Five days have passed since our Grand Opening, and we're still in awe.

The turnout was amazing. The weather was unseasonably beautiful. The energy and excitement were undeniable.

Our Magnets USA family is humbled by the support we've received from our community and trusted business partners. With representatives present from Vinton, Roanoke County and Roanoke City, last week's event solidified our relationship with the entire Roanoke Valley. We wouldn't want to live and work anywhere else!

If you couldn't make it, no worries! The event was covered by WSLS, WDBJ7 and WFIR. Plus, we've got the full photo recap.

Giving LifeLong Cutlery as your next closing gift? While our knives are great on their own, you can go the extra mile with some perfect, indulgent pairings! Your new homeowners will appreciate the added thoughtfulness, and your business will benefit from the memorable referral.

So if you're ready to become the master of gift-giving, we've put together some quick and simple ideas for you:

1. Cheese knife — pair with a selection of locally produced cheeses and a complementary wine. Not a connoisseur? You can still look like one with this helpful cheese and wine pairing guide.

2. Sandwich knife (center) — gift with bagels and cream cheese from your go-to bagel shop. If your clients are new to the area, they'll appreciate you introducing them to a favorite local business.

3. Bread knife — pair with homemade bread from your community farmers market and a bottle of flavored olive oil. You can also gift it with an Amish Friendship Bread starter bag. Designed to be shared, friendship bread is a great way for your homeowners to meet their new neighbors!

4. Chef knives — Complement these culinary workhorses with a beautiful cookbook or a subscription to a cooking magazine, like Bon Appétit or Food & Wine. Your clients will be eager to show off new creations — and their LifeLong Cutlery — to friends and family.

Magnets USA celebrates 25th anniversary with move to Vinton

VINTON - Jan. 30, 2015 - Well-versed in the needs of real estate agents, one Roanoke-based company has had its own share of property dealings recently.

Earlier this month, Magnets USA, producer of more than 20 million magnetized marketing products annually, made the move from Connecticut Avenue in Roanoke to a new home in Vinton.

The transition, which required an exhaustive, six-month renovation of the old Grumman Fire Truck building, means 70 percent more space for production.

“We have been bursting at the seams,” said President Alan Turner, who joined his brother’s company in 1995. “We now have room to reorganize our processes, improve quality, speed delivery times and improve employee and customer satisfaction.”

Turner, along with the company’s 60 full-time employees, is eager to see what the extra breathing room will yield.

“It opens up a huge door to possibilities we could only dream of before,” Turner said. “I believe the creativity and ingenuity of our employees will be unleashed in our new facility. It’s like we are breaking out of a box.”

Jennifer Beishir, programs manager and Vinton resident, sees the move as an asset to the town and the local economy.

“With so many companies moving out of the Roanoke Valley,” Beishir said, “how could you not be excited that not only are we growing, but we have decided to stay in the Valley and add growth to an amazing corner of it?”

Though its client base comes primarily from the real estate industry, Magnets USA services the Chicago Bears, the Salem Red Sox, Kid Rock Enterprises, Burning Man, FloydFest, the American Quilter’s Association and many local schools. In November, Magnets USA donated 500 commemorative fundraiser magnets to the Roanoke Rescue Mission’s Drumstick Dash.

“In the early days, we really just needed warehouse space and room for our customer service team,” said Dale Turner, who founded the company in 1990 and serves as president of marketing and sales. “Now we produce everything. Our new facility gives us all that, plus room to expand our product lines.”

Products range from magnetic calendars and sports schedules to custom magnets and business cards. Last year marked the launch of their premium closing and corporate gift, LifeLong Cutlery.

In 2010, Magnets USA was named Small Business of the Year by the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce.

A grand opening is slated for March.

Our new contact center.

When you're stressed or just too busy, mailing 500 marketing pieces is the last thing you want to do, right?

So we do it for you.

From stuffing and sealing to addressing and shipping your envelopes, we’re dedicated to making your life easier — all for about $1 per contact!

We can even help you create a targeted mailing list, so you can reach more people and generate stronger leads. So do yourself a favor, and choose our comprehensive mailing services today. Your busy schedule will thank you — and so will we!

What our customers are saying about our full mailing services:

My magnets arrived yesterday, and they are perfect! A co-agent received hers as well, and I must admit that I am envious of the outstanding job Magnets USA did with addressing and stuffing her magnets. I will surely use that service with my next order. Thank you for your help in expediting our orders. We are thrilled!
Lovelle Blitch, RE/MAX

I recommend your mailing services to other agents, because it's hassle-free and saves me a ton of time and money.
John Pate, RealtySouth

H2H. No, it's not a genetically engineered water. It's one of the newest trends in business behavior, and your marketing strategy could use a swig of it.

According to The Writer, an internationally recognized language consultancy, "human to human" is one of several up-and-coming  buzzwords for 2015. Essentially, it means your business sounds like a real person when dealing with clients. Why is this so important? Consumers crave personality, and they want to work with a business they can trust like a friend.

Maybe you're already doing this, and you're excited there's finally a word for it. But if you know  your company's mouthpiece is a little uptight, we're here to help you out.

How we help your business humanize:

Sports schedules
It's Friday night, and your community's rival high schools are kicking off another record-breaking season. As the groups of proud parents, grandparents and students flood the stands, there you are, handing out top-quality schedules to all the fans — and your potential clients.

A piece they'll reference the entire season, magnetic sports schedules are the funnest way to ensure your business information sticks around through every play, pass and buzzer-defying win.

Plus: Sounding human on social media
Tips for your business, from our social media coordinator
1. Mind your manners. Courtesy shouldn't fly out the window just because you're behind a computer screen. Thank customers who compliment your business, positively and promptly respond to negative reviews and tweet a simple hello to new Twitter followers.
Not only will these behaviors help your customers remember you, but they're invaluable opportunities to establish a voice (and an ear) and show customers you're a business they can count on.
2. Curb the salesperson inside you. Social media is the place to really interact with your customers and clients, share insights into your company culture and build community. Respect that relationship by keeping sales-pitch posts to a minimum.
Sure, followers want to know when you're having an awesome sale, but don't underestimate the power of a funny (and appropriate) video, a striking photo or an interesting fact about your company's history. After all, keeping your fans interested and engaged is the  first step toward the sales funnel.
3. Be consistent. You know that friend you only hear from a few times a year? Well, you probably don't think too much about them those other 362 days. That same idea should apply to your business' social media accounts. Post daily (include great visuals), tweet often (but not too often — no one likes a chatterbox) and update your blog with interesting content. And if you're ever stumped on what to post, here are some great ideas.