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Custom cutting boards make beautiful keepsake gifts. Whether you’re looking for personalized gifts for clients, a housewarming gift, or a custom wedding gift, custom wood cutting boards are both a beautiful and functional choice. Keep reading to learn how to choose the best wood cutting board for quality, lifelong gifts. Plus discover care tips and find out where to buy the perfect products for your gift giving needs throughout the year.  Why are Wooden Cutting Boards Popular?Wooden cutting boards are popular for a number of reasons. They’re both durable and easy on your knives. There’s more than that, however. Here are our favorite reasons we always have a wood cutting board on hand:
 Why Do You Need a Quality Wooden Cutting Board?A quality surface matters when it comes to prep boards and cutting blocks. If the surface of your cutting board isn’t durable, then it won’t last. Not only do quality cutting boards last longer, but they also can prevent your knives from dulling too soon. Plus, better quality materials also resist bacterial growth. This is why we prefer a good, solid wood cutting board to the cheaper, plastic alternatives. Cutting boards made from plastic develop deep grooves and chips with regular use. This in turn gives bacteria a place to hide and breed. As a result, they need to be replaced more regularly. On the other hand, hard wood cutting boards tend to be self-healing. In addition, plastic also isn’t as kind to your kitchen knives compared to the right wood surface.  Is Wood Safe to Use?There have been multiple studies on cutting board safety. Some argue that because wood is porous and a natural product that it can harbor unsafe bacteria with each use. However, plastic cutting boards scar more easily and are therefore more difficult to clean over time. Most studies show that wood is a safer alternative to plastic. In fact, wood is not any less sanitary than plastic as is often asserted. Regardless of the wood you choose for this important kitchen tool, cleaning your boards with hot water and detergent is effective at removing bacteria, even as they age.  What Types of Wood Should Be Avoided?Certain woods, such softwoods, are porous and therefore are more difficult to keep clean and likelier to stain. They also aren’t as self-healing as hardwoods and will show scars from knife usage. Pinewood can also give food a somewhat resinous taste if employed for this purpose. On the other hand, in addition to being ring-porous, oak contains naturally occurring tannins. This makes this type of wood more likely to become stained with use. Ash is another wood that should be avoided due to its porous grain. As it also stains more readily than other hardwoods, such as maple. We also recommend that you avoid boards made from exotic woods. These woods often contain toxins that could be absorbed into your food during preparation and can results in irritation, rash, runny nose, swelling or intestinal issues. Therefore, it’s wise to choose a wood variety that products nuts or fruits or has edible leaves or sap. You should avoid any wood that naturally repels insects. Can You Use the Same Product for Meats and Vegetables?It’s not recommended that you use the same cutting board to cut meat and vegetables. Food safety guidelines recommend a different surface for each of these types of food to prevent cross contamination. However, wood is perfectly fine for cutting meat, and many chefs prefer it due to the natural antibacterial properties in the wood.  What to Look for When Selecting a Wood Cutting BoardThere are several things to consider when buying a cutting board made from wood. These include the dimension of the board, wood type and hardness, the grain, thickness and weight, and the porosity of the wood.
