Reasons to Consider Corporate Gifting

1. Overcome Physical Distance Barriers
To an employee or partner who has never set foot in their physical workplace, a thoughtful gift can make a world of difference in their experience on your team. With the recent popularity of remote work, it’s highly important to reach out to those who work long-distance and celebrate their achievements just as you would in any in-person setting. Though it may seem nearly impossible to replicate the same level of togetherness one would experience working in the office, corporate gifting for remote workers sends an impactful message that you value their presence, even if it is from a distance.

2. Build and Strengthen Relationships
Corporate gifting is a flexible strategy for encouraging the growth of meaningful connections throughout your company. The simple gesture of sending a corporate birthday gift, or a quarterly act of recognition for hard work, creates an environment where positive interactions among coworkers, and management, become the norm. Remembrance and recognition through corporate gifting shows the recipient their presence is valued, and that their relationship to your business is critical to success.

3. Recognize Employees and Boost Morale
Corporate gifting offers numerous benefits to employees, enhancing their overall experience within the workplace. According to Gallup, only 1 in 3 workers in the US strongly agree that they received recognition or praise for their work in the past 7 days, which many say is a factor in their decision to leave or stay in a position long-term. When employees experience authentic appreciation for their contributions, it fosters a workplace atmosphere that inspires individuals to perform at their highest level. Furthermore, corporate gifting creates a ripple effect within the workplace, inspiring a culture of reciprocity and teamwork, where employees are encouraged to support one another.​

Corporate Gifting with Magnets USA®
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Looking for an assortment of customizable corporate gifts? At Magnets USA® and LifeLong Gifts™, we are proud to offer a large selection of high-quality, personalized gifts and gift kits for every occasion. We pride ourselves on our customer service, product quality, and attention to detail. As a small family-run business with over 30 years of experience, we want you to feel confident knowing that when you choose us for your client gifting needs, you get our flexibility, attentive listening, and unwavering commitment to your satisfaction.

If you’d like to learn more about how to grow your business through gentle relationship marketing, make sure to create an account and subscribe to our emails to stay up to date on any discounts or announcements. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to take part in the Magnets USA® & LifeLong Gifts™ community.

When the Market Dips, it's Time to Get Busy.

We get it. The market isn't what it was, and things have been challenging. In times like these, it's only natural to reevaluate your marketing strategies, but here's the thing: while history shows that the market always slows down, it always comes back too.

That's why, in times like these, it's more important than ever to invest in your marketing efforts. We know things will heat back up, and when they do, you want to make sure you're the one who's reaping the benefits because you put in the work to maintain their presence during the rough patch.

Here are 3 reasons why it's essential to invest in your marketing efforts when the market is down:


1. You'll reach new clients.
Direct mail remains one of the most effective marketing strategies across industries. Even if you only mail 200 magnetic calendars, sports schedules, or notecards to a neighborhood, that's still 200 potential new clients.


2. Brand Recognition.
Establishing your brand is a critical aspect of marketing. Putting an eye-catching design on your appreciation gifts helps you stand out from the competition and demonstrates your professionalism, reinforcing your identity as an expert in your field. By getting your brand on people's fridges, they'll see it every day, which builds their trust in you and your services, meaning you'll be the first one they call.


3. It lets past clients know you're still active.
Since the name of the game is relationship marketing, you need to maintain past relationships. Clients you've worked with in the past are more likely to use you again in the future and refer you to their friends because they already know they can trust you to get the job done. But if you don't make the effort to stay in touch, they might think you aren't in business anymore, or worse, forget about you entirely.

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Don’t let the current market get in the way of your goals. Use this time as an opportunity to plant the seeds of success now and harvest the fruits of your labor in the future.

Remember, at Magnets USA® and LifeLong Gifts™, we're here to support you every step of the way. Our marketing experts are standing by, ready to develop a strategy tailored to your unique needs. If you have any questions or are ready to launch your new campaign, give us a call at 800.869.7562 or send an email to [email protected].

Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter so you'll never miss out on exclusive promotions, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay connected and be a part of our community of like-minded entrepreneurs.

​Wondering when the best times to order and send your client appreciation gifts are? Custom products take time to make, especially when they're of high quality, so ensuring you have enough time to get your gifts into your client's hands can be tricky. This simple guide will show you when we recommend placing your order and when to send it so it arrives in time to make the biggest impact possible.

As a motivated business professional, you know the importance of creating lasting relationships with your clients. One of the best ways to create those relationships is to show your appreciation for their business. And what better way to say thank you than with a gift? By making the effort to send gifts to clients, you're showing how much you value them as well as opening the door for something deeper. They'll be grateful for the gesture, keeping your name at the forefront of their minds.

At Magnets USA® and LifeLong Gifts™, we specialize in crafting high-quality magnetic calendars, sports schedules, companion notecards, and high-end cutlery designed to help you create a marketing plan tailored to your unique needs. We're not just in the business of crafting magnetic products; we're here to help you succeed.

Our products are more than just gifts; they're tools to build lasting connections, expand your reach, and grow your business.

As with most things, timing can make all the difference, and gifting is no exception. Carolers knocking on your door in July are an unwelcome nuisance; going to the beach in January won't offer much fun in the sun; and a joke said at the wrong place can cause some serious problems.

When it comes to relationship marketing, sending a thoughtful gift during the right season or occasion can make a lasting impression, and our products serve as gentle reminders of your commitment to your clients' needs, helping you stand out from the crowd and leaving a lasting impact.

Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year
Order as early as possible, ideally in June, and no later than October. Aim to mail them by mid-November to beat the rush and ensure they arrive in time for the holidays.

Thanksgiving
Order in August, and send your gifts in late October or early November, just in time for supper.

School Schedules and Back-to-School Themes
Order them in June and send them out in late July. This will show that you care about their family's educational journey.

Father's Day
Order in April and send them in mid-May. Celebrate the special dads in your clients' lives.

Graduation
Place your orders between January and March, and send them in April to commemorate this important milestone.

Memorial Day
Order in April to ensure your magnetic products arrive in early May, honoring the significance of Memorial Day.

Mother's Day
Order in late March and send in April to give moms the love they deserve.

Easter
January or February are recommended, so you can send them in March, just in time for the egg hunt.

Spring Break
Order in February and mail in March as a sendoff for their spring getaway.

St. Patrick's Day
Order them early in February and ship them early in March. Share a bit of luck and cheer.

Valentine's Day
Order in late December and shoot them out in late January to warm your clients' hearts during the chilly winter.

Super Bowl
It's not a holiday, but it sure feels like it should be! Order them in late December and send them right away to support your team during the big game.

​Did you miss your goal date? Hit a snag or run into a delay? No need to worry. Sure, timing can make a difference, but ultimately, our magnetic products maintain their value for years to come, no matter when they arrive. They serve as daily reminders of the thoughtful connection you share with your clients. So while the timing is important, the lasting impact of our products is enduring.

At Magnets USA® and LifeLong Gifts™, we're dedicated to meeting your unique needs. Our products are created in-house, and we are the home of the original magnetic calendar. As a small family-run business with over 30 years of experience, we want you to feel confident knowing that when you choose us for your client gifting needs, you get our flexibility, attentive listening, and unwavering commitment to your satisfaction.

Ready to make an impact? Don't miss out on the opportunity to create lasting impressions, strong client relationships, explore our range of personalized magnetic marketing products and experience the difference they can make. Order today and let us help you make every moment count!

Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter so you'll never miss out on exclusive promotions, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay connected and be a part of our community of like-minded entrepreneurs.

Want to learn more? Give us a call at 800.869.7562 or send an email to [email protected].

Whether you're a real estate agent embarking on your first campaign or an entrepreneur trying to find a simpler way to go about marketing your services, here's an easy step-by-step guide on how to make a mailing list for your next direct mail campaign.

