In the heart of southern Arizona you'll find The Keto Bakery, a delicious gem run by Michelle Linowicz and her husband Albert.

Each day, they fill their shop with keto-friendly pies and pastries, all of which require lots of prep work.

"We chop a lot of unsweetened dark chocolate — which is very hard — and nuts for pies. I was using a generic, cheap knife."

But then they were given an Ulu Elite by Dale Turner, Magnets USA & LifeLong Gifts founder (and The Keto Bakery fan!). 

"I literally had a whole bar of dark chocolate chopped in a minute or so," Michelle says. "The pieces were small and even, which helped with melting. It was super easy and fast."

But their success with the Ulu didn't stop there. It has helped Michelle more effectively chop nuts for her pies, and has also made her confections more picture-perfect.

"Not only was [slicing a pie with the Ulu] way faster, the filling didn't spill out," Michelle continues. "Usually when you put pressure on a knife, the crust crumbles or cracks, and then your filling is smushed. Before I wouldn’t even slice the pies ahead of time, because it didn’t look as pretty, but with the Ulu, I can actually make nice slices for the display. It’s interesting because we took a picture with the pie sliced with the Ulu, and that post did a lot better than our other posts."

It's no surprise that our latest and greatest knife — the Ulu Elite™ — was inspired a customer we met at a trade show. We're always listening to our customers about how to improve our ever-growing product lineup. 

Our Ulu Elite™ boasts a stunning curved blade and comfortable handle that allow you to tackle many of the jobs paring and chef knives do — just much easier.

It's made for quickly rock-chopping and rock-slicing veggies, meat, nuts, herbs, pizza and more. Since force is applied down on the knife, rather than beside it, the Ulu offers no wasted energy and amazing comfort, even for long cutting sessions (perfect for your weekly meal prep!).
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The rugged, full-tang blade features a phenolic resin-infused acacia handle, so it won't become damaged by water. We also designed it to be mirror-polished to the very tips, so food won’t stick and your cuts will be clean.

So what makes the Ulu Elite™ the best closing gift ever? First, you can almost guarantee your clients — and their friends — don't already have one, making it a conversation-starter that will always end in the amazing service they received from you.

The knife is also engraved along the blade with your name and short business info, so they'll never forget who gave them such a one-of-a-kind and useful gift, or how to contact you again.

For the best experience, pair the Ulu Elite™ with our Ulu-Mate™ Bowl Boards, which are handmade from smoothed Plantation Hardwood and crafted to complement the curvature of the Ulu's blade. Because of the bowl shape, food stays contained while chopping. The back of the board also features a unique slit for holding and displaying the knife when not in use.

The boards are also perfect as an entertaining tray!

After another battle between the titans in the SEC and ACC, the college football season has come to an end.

If you're like me, though, you'll still go on for months about that no-call that was an obvious past interference, or maybe you're an Army fan who will still brag to your civilian friends about the 70-point beatdown they dished out. 

But wherever your loyalties lie, we all share one common enemy (no, not the SEC): the off-season.

To get you through, I’ve put together a list of eight things you can do this off-season to keep you busy until tailgates begin again.

Guest blogger Khal Clary is a lifelong Virginia Tech football fan and a part-time business school student. He has worked at Magnets USA for three years and counting, learning the ins-and-outs of various departments.

If your open houses are starting to feel a little bland, we have a couple of ideas to spice things up!

Give your guests what they want — free stuff! Place a basket on the kitchen counter that's filled with small, useful gifts, like our stainless steel Box & Bottle Openers or our SuperScraper XL. They’re both extremely handy, high-quality freebies that your guests will appreciate and use every day — and see your business while doing it.

Have visitors sign up for your email or mailing list for a chance to win an eye-catching gift, like our LifeLong Gifts Cheese Knife Set or Keepsake Wine Box (each engraved with your business information). Display the giveaway piece next to tasty snack items, like cheese, crackers and fruit. 

We believe our Personalized Inserts are a critical part of your marketing mail-out. Whether you're sending out calendars (all of our calendars have a matching insert!), sports schedules or notepads, including an insert is an amazing way to put a face — and a personality — to your name.

But they can also do so much more.

When done right, Personalized Inserts can connect with recipients, turn prospects into paying clients and encourage referrals. Here are a few tips to get you started: 

• Make our pre-written text your own. All of our inserts come loaded with a pre-written letter. You're more than welcome to use it, but we strongly encourage you to switch things up and let your personality shine. 
• Mention something specific to your community. You know your neighborhood better than anyone, so show it! Mention your high school rivalries, your favorite local festival, or your favorite spot to have fun with the family. When prospects relate, or get a better sense of who you are, they're more likely to reach out when they need your services.
• Let them know why you've sent this gift. This is your chance to encourage them to hang their magnetic gift on the fridge or in the office as a way to keep everyone organized and on track.
• Tell them how the local market is. The goal here is to show that you're an expert. Mentioning whether it's a buyer's or seller's market boosts credibility and may create urgency to get their home listed with you.
• Close with a friendly reminder that your small business thrives on referrals. Even if your recipient isn't ready for your services, they probably know several friends who are. You can't afford not to mention this!

Here at Magnets USA, we don't believe in just selling products. We strive to educate our customers on why and how to use them to generate more leads and foster client loyalty. In other words, we want our products to help grow your business! 