 Which Type of Wood is Best?Based on functionality, hardness, and durability, we recommend the following types of wood when choosing a cutting board:
 Are Cutting Boards a Good Gift?The high-end kitchen tools from LifeLong Gifts™ make excellent gifts for every relationship, both personal and professional. Here are just a few reasons why we love gifting custom wood cutting boards:
What Do You Give with a Cutting Board? While engraved cutting boards make a beautiful gift on their own, you can also give a cutting board with several items tied onto the surface with a thick ribbon. Some of our favorite household products you can gift with your custom cutting boards include:
 Why Choose LifeLong Gifts™ Custom Wood Cutting Boards for Gifts?Here at LifeLong Gifts™ we offer a wide range of wood cutting board designs that you can customize to give as gifts. Our engraved wood cutting boards offer plenty of room for your personalization. And they’re made from quality hardwood for lasting durability and to preserve the integrity of your knives. How Do I Customize Your Products?It’s easy to personalize the cutting boards you purchase through LifeLong Gifts™. You can choose an existing design, then add your custom message or information. Or you can select a blank board to highlight a business logo. We offer a variety of designs to choose from including monograms, names, and popular phrases. To design a custom cutting board, simply choose the type of board and design you’d like to personalize. Then supply the information you’d like us to use to customize your product. Once you approve the proof, we engrave the boards to your specifications.  How Much Does It Cost to Get a Cutting Board Engraved?We don’t charge any additional fees* to engrave the cutting boards you purchase through LifeLong Gifts™. In addition, we also offer quantity discounts on as few as six boards. So you can save money while giving lasting gifts that make an impression. (*Design fees may apply to some products.) What Types of Wooden Cutting Boards Do You Sell?We chose the wood for our custom cutting boards based on both durability and aesthetics to give you the best of both worlds. All of our boards are made using hardwoods well suited for this application. Rather than selling popular bamboo (grass) cutting boards, which can be incredibly tough on knives and have a shorter life than hardwood, we offer the following options for long-lasting durability:
 Acacia Wood Cutting BoardsWe love acacia wood cutting boards for their natural beauty. However, acacia has other benefits as well. Not only is this dense hardwood sustainably sourced, it’s also kind to knife blades, water-resistant, and highly durable. When regularly maintained with oil every month, it will likely outlast most kitchen tools.  Cherry Cutting BoardsCherry is another great wood for cutting boards. Like acacia, this durable hardwood also has a natural beauty that shines through. Softer than other common options, cherry wood cutting boards help to protect your knives from damage. They also look stunning when engraved with your desired customization. We offer both cherry house-shaped boards as well as cherry cutting boards with a juice groove.  Bowl BoardsOur bowl boards, which we’ve coined Ulu-Mates™, are unique bowl-shaped cutting boards designed for our popular Ulu Elite™ knives. We offer these boards in three types of wood: acacia, walnut, and plantation hardwood. We love the longevity of plantation hardwood. As plantation grown wood frees natural forests form industrial use, it makes it a sustainable and more environmentally friendly material. This high-quality hardwood is also easy on knives, though the boards do require regular maintenance the same as other wood products.  Like cherry, walnut also make a gorgeous material for cutting boards. Another close-grained wood, the soft straight grains of walnut are knife friendly, while the color helps to hide any staining that may occur. Customer ReviewsHere’s what Lanell M. Johnson Cypress, a recent customer and agent with RE/MAX, has to say about our products: I love Lifelong gifts. I saw a presentation of what they had to offer at a convention a few years ago and I have been hooked ever since.  How to Care for Wood Cutting Boards FAQ There are few things you need to know to properly take care of your wood cutting boards. How to Wash Wood Cutting BoardsFirst off, it’s incredibly important that you do not put wood cutting boards in the dishwasher. You also don’t want to soak your boards in water as it will cause them to warp or crack.  The best way to clean wood cutting boards is to hand wash them using a brush or sponge and hot, soapy water. We recommend that you use a mild, unscented dish soap. Simply scrub your boards on both sides, not just the side you used. (By washing both sides of the board, you ensure that it dries evenly to prevent warping.) After washing, then rinse and dry with a dishtowel. Set the boards upright in a strainer or against a wall to complete the drying process. Do I Need to Sanitize My Boards?You don’t have to sanitize your boards, unless desired. If you are worried about bacterial contamination, you can use a weak vinegar, hydrogen peroxide or bleach solution when cleaning. Simply wipe the boards down using a clean cloth soaked in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution or a mixture of four parts water to one-part white vinegar. Alternately, you can also use one teaspoon of bleach diluted in a quart of water. Allow the board to set for several minutes, then hand wash as usual.  