Ready to embark on your new elevated marketing journey? Then look no further! At Magnets USA® and LifeLong Gifts™ we offer a full range of mailing services to make things simple and stress-free. Everything from address printing, sealing envelopes, dropping your mail at the post office, and purchasing a new mailing list, we've got you covered.

It may be surprising to hear, but direct mail continues to be one of the most effective ways to reach audiences and get a positive return on investment (ROI). In fact, according to a recent survey, "74% of marketers say it provides the best ROI out of all their efforts, and see considerably more recipients take action after getting a direct mailing."

You may also be surprised to hear that a lot of people even prefer mail marketing! Think about it: How many ads do you see online each day? And out of those, how many do you remember? Exactly. People like direct mail because it's personal. Somebody took the time to send them a letter, and regardless of what's in the envelope, that little act means something.

Another thing people like about mail is that it's tangible; no matter what it is, mail is something you touch and feel. Plus, it's exciting to open, even if you can tell it's spam. But since you're sending a gift, just imagine how excited your recipients will be.

Basically, if you're looking to make lasting impressions that lead to meaningful relationships with clients, direct mail is the way to go.

The first step in any direct mail campaign is to get a mailing list together. Here's everything you need to know to get started.

You're going to want to figure out what you'll be sending and how much. Keep in mind that at Magnets USA and LifeLong Gifts, the order minimum for mailing services is 200 pieces, and our products are sold in increments of 100.

So let's say that you want to mail Personalized Magnetic Calendars, one of the most popular, long-lasting, and affordable client appreciation gifts around. That means you need to purchase at least 200 items to send to at least 200 addresses.

Pro tip: It's never a bad idea to order more than you need. For example, if you have 250 addresses, you might feel like it's not worth it to buy 300 calendars. However, any calendars that are left over—50 in this case—will be sent to you. This way, you have extras on hand to pass out whenever you need a quick gift for a new connection or to send to someone you forgot about. So it never hurts to keep some around. You never know when you might need them!

Before you create your mailing list, you need to ask yourself a few questions.

• How many people do you want to mail to?
• What kinds of places do you want to reach? (Urban/rural dwellers, homes, businesses, apartments, P.O. boxes, etc.)
• Who are you trying to reach? (Home size, homes with children, average income, zip code, etc.)

Once you've answered those questions, it's time to gather names and addresses, and there are a few ways to do so.

• Dig through the Yellow Pages and do it by hand.
• Use information from your current customer base.
• Purchase a list (we'll talk more about this later). 

Before we get into purchasing lists, let's assume you're building a list from scratch or using information you already have on hand. To ensure a smooth process, your mailing list needs to be in one of two formats: Microsoft Excel (.xls) or Comma-Separated Values (.csv). In other words, the easiest way to make your list is with Excel.

Next, you're going to want to organize your list into three columns:

• Name
• Street address
• City, state, zip

Consistency is key here, so be sure to format everything correctly and take your time to avoid errors. Lists that aren't formatted correctly may need adjustments, costing you time and money down the line. That said, mistakes happen. Don't worry if you can't get it perfect—we can provide list maintenance and cleanup as an additional service, and we can even merge lists if you need to combine multiple lists.

Once you're finished entering all the information into your list, make sure to save it and clearly name it something that's easy to store and identify. For example, if I were saving a list I made, I'd name it Wesley Laird - Mailing List - 8.24.23. Or something like that.

Now all that's left is to export your list to an .xls or .csv file. You can do this by looking for the "file" tab in Excel and scrolling down to "export". You'll then be shown a few different formatting options you can export your list as, but remember, the only two acceptable formats are .xls or .csv, so be sure to select accordingly.

After you submit your mailing list, we'll run it through a verification process called the Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS). CASS goes through your list and standardizes all the information you provide so it meets USPS requirements. After that, we use Deliver Point Validation (DPV) to check for undeliverable addresses and update any addresses that are in the permanent change-of-address records.

