year.”

Christian retailers and suppliers who are members of CBA can take advantage of specially negotiated deals for the Atlanta gift show this month at AmericasMart.

Retailers attending the Jan. 14-18 show receive one complimentary hotel night stay per store, available on a first-come, first-served basis. There will also be an exclusive CBA retailer meeting offering lunch free of charge and highlighting the latest inspirational gift trends, Friday, Jan. 14 at 11:30 a.m. Click hereto RSVP and for further details.

Global color authority Pantone has announced its color of the year for 2011: PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle.

In contrast to the 2010 color of the year, PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, Honeysuckle is a “stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going—perfect to ward off the blues,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. A reddish pink, Honeysuckle is thought of as encouraging and uplifting, instilling confidence and spirit to meet the challenges of everyday life.

Christian Retailing magazine is helping stores set themselves well for the new year with its fifth online exhibition.

The Virtual Christian Retailing Winter Show, running through March 15, will highlight some of the key new and backlist products from gift companies such as P. Graham Dunn, Robert Spooner Galerie and Deirdre & Company, as well as other leading suppliers.

Suppliers have begun nominating their best releases of the year in the 2011 Retailers Choice Awards—which this year features four gift categories: Accessories/Apparel, General Gift Product, Gift Books and Wall Décor.

Companies wishing to enter the contest sponsored by Christian Retailing—now in its 11th year—have until Jan. 17 to take advantage of the Early-Bird discount in the competition’s record 45 categories.

Brownlow Gifts introduces “Purse-a-Nali Teas,” a new spring collection of six purse-inspired designs with tea sachets. With bright colors and a beaded handle, each purse contains 20 tea sachets of flavored or herbal tea.

Manual Woodworkers & Weavers (MWW) introduced the “And We Know” collection this month, continuing partnership with child-relief agency Compassion International.

“And We Know” is the latest collection inspired by Compassion and uses green and brown tones on a 50-by-60-inch damask throw (pictured) retailing for $45. Baroque and floral patterns offset the center oval design showing a pair of birds. A 13-by-18-inch tapestry bannerette, $10, and 17-by-17-inch pillow, $18, are also in the collection.

Rom. 8:28 appears on each of the three products: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.”

Since MWW began working with Compassion in fall 2009, the partnership has resulted in “several rewarding projects,” said Creative Director Vicky Grant.

A minimum of 10% of the wholesale price of these items will be donated to help save lives through Compassion’s Child Survival Program. Click here  ChildSurvivalProgram.com to learn more about the program.

To order or to learn more about Hendersonville, N.C.-based MWW, go to www.manualww.com or call 800-542-3139.

John McKinney Sr.

Vice president of operations

Swanson Christian Products

How has Bible cover design been freshened up?

“Traditionally, Bible covers were very simple Christian designs such as crosses, doves, fish, etc. Most of the time, these designs were embroidered onto basic black, navy or burgundy canvas Bible covers. However, in the last few years we have seen both design and materials change dramatically.

“Designs are now everything from simply traditional to extremely wild and trendy. They can be embroidered, screen printed, heat pressed and 3-D. We have even seen some with lights and music chips. All colors are now available, and even various mixtures of colors. And fabric now includes slick vinyl, blue-jean and distressed looks. Today, virtually any design can be placed on any type of material in any color.”

1. Bible Trivia (Dicksons) $16.50

2. Outburst Bible Edition (Talicor) $26.99

3. Scattergories Bible Edition (Talicor) $26.99

4. Guesstures Bible Edition (Talicor) $26.99

5. Bible Bingo (David C. Cook) $7.99

6. Bibleopoly (Bible Games Co.) $7.99

7. Bible Blurt (Talicor) $26.99

tie 8. Kid’s Bible Challenge Game (David C. Cook) $15.99

tie 8. The Young Reader’s Bible Trivia Game (Standard Publishing) $15.99

tie 8. Bible Taboo (Cactus Game Design) $27.50

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

Jan. 12-19

The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market

AmericasMart

Atlanta

800-ATL-MART (285-6278)

www.americasmart.com

Jan. 18-24

California Gift Show

L.A. Mart

Los Angeles

800-LAMART-4

www.lamart.com

Jan. 19-25

Dallas Holiday & Home Expo

Dallas Market Center

Dallas

800-DAL-MKTS (325-6587)

www.dallasmarketcenter.com