To tackle stains or odors left behind, you can sprinkle them with either kosher salt or baking soda. Then rub a halved lemon, cut side down, across the board. What Is the Best Oil to Use for Maintenance?Oil is used on wooden cutting boards to replenish the moisture lost through washing and to revitalize their appearance. We suggest that you oil your boards once per month or when they feel dry to the touch. You can’t over-oil your wooden cutting boards. So don’t worry about oiling them too often. Any excess oil simply won’t be absorbed and can be wiped off with a paper towel or clean cloth. Food-grade mineral oil, also known as liquid paraffin, is probably the most common oil used for maintaining the appearance of your wood cutting boards. It’s inexpensive and easy to find. In addition, it won’t go rancid like olive oil and other common cooking oils. However, you can also use any other food grade oil that’s not prone to rancidity. Fractionated coconut oil, for example, has a long shelf life of up to three years. (We don’t recommend using coconut oil that’s solid at room temperature.)  Alternately, you can also use spoon butter. You can save money by making your own. To do this, combine one part beeswax pellets (or carnauba as a vegan alternative) with four parts mineral oil over low heat in a double boiler. Allow to melt, then mix to combine. Pour the wood butter into a mason jar or other heat safe container and allow to cool and harden prior to use. By regularly maintaining your boards with mineral or cutting board oil, you help extend the life of your products. Oil helps to prevent cracks, splits, and dry boards. Which in turn helps prevent bacterial growth. How to Store Wood Cutting BoardsThere’s no special way that you need to store your cutting boards. Just be sure they are dry before tucking them away inside a cabinet or drawer.  You can store your engraved wood cutting boards on the counter for easy kitchen décor. Or keep boards easily accessible by storing them upright inside a metal file organizer. Explore more cutting board storage ideas here.
If you need fresh ideas to apply to your marketing strategy, then why not try magnets? Marketing magnets are a great way to drive sales and referrals! Not only are our custom business magnets affordable, but you also pay significantly less for engagement than you would using digital media advertising. Keep reading to discover ways to use promotional magnets as marketing materials to boost your business. Once you discover how powerful and affordable these products are to your advertising, you’ll wonder how you ever got by without them!  Why Choose Magnet Marketing?Magnets are often overlooked by small businesses. Generally, this is because you just don’t know how to use magnet marketing to build your brand. However, there are so many great reasons to use this type of marketing as part of your strategy.
 How to Use Magnets in Your Marketing StrategyNow that you know why magnet marketing is a great way to draw attention to your business, let’s discuss how to use magnets as part of your marketing strategy. Our business got its start with magnetic business cards in 1990. Since that time, we’ve grown to employ a full-time labor force to produce and print our growing line of products on site here in the USA. If that’s not proof that magnetic marking works, then just ask our satisfied customers how many leads and referrals they’ve gained over the years using our products! As every industry is different, we created a wide range of customizable magnetic products to help you creatively market your business. Keep your name and contact information in the hands of prospects year-round with these great ideas for ways to use magnets in marketing.  Custom Business CardsRegular business cards are incredibly important to any business. However, it’s not uncommon for them to get lost in the bottom of a purse. Or find that you accidentally tossed someone’s contact info when you cleaned out your wallet last year. This is where our magnetic business cards make a difference. Everyone uses magnets! So, the chance that your custom business card will get stuck to a client’s refrigerator or filing cabinet are high. Whether it’s to hang a photo of a grandchild or to display their son’s artwork, that simple business card ensures your contact information is always handy. So, if there’s an emergency, or your services are needed right away, you’ll be a customer’s first call.  Calendar MagnetsOur calendar magnets are the perfect way to reach customers from all walks of life. After all, who doesn’t use a calendar? Whether you’re a real estate agent or sales professional, our custom business calendars get results! Home to the original magnetic tear-off calendars, these custom marketing products are a top seller across every industry. These work so well, in fact, that customers ask for these year-after-year. Not only do they keep clients engaged, but they also lead to referrals. Custom Magnets for CarsMarket to the masses for an extraordinarily low price when you create and utilize custom magnets for cars. Our unique line of car magnets make it easy to promote your business on the go. Or use these to support your child’s sports team or to advocate for breast cancer awareness! When designing a car magnet to promote your products or services, you should include the following information:
 Refrigerator MagnetsEveryone uses refrigerator magnets! So, these are a fabulous way to reach and retain customers. Our lineup of popular designs provides the perfect backdrop for you to share a simple yet highly effective marketing message. We offer custom fridge magnets for all types of businesses and events. These include:
 Sports SchedulesSports schedules are huge! Magnetic sports schedules, however, are even better! Highly popular among team fans, these tools offer full season schedules for football, hockey, golf, basketball, baseball, racing, and soccer. Choose your sport, then customize the schedules with your favorite pro, college, or high school teams along with your photo, logo, and contact information. Not only will your customers never miss a game, but you’ll also be their first call when your services are needed.  Personalized NotepadsGive clients and prospects you meet a magnetic notepad and you will absolutely get calls for more! Personalized notepads are both inexpensive and practical. They’re also a great way to gain recognition for your brand. Provide customer and potential clients a different notepad each quarter to mix things up and keep your name fresh in clients' minds. Support for Causes or TeamsWhether you’re supporting a cause, such as breast cancer awareness, or your favorite sports team, products that speak to a specific group or consumer base have a tremendous impact. They’re also a great way to rally the people in your community together. Marketing products in this vein are great not just for general promotion but are also perfect for school or community fundraisers. Magnetic MailersNo envelopes are necessary for these marketing tools! Our magnetic mailers are an effective and affordable way to canvas large areas or neighborhoods. Take advantage of our direct mailing service to save on postage and reach leads in nearby areas without knowing names or street addresses!  Household ReferenceEveryone appreciates instant access to the things we use the most. This includes handy reference charts that relate to our lifestyle whether it’s cooking or keeping a home. Therefore, magnets that incorporate useful information in combination with your contact information are a win! Our line of household reference marketing magnets include options for every industry. Some of the themes include:
Cross PromotionPromotional magnets are also great for cross promotions with other local businesses. Partner with other companies to create a magnetic directory of your services including company name, phone number and website. Each company chips in on the price of the products, then helps to distribute them for a wider reach.  What Should Be on a Business Magnet?As previously mentioned, using business magnets for marketing is a wonderful way to gain brand exposure – without your information getting lost in the shuffle. Not only are they easy to distribute, they’re also functional, durable and offer low-cost advertising per impression. But what information should you include when designing these cards? You should include the same information on a business magnet as you would a traditional business card. However, don’t be afraid to add a fun graphic or design to make your cards colorful and attractive to display. Here are the details you should include on your business cards:
For more tips on how to use magnets for marketing to make a big impact, explore our ideas on how to design a business card here.  Is It Legal to Mail Magnets?Yes, you are allowed to ship magnets in the mail within the United States. However, there are some restrictions for air service. To legally mail magnets, they cannot qualify as a hazardous material. This basically means the magnets you mail shouldn’t have the magnetic field strength to cause deviation of aircraft instruments. (Meaning the field strength must be 5.25 milligauss or less at 15 feet from the surface of the package.) Per these guidelines, all to the magnetic marketing materials offered through Magnets USA® can be mailed out to customers and prospective clients without restrictions. We are happy to mail out the marketing materials you purchase from us directly to your customer list to save you time and money. However, should you choose to mail these yourself, the USPS sets guidelines for shipment of these materials which can be found here.  How Can I Make Custom Magnets? for Here at Magnets USA®, we make it easy to create your own custom magnets for your marketing materials. Our design tools make it a breeze to create magnets with your personalization. So, whether you’re designing business cards or magnetic calendars, your message gets seen. We offer a multitude of opportunities to expand your marketing with branded magnets. Simply choose from one of the hundreds of design options available for any of our magnetic marketing products to get started. Then add your photo, logo, contact information and message using our Build-It software to make it your own. Alternately, you can also create your own magnet designs from start to finish. To create DIY magnets, simply choose one of our custom magnet shapes and sizes, then upload the print-ready image you’d like us to use. Need help customizing magnets for your marketing? Not to worry. We have a professional design team on staff ready to assist you! (Pricing for design services varies depending on complexity and the time needed to complete your request.)  More Ways to Market Your Products or ServiceNow that you know how to use magnet marketing to promote your products or services, be sure to check out these other helpful posts:
For more marketing solutions for your business, as well as information on new product launches and special offers, please subscribe to our newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram. Learn how to incorporate tear off calendars into your marketing strategy for affordable year-round marketing. Whether you need to marketing ideas for real estate or another consumer or service-based industry, magnetic tear off calendars are an easy way to create relationships that produce results. Connect with your clients, generate leads, and gain referrals with this top marketing solution that’s designed to fit your budget!  Why Choose Tear-Off Calendars for Marketing?Promotional calendars are a highly effective tool in marketing. As they provide year-long visibility for your brand, they are one of the BEST ways to spend your advertising dollars. When compared to cost per click on ad campaigns and other forms of digital advertising, you get a full year’s worth of ads for an incredibly low investment. Here are some of the top reasons to choose tear-off calendars for your next marketing campaign:
 What Makes Our Magnetic Tear Off Calendars the Best Choice?Obviously, there are lots of ways to market to your clientele and generate leads. However, you may be wondering, what exactly makes our calendars such a great option? Here are the top reasons why Magnets USA® is the best choice for your calendar marketing:
 Jumbo Tear Off CalendarsOur jumbo tear off calendars are more popular than ever! Make a larger impact and stand out from the competition with this amazing upgrade. Produced and printed right here in the USA, the same as our other magnetic calendar products, our jumbo versions can be mailed for 2 oz. postage. Or let us send them directly to your customer list for less to save you both time and money! In addition to the same features as our standard size tear off calendars, here are some of the other amazing highlights our jumbo calendar pads offer:
 When Is the Best Time to Order? Planning ahead is crucial for making that first of the year impact. So, when is the best time to order? Our promotional tear-off calendars are popular throughout the year. We even have some clients that gift them after the New Year. However, we typically find that mailing out your calendars so they are received between the week after Thanksgiving and just before Christmas has the biggest effect. Early delivery also gives you a chance to connect with potential clients before anyone else has the opportunity. To ensure timely in-house production of your marketing materials, and to account for unpredictable mail delivery, we recommend that you place your order with us by the end of October for the best customer experience. Did you miss your marketing deadline to send out a full year calendar? No problem! We also offer mid-year calendars so you can still come out ahead! How Else Can I Use Calendars for Marketing?While direct mail is a great way to get our tear off calendar magnets into the hands of customers, it’s not always an option when trying to reach prospective clients for whom you don’t have contact information. If you’re looking to advertise your services in person, then here are some great ideas for distribution:
 What Our Customers Are SayingStill not sure about ordering? Here’s just a small sample of some of the positive feedback we’ve received on using promotional calendars as a marketing tool:
As always, if you have questions, we are ready to assist you! You can order our marketing calendars online or give us a call at (800) 869-7562.
For more tips and products to keep you at the top of your marketing game, as well as ideas on how to market yourself as a REALTOR®, make sure you subscribe to our newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram. Highlight your commitment to raising breast cancer awareness with our promotional pink ribbon merchandise. These items make a great addition to your regular marketing materials to help generate leads and gain referrals.  The Fight to Find a CureMany of us know someone personally who has been affected by breast cancer. As the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women, the fight against breast cancer is a movement we can all get behind. Ensuring women get annual health screenings is an important step for early detection. Give your clients a gentle reminder to schedule their yearly mammogram, and help spread awareness, with our line of pink ribbon themed products. Our pink hope ribbon line of merchandise is a creative way to emphasize your stance, while also promoting your business. Use these marketing materials for promotional mailers, real estate open houses, networking gifts, community events, and swag bag favors.  What month is breast cancer awareness?October is breast cancer awareness month. This yearly campaign begins on the first day of October and extends through the end of the month. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to spread awareness as part of your seasonal marketing campaigns!  