The last stage of the scrubbing and verification process is to find and remove duplicate addresses. While I'm sure nobody would mind getting two gifts, we want to help you get the most out of your marketing dollars by making sure you're reaching as many different people as possible.

That's right! You can skip it all and just purchase a list. No formatting, no scrubbing, no hassle. Just send us the information on what kind of addresses you want to send your gifts to, and that's it! You can buy a list based on something as vague as a zip code, and you can get one based on something as specific as household size. No matter your goal, we can get you a list that will meet your needs. And the best part? After you purchase a list, you can reuse that list as much as you want.

Regardless of whether you purchased your list or assembled it by hand, you're going to have to pick a delivery option. They may seem scary, but they're actually pretty straightforward. Here's each option and what they mean:

• Or Current Resident: Your mail gets sent to where it's addressed, even if the intended recipient has moved. The words "or Current Resident" will be printed next to the intended recipient's name. This option is the most popular for direct mailings because it's great for maintaining a strong presence in that area. It's also the option we recommend doing.

 

• Standard Mail, AKA Marketing Mail: If your intended addressee has moved, your mail will not be delivered, forwarded, or returned.

 

• Return Service Requested: If your intended addressee has moved or if your mail cannot be delivered, your mail will be returned to you along with your addressee's updated address or an explanation for the non-delivery.

 

• Address Service Requested: If your intended addressee has moved, your mail is forwarded to their new address if possible or returned with new address information.​

After making your choice, the final step is to select a drop date. This will be the window you'd like your mail dropped off at the post office.

And that's it!

It's important to be realistic about delivery times when it comes to direct mail. They do call it snail mail after all. With that in mind, be sure to plan ahead and complete your mailing preparations as early as possible.

When your chosen drop date arrives, we'll take your mailing to the post office, where it will then be prepared for delivery, usually in the next couple of days. Standard Mail takes approximately 10–14 business days to deliver, and First-Class Mail typically takes around 5-7 business days. However, remember that USPS delivery times can vary based on the time of year and other factors.

Keep in mind that once your order is dropped off at the post office, it's fully in the hands of the USPS. In order to keep track of when your mailing has arrived, we recommend adding your own address to your list. This way, you'll receive one of your calendars around the same time that the rest of your mailing has been delivered.

​In addition to our full bulk mailing services described in this blog, we also offer other similar services. We can print addresses on envelopes, stuff your gifts into envelopes and wet-seal them shut, stuff and seal without printing addresses, and more. So if you're the type who prefers to do things yourself but doesn't want to spend time licking envelopes, let us handle the little stuff so you can focus on the big stuff.

Setting up a direct mail campaign is pretty straightforward, and as we just learned, there's more than one way to get it done. So go out with your newfound knowledge and embark on a direct mail campaign that'll reach new clients, stay connected to ones from the past, and help you reach your business goals!

Remember, at Magnets USA® and LifeLong Gifts™, we're here to support you every step of the way. Our marketing experts are standing by, ready to develop a strategy tailored to your unique needs. If you have any questions or are ready to launch your new campaign, give us a call at 800.869.7562 or send an email to [email protected].

Don't forget to subscribe to our email list so you'll never miss out on exclusive promotions, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay connected and be a part of our community of like-minded entrepreneurs.

One of the best parts of tradeshows, festivals, events, etc. is the S.W.A.G. (stuff we all get). Whenever there's a booth with a table full of stuff up for grabs, no matter what it is, it's hard to pass it up. After all, it's free! But let's be honest, unless it's something useful like sunglasses or pens, chances are it'll find its way to the junk drawer, where it'll spend the rest of its days until you eventually muster up the strength to clean it out.

As a professional trying to market your services, this news is probably disheartening, to say the least. To put in all that work into finding something cool that works with your budget, adding your customization, and transporting it to the event, only for it to end up discarded and make no impact at all, is a tragedy. Your gifts should be the opposite of that! They should be fun, impactful, something you'd be excited to get, something that'd make you go "Whoa, this is really nice!".

