 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:
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.  If you've ever seen or gifted our Ice Cream Paddle & Serving Spoon, we want you know there's an amazing story behind it... Meet Patsy Oakley, a real estate agent with RE/MAX Associates in San Antonio, Texas. Forty years ago, her mentor — and the woman who encouraged her to become an agent — gave her an ice cream paddle. It was branded with her name and boasted a wooden handle. "For 40 years, I have looked in the drawer, seen Bonnie's name, and thought about her," Patsy told us in a recent interview. When Magnets USA Founder Dale Turner heard Patsy's story at a trade show in 2016, he was inspired. So much so that he set off on creating a similar ice cream paddle for LifeLong Gifts, our boutique of high-quality, engraved gifts. "Having Dale there as customer service shows that he really cares and that he really stands behind his products. It makes me proud to know that he heard my story and he took the initiative to develop something." These days, our Ice Cream Paddle is Patsy's go-to gift. "If Bonnie gave me something 40 years ago, and I’m still hanging onto it, then what a wonderful gift it is for me to give to my clients," Patsy says. "Everyone has loved the ice cream scoop because of the design and quality. There’s just something about when they pick it up, and they scoop out ice cream for themselves, or their children or their grandchildren ... it’s just a great gift that's always right there in front of them." But for Patsy, her new ice cream scoop is more than a memorable client gift. It's a tribute to her mentor Bonnie, who passed away last summer. "Bonnie was my dearest friend and this is her legacy," Patsy says. "Whenever I use my ice cream scoop or give it to a client, it helps me to remember Bonnie."  Patsy's late mentor, Bonnie Armstrong
 It's been a full, fun month of #ThisIsMagnetsUSA, our new weekly series highlighting who we are as a company. We hope you've been following along on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram — but in case you've missed one, here's a recap! Week 1: We Are More Than MagnetsFor our tens of thousands of customers, our magnets are not just magnets; they're useful client gifts that also promote their business or cause. Watch the video. Week 2: We Are Why-DrivenWhy do we do what we do? What inspires us to get out of bed each morning and come to work? This week, we talked to several of our team members about what fuels them day after day. Watch the video. Week 3: We Are 28 Years Old!Like most businesses, we have humble beginnings. This week, we heard from Magnets USA Founder and President Dale Turner about what the company looked like back in 1990 and what his younger self would have thought of our success today. Watch the video. Week 4: We Are A ManufacturerOur products are not simply pulled off a shelf in a warehouse; they're designed, customized and produced right here in Roanoke County, Virginia. Every magnet has to go through a series of steps to meet our standards. We're proud to be a true American manufacturer. Watch the video. Week 5: We Are A Mailing ServiceDid you know we offer a complete mail-fulfillment service? That’s right — we can stuff, seal and deliver your marketing right to your contacts list. This week talked to Rebecca, our mailing services team leader, about how it works, who makes it happen and why it means so much to us. Watch the video. Week 6: We Are AffordableLast week, we shared how and why we're able to offer such affordable products (hint: one of the those has to do with being the manufacturer!). The reasons why might surprise you!
Watch the video. |
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