Breast Cancer Awareness Merchandise + ProductsMagnets USA® is a great place to buy merchandise for your October campaigns. We make it easy to promote breast cancer awareness while also marketing your business! In addition to relaying a positive message of hope, most of our products can also be customized with your business logo and contact information. So, clients and leads can easily stay in touch. Following are some of the great ideas for custom breast cancer awareness items that you can buy from our family-owned business. Pink Breast Cancer Ribbon Bottle OpenerThis personalized fridge magnet bottle opener is a great way to bring awareness and show support for breast cancer survivors. Hand out these stainless-steel bottle openers in October to remind customers of the importance you place on women’s health. Business Card BookmarksThese business card bookmarks are a handy and economical marketing gift. Our conversation starting BusinessMarks™ feature seven inspirational breast cancer awareness designs. Simply add your marketing message and contact information to the backside to distribute at local events. Pink Ribbon Kitchen ScrapersOur kitchen super scrapers are a favorite client gift among women. Decorated with a pink ribbon and awareness verbiage, our original kitchen scrapers have vibrant, full color printing and are designed to handle the toughest residue. While our XL super scrapers also remove ice from windshields, clean cast iron and tackle other tough jobs in the kitchen. Hope Ribbon Plush MagMarks™These magnetic bookmarks are an undeniably useful tool for readers. Another custom product, these writable bookmarks serve as a unique way to promote your cause or services. Find the Cure Car MagnetShow your support to find a cure with these beautiful, die-cut pink ribbon car magnets. Created with bold, full-color printing, a laminated finish and an 18-month colorfast warranty, these magnets are a great way for you and your clients get behind this important cause. Breast Cancer Awareness Magnetic CalendarsRelay your hope for a cure with our line of year-at-a-glance calendar magnets. Featuring a yearly calendar view along with a pink ribbon in a variety of designs, these products are easy to personalize with your photo, logo, and contact details. Hope Ribbon GiftNotes™Upgrade any of these amazing marketing materials with a breast cancer awareness gift note. Our custom GiftNotes™ are easy to personalize. Include a personal message in a hand-written font of your choice along with your name and photo to create the perfect accompaniment for your client gifts.  We hope these tools give you everything you need to launch a successful promotional campaign. However, should you need additional assistance, you can discover more ways to market your business here.
Also be sure to check out our client gift guide for the upcoming holiday season. You’ll find lots of great ideas for branded gifts to help build relationships and generate referrals. You can also subscribe to our newsletter as well as follow us on Facebook or Instagram.  When our creative team first introduced this dreamy new finish, we couldn’t keep our hands off. It’s smooth. It’s velvety. It’s fun. It’s the whipped butter of paper coatings. We couldn’t wait to introduce a whole new lineup of products boasting this special coating. So we got to work. On notecards. On business cards. On bookmarks — essentially, a perfect trio of brand-elevating marketing pieces. PLUSH Notecards The way we see it, handwritten notes are essential to forming lasting business relationships. They’re right up there with firm handshakes, coffee dates, and eye-catching business cards. Our colorful lineup of PLUSH Notecards features more than 180 original designs (we had a little bit of fun with this), including options specifically for Keller Williams, RE/MAX, Century 21, and Berkshire Hathaway. Each notecard features one PLUSH side, and one uncoated side for writing. Did we mention envelopes are included, too? Stock up, friends, stock up! PLUSH Business Cards Let’s face it, business cards sometimes get the short end of the swag stick. They can be boring. Uninspired. Just the facts, ma’am. And that’s just not us. We know business cards are your miniature billboard. They’ll work for you when you’re not around — if they’re cool enough to keep around, that is. So next time you need to refill, treat yourself to a PLUSH version! Their one-of-a-kind texture will promote you as a strong business and encourage recipients to keep them close at hand. They’re the perfect punchline or conversation starter at networking events, client meetings, open houses, and more. Currently, our PLUSH lineup includes special designs for Keller Williams, RE/MAX, Century 21, ERA, Long & Foster, Howard Hanna, Berkshire Hathaway, Coldwell Banker, Weichert, EXIT Realty, and a limited number of independent companies. Jumbo PLUSH MagMarks
When it comes to marketing products, our team likes outside-the-box ideas that stick with your clients and prospects daily. Jumbo PLUSH MagMarks is one of those products. It’s a bookmark. It’s a magnet. It’s a tool that reminds users of your business every time they open a book — so when it’s time use your services, they’ll know just where to turn. Our designers created these so thoughtfully, giving you the most bang for your marketing buck. Not only are they fun to feel, but they’re fun to use, too. The strong magnet ensures you’ll never lose your place. The notes space inside adds extra value. We’ve also included a product explanation, so recipients know exactly what it is and how to use it. Our lineup currently features 39 fun, inspirational, and useful designs. You can send out a new one each quarter! |
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