If you're ready to take your promotional gifts to the next level and know for certain that your marketing dollars aren't going to waste, then it's time for you to start using Magnetic Box and Bottle Openers.

So what makes these openers so special? It's simple: they're built to last. Unlike other promotional bottle openers you've probably gotten before, these are made of stainless steel. They're heavy duty, so when you hold one, their weight alone makes it clear that their quality is undeniable; they're practically indestructible! Plus, the more durable they are, the longer they'll last, and the longer they last, the more value you're getting from your ad spend.

Where's the fun in something that only does one thing? That's why ours can do three—well, four if you count their ability to advertise! In addition to the tried-and-true opener function, ours has a magnet. Our name is Magnets USA® after all. But it's not one of those annoyingly weak magnets that go on the fridge and start falling off after a week or so. No. These magnets are heavy-duty, built to hold up way more report cards, drawings, and notes than the average magnet.

The other use for these products is opening boxes. On every opener, there's a beveled edge on one of the corners that can cut right through packing tape (the scalloped "teeth" on our key-shaped openers are used in lieu of an edge). The best part? It's not even sharp! In fact, it's totally dull. But don't be fooled; even though it's dull, that edge will make quick work of any package. If you're like me and tend to order a few too many things from a particular website that shall not be named, you'll be reaching for this thing (which will be conveniently stuck to your fridge) several times a week.

Speaking of brand visibility, what's the point of giving out S.W.A.G. if it doesn't promote your business? Brand recognition is a huge part of the advertising game, and the best way to spread brand awareness is to make sure people see it.

Magnetic Box and Bottle Openers are essentially miniature billboards, but unlike billboards, which might (and that's a big might) get seen twice a day by someone during their commute, your openers are guaranteed to be seen. Think about how often you walk by your fridge each day. Chances are, it's a lot.

Now take that number and multiply it by a year, and that's how often your recipients will see your logo! Not bad, huh? But that's not all; given the durability of these openers, there's potential for them to stay on their fridges for many, many years, where they'll get seen by guests and visitors too.

Customers are more likely to do business with a brand they know over one that's unknown, so when they find themselves in need of your services, you'll be the one they call.

It's a fact that humans are visual creatures. We're attracted to things that look good and catch our eye. Putting a great design on your promotional item can be the key difference between having the most popular booth at the event versus that one booth filled with stuff you literally can't give away. Fortunately for you, we specialize in design.

Our Magnetic Box and Bottle Openers come in a variety of colors, shapes, and designs to choose from. Nearly all of them offer space for you to simply add your contact information alongside the design, and if you wanted to do something fully custom, something that truly makes you stand out, we can make it happen.

Don't have design experience or a team member to assist you? Fear not! We have a full roster of some of the best designers in the industry who are ready to help. Our designers can create a custom design from scratch based on your instructions for a flat fee that's a fraction of what it costs to commission a designer elsewhere.

​When it comes to buying 100 of anything, costs can quickly exceed your budget, especially when you don't want to settle for junk. At just under four dollars per opener, these gifts are among the most affordable marketing products out there. If you consider how often they'll get used and for how long people keep them, you don't have to be a math whiz to see just how good of a deal these are.

​Plus, think about the business you'll generate. Even if your openers drum up one single client, the business earned from that client will cover the cost of your 100 openers many times over. And let's not kid ourselves; a promotional gift as cool as these is going to get you way more clients than just one.

Finding the right promotional gift can be hard because you don't want your marketing dollars to go to waste, and you especially don't want to end up stuck with hundreds of trinkets nobody else wanted. Magnetic Box and Bottle Openers are your perfect option because their unmatched quality, superior craftsmanship, multiple uses, and outstanding value will set you apart and have clients asking for more.

Buy some today and be that person everyone wants to talk to because they heard you give away these awesome gifts.

​If you'd like to learn more about how to grow your business through gentle relationship marketing, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter and stay up to date on any discounts or announcements. And don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to take part in the Magnets USA® & LifeLong Gifts™ community.