They say everything is bigger in Texas. That certainly rings true for Keller Williams Mega Camp, a dynamic conference for top-producing real estate agents, brokers and owners from around the word. Held each year in Austin, Mega Camp also welcomes hundreds of vendors that culminate in a high-energy Mega Market.

For 15 years, Magnets USA has been a proud participant and a Keller Williams-approved vendor. Last week, several members of our sales and marketing teams flew down to the Live Music Capital, ready to help out agents with our magnetic marketing products and LifeLong Cutlery. Celebrating its Mega Camp debut, LifeLong Cutlery was received with open arms.

So here are a few important things we took away from the show:

1. Agents love that we can engrave their homeowner's name on the handle of each knife. By doing this, we're able to extend our cutlery beyond just a great marketing tool and closing gift. With one simple word, a knife can truly become a generational piece — something for a family to treasure forever.
2. Seeing our customers face-to-face always gets us. Throughout the year, our sales reps spend a lot of time on the phone carefully helping clients through orders, answering questions about artwork and suggesting products to fit their needs. While we love talking to you via phone, seeing you at trade shows is the best.
3. Austin's color is invigorating. During our downtime, our team spent some time exploring — and tasting — Austin's culture. We were able to tour the Capitol, take a stroll down Sixth Street and sample some amazing barbecue, jalapeño-infused grits, cornbread and brisket.

Mark Willis (center), CEO of Keller Williams Realty and LifeLong Cutlery user, poses with Cutlery Specialist Daniel Turner (left) and Magnets USA founder Dale Turner.

Free handle engraving was a show hit.

This week, we're celebrating two of our creative masterminds, Katy Adkins and Ray Samonte. Learn a little about what these dedicated graphic designers love doing on and off the clock.

How long have you been with Magnets USA? Eight years in October.

What’s the most rewarding part of the job? I love getting feedback from customers praising a design I created or had a hand in.

What does a typical day at work look like? I have the pleasure of using my creativity every day to create designs for the company and for our customers.

What’s the best vacation you’ve ever been on? My husband and I went to the Grand Canyon on our honeymoon five years ago. It was truly unbelievable, breathtaking and an experience I will never forget.

How would spend an unexpected day off? I would spend it with my three-year-old son, Ace, making sure we included his favorite things — the park, trains and ice cream!

How long have you been with Magnets USA? Exactly one year and two days.

What's the best part of the job? Having a chance to do what I love to do, which is being creative. My co-workers are pretty cool, too. Also, Friday lunches.

What does a typical day in the office look like? Clock in. Brew some coffee. Make proofs while listening to some fantasy football podcast. Brew more coffee. Make proofs while listening to some music on Spotify, Pandora or iHeart radio. Eat lunch. Brew more coffee and maybe grab some candy from Tara's desk. Do more proofs. Clock out.

What’s the best adventure you’ve been on? Traveling to Egypt. Aside from fulfilling my childhood dream of riding a camel, I had a chance to experience Egypt's culture, meet the people, taste the food, learn more of their very rich history and see some really, really, really old stuff.

What brought you to Roanoke? I moved here to be closer to family.

What are some of your interests outside of work? Aside from design, I love watching and playing sports, reading about new gadgets and apps, camping and fishing.

This week, meet Brian Yufer, a hardworking member of our production team. From handling the printers and cutters to carefully packaging your order, our production team is the best — and it shows.

How long have you been with Magnets USA? Just over 10 years. I'm looking forward to 10 more great years!

What’s the best part of the job? The great group of people I get to work with.

What’s the best way to spend the weekend? Being outdoors. Hiking, the lake, cookouts, random road trips to nowhere. Unless it's cold out. Then it's staying in and hibernating. Unless there's a snowman to be built.

If you could give your 18-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? Three things come to mind.

1. Take it easy. Slow down a little, and enjoy that time of your life more.
2. Driving fast gets expensive.
3. Don't even think about pushing up on that granite counter top.

What’s one of your favorite childhood memories? Riding around town on the back of my grandfather's bicycle.

Not only are we celebrating the tenth week of our Meet the Team series, but today marks 11 years at Magnets USA for graphic designer Linda Blake. Congratulations to this inspiring, dedicated woman!

So this week, meet Linda , who works hard to create designs that fit each of our customer's business needs and personality.

How long have you been with Magnets USA? 11 years — it has flown by!

What’s the best part of the job? When I see designs and products on our website that I created in years past. It’s nice to know that our customers are still choosing them.

What's one of your favorite childhood memories? When I was in the fifth grade, my oldest sister let me wear one of her necklaces to school for the very first time. She was always doing something very special for me, and this was no exception.

On the way to school, though, I accidentally broke the necklace. I worried all day that my sister was going to be upset with me. When I went home, my sister met me in the hallway by my room. She saw by the look on my face that something was wrong, so she asked if I was okay. I broke down in tears and told her how sorry I was that I'd broken her necklace. Instead of being mad, she hugged me and told me the necklace could always be replaced.

She reminded me that day why she was so special to me. She is one of the sweetest people I know. I am very blessed to have such a sweet, forgiving sis.

What do you love most about your family? My family is very large. My sisters and I don't always see eye to eye, but