Leading gift supplier Kerusso is expanding its officially licensed “Heaven Is for Real” apparel line.

Pastor Todd Burpo’s Heaven Is for Real (Thomas Nelson) recounts the experience of his and wife Sonja’s nearly 4-year-old son Colton during emergency surgery. The story of how Colton spent time with Jesus told in the New York Times best-selling book is now a major motion picture opening in theaters just before Easter.

Nearly 26,500 toy professionals from 94 countries participated last week in the largest toy marketplace ever held in the Western Hemisphere. Owned and operated by the Toy Industry Association (TIA), the 111th American International Toy Fair (Toy Fair 2014) held in New York City boasted a record-breaking 414,060 net square feet of exhibit space and welcomed an 11% surge in international buyers, an 8% rise in exhibitors and a 5% spike in overall attendees, bringing total attendance to 26,493 for the Feb. 16-19 show.

A snowstorm just prior to the fair did little to dampen the spirits of 1,153 exhibiting manufacturers, distributors, importers and sales agents, who filled the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center with hundreds of thousands of playthings, including e-Connected toys, outdoor ride-ons, customizable arts and crafts and classic board games. Nearly 10,000 buyers from more than 5,000 retail outlets also were in attendance, including buyer delegations from 22 of the nation’s Top 25 Toy Sellers.

“New York City is reclaiming its position as the toy industry’s international center of gravity,” said Carter Keithley, president and CEO of the Toy Industry Association. “Mass retail buyers, independent toy store owners, licensors and many others reported a highly successful, highly productive and very upbeat Toy Fair. Buyers from across the country and around the globe were writing orders.”

Marian Bossard, TIA vice president of meetings and events, called the fair “a must-attend marketplace for anyone with a stake in the toy business.”

“The show provides brands with global media exposure, caters to retailers looking to revamp and diversify store shelves, and offers all attendees the chance to participate in world-class educational sessions and networking activities,” Bossard added.

The top toy trends for 2014—which include Larger than Life, Full STEAM Ahead!, RC Rampage, Frightfully Fun, Retro/Back-to-Basics and Custom Built—were scouted by 995 members of the press from top-tier media outlets.

“I found the exhibit floor busy and attendees generally optimistic,” said children’s author and expert Mary Manz Simon, whose International Christian Retail Show workshops are often standing room only. “Some of the publishers on the Toy Fair floor have edged back into the ‘book plus’ category, so there’s a less distinct line between books and toys.”

The global toy industry will converge for next year’s toy fair Feb. 14-17, again at Javits. Show information will be available at ToyFairNY.com.

Coleen Rossi’s Trinity Cross Collection is available in 2,200 stores across the country, but it took the founder’s walking through some hard times before achieving that success.

The Arizona-based single mom of four boys believed that God was directing her to bring the Trinity Cross pendant design to market when she encountered the artist who made it, but it took her two years to respond to God’s call. When she began to exercise what she calls “a little bit of faith,” God blessed her well beyond her expectations.

Gift companies planning to enter the 2014 Christian Retailing’s Best awards have until Monday, Feb. 24, to nominate their products. Sponsored by Christian Retailing magazine, the awards celebrate the top new and backlist gifts, books, DVDs and other Christian-themed products.

Companies are invited to enter online at ChristianRetailingsBest.com in any one of more than 60 categories, including the 12 gift categories such as Wedding, Jewelry and Accessories/Apparel.

Abbey Press applauds the talents of hard-working people, including military personnel, teachers, nurses and hairstylists, with its “Helping Hands, Grateful Hearts” collection. The new products—plaques, totes and more—feature designs and sentiments aimed at celebrating those who serve their communities.

Produced in Abbey Press’ southern Indiana facility using all U.S.-made materials, the line includes 5-by-7-inch plaques ($14), mini desktop plaques ($8), coordinating tote bags ($18) and coffee mugs ($11). The company plans to add a magnet set and tumblers to the collection in July.

Consumers’ spending leveled off post-holiday in the beginning of the year due in part to severe winter weather in much of the country. January retail sales, excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, were flat seasonally adjusted month-to-month, yet increased 3.0% unadjusted year-over-year, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).

Book, music, sporting goods and hobby stores’ sales decreased 1.4% seasonally adjusted month-to-month and 1.5% unadjusted year-over-year.

Brownlow Gifts has launched a new website at brownlowgift.com.

The Fort Worth, Texas-based gift company has redesigned its site with a more contemporary look and easier navigation. Express registration is provided with a Brownlow account number. Regular ordering, Quick Order or ordering from the Brownlow catalog all can be handled through the site. Additional product information—including related items, what other customers bought and best-sellers—is also available through the revamped site.