Pantone—the global authority on color known for its color of the year (pictured)—recently forecast its annual color trends in its Pantone View home + interiors 2014 report. Christian gift retailers will want to be aware of new colors expected to be found in home furnishings and interior design this year.

“Consumers are becoming increasingly color savvy and color aware,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “With consumers seeking distinctive styling and considerable substance more than ever before, it is critical that retailers and designers be aware of future color trends. To successfully entice consumers, colors and color combinations must be appealing, evocative, transformative and most importantly on target.”

The L.A. Mart is rebranding its quarterly gift and home markets. The markets are being GALLA—an acronym for Give and Live Los Angeles—to demonstrate the “grand” quality of L.A. Mart’s markets and provide a shopping environment that is entertaining, educational and experiential. 

The tag line LA’s Global Gift + Home Market Event reminds buyers of the 15,000-plus lines of wholesale gifts, home accessories and furniture that are sourced on a national and global scale and are available during markets.

P. Graham Dunn, the Dalton, Ohio-based manufacturing facility known for its premier art and home décor items, will supply uniquely crafted and American-made items to customers of its new, locally owned P. Graham Dunn store in the recently renovated downtown of Grandville, Mich. The store is now open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The 1,900-square-foot store will creatively display home décor items in addition to a large selection of customizable and personalized gifts at affordable prices. Included in the store’s unique features is a nicely furnished 220-square-foot conference room available for individuals, businesses and organizations that desire to meet at an off-site location. 

Abbey Press has agreed to lease space starting in July from Divinity Boutique in its new AmericasMart Atlanta showroom (#1340). A grand opening with show specials and refreshments is planned for Tuesday, July 9, preview opening day of The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market.

Divinity Boutique President Keith Schwartz described the showroom partnership with Abbey as “a win/win for both of our companies.”

Winners of the 2013 Christian Retailing’s Best awards sponsored by Christian Retailing will be announced at the International Christian Retail Show in St. Louis. Kerusso, DaySpring and Dicksons are among the gift companies who are finalists this year.

To enable retailers and suppliers to participate easily this year, the presentation, which will start Tuesday, June 25, at 10 a.m., will be held at the Town Center Stage on the show’s exhibit floor.

Abbey Press plans to hold a drawing for stores at the 2013 International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) for two free passes to its April 2014 Open House.

Known for producing a wide variety of gift products, including its eco-friendly Snail’s Pace stationery, First Communion items and Irish-themed products, Abbey Press holds its Open House event this year May 6-22. Retailers are welcome to attend anytime during the 2.5-week period and can set an appointment to see new and future product introductions in its permanent showroom. Stores can take advantage of an Open House discount of 15% and can purchase closeouts. Accommodation is provided overnight for retailers who come from a distance.

Shopping and human connection often go together. Because of my former colleague’s odd working hours, he used to go to Wal-Mart in the middle of the night just to see people. Maybe that’s one form of what has been dubbed “retail therapy”—a practice that a new survey says is growing among Americans.

The survey conducted in March by TNS Global for Ebates.com found that more than half of Americans say they shop and spend to improve their mood—often when they’ve had a bad day at work (18.9%), received bad news (14.6%) or had a fight with a significant other (12.2%).