Here are a few resources to help you get the most from your Magnets USA sports schedules, calendars and more: 

Does the thought of coming up with a yearly marketing plan make your head spin? This one is for you: 
Suggested Yearly Marketing Plan

​Want to see how our Magnetic Football Schedules can boost your business? Learn more, and see which type of football schedule is right for you: 
Football Schedules 101

If you recently ordered a sports schedule from us, here are nine creative ways to get them out in your community:
Sports Schedule Marketing 101

When you're ready to design your Magnets USA product, our photo tips guide is a must-read: 
Photo Tips

It's June, which means our famous Tear-Off Magnetic Calendars are coming soon! Be ready for launch with this helpful guide: 
Calendar Marketing 101 

Have a custom design in mind? Avoid these common design mistakes: 
Common Design Mistakes

FROM WORST SEAT TO BEST
Way in the back, behind a pole, sat Donnie Martin, Magnets USA chief operating officer. It was the middle of a long day at the SuiteWorld Convention in Las Vegas, and he was exhausted. 

But then he received a text that turned things around. It was from Jay Forrester, Magnets USA IT director, who was also at the convention.

"I have a surprise for you," the text read. "Tomorrow Magnets USA will be announced as the winner of the YourSuite Award." 

The YourSuite Award recognizes a company with "the most innovative and impactful solution using the SuiteCloud platform," according to Evan Goldberg, executive vice president of development for Oracle NetSuite. 

Donnie couldn't believe it. After months of transitioning Magnets USA to NetSuite, a cloud-based business management software by Oracle, the hard work was paying off.  

The following day, Donnie and Jay had front-row seats in the 4,500-person audience. 

"I guess that's what was so funny to me," Donnie says. "[Going from the worst seat to the best] was what much of this project has been like — full of highs and lows."

​DRIVEN BY INNOVATION
As Magnets USA was named the winner ahead of Uruguay company UES, Donnie and Jay took the stage to receive the award. 

"Being recognized by NetSuite against some of the best companies out there lets us know we are heading in the right direction," Jay says. "We've led the way in marketing innovation for the real estate industry since the 1990s, and now we're extending that energy into technology. Not only will we continue to to be the leader in product innovations, but also customer service and manufacturing efficiency."

A TEAM EFFORT
Donnie and Jay will be the first to tell you they can't take credit for the award. This was a team effort. Every department has had to drastically alter what "business as usual" means to them. 

"I am incredibly proud of the work that everyone has done to implement and start using this software," says Jennifer Beishir, Magnets USA programs manager. "Change can be trying, but everyone has stepped up their game and worked so hard to make it happen."

When Donnie looks at the award, he doesn't gawk at the crystal or nice etching. 

"I see the sacrifices so many on our team have made — time away from their families — to make this transition happen."

GOING FORWARD
Earning the YourSuite award isn't an end result for Magnets USA — it is motivation to keep improving.

"The capabilities for growth ... will change the nature of our business," Beishir says. "It’s exciting to think about, and I can’t wait to see what happens."

Donnie presents the YourSuite award to the company earlier this week. 

Score a front-row seat on every fridge in your area by sending out our famous Magnetic Football Schedules. With millions of Americans following a college, pro or high school team, football schedules cater to a supportive and appreciative audience. In turn, this creates a sense of community, as well as loyalty toward your brand.

​Pro tip: Complete your mailing with a football-themed insert (in the photo above) and a football envelope for ultimate impact. 

Open up the conversation with Magnetic Box & Bottle Openers. Here's what you need to know about this handy gift: It's a high-quality stainless steel bottle opener that also opens boxes, and each one is personalized with your branding, so recipients always know who to call. 

Pro tip: Pass them out at tailgates and local games, or use them as fun referral gifts. 

Rack up new leads by hosting a giveaway for our LifeLong Gifts Gourmet Grilling Set. This incredible gift features a heavy-gauge stainless steel tongs, spatula (with a built-in bottle opener) and fork. It's also engraved with your name and logo. 

Pro tip: Display one at your next open house for even more entries.

If you've visited our website recently, you probably thought, "Am I at the right place?"

Yes, you are. 

A couple of weeks ago, we quietly launched our brand new website. This week, we're yelling it from the rooftops. 

For years, our old system held us back from serving our customers to the best of our ability. We outgrew it and desperately needed a drastic change. 

We've been working on this project behind-the-scenes for a little over a year now. Every department in our company has spent countless hours learning a new way of doing things. And while, admittedly, it's been challenging at times, it has been so worth it. 

We're proud to offer you a website — and an experience — that's now clean, simple and more intuitive than ever.

This website is for you, our loyal, amazing customers. 

Besides a brighter, modern and more inviting look, here's what you'll notice when you visit the completely redesigned Magnets USA home: 

• It now features a responsive design, which means it works beautifully on your smartphone or tablet.
• Easy personalization workflow. We've worked hard to bring you an intuitive program that makes it easier than ever to personalize your calendars, sports schedules, business cards and more.
• You can now reorder without having to call in (though we're always ready and happy to answer your calls!).
• You can securely update your credit card information.
• You can print a year-end statement — great when tax season rolls around!
• You can edit your profile information.
• You can now submit questions, or let us know if you come across an issue.

​If you haven't explored our new site yet, we hope you will soon! And please remember, though we have trained for months on this system, we are humans who will meet challenges from time to time. We hope you'll continue to be patient with us, and please give us a call if you encounter any issues — we'll take care of it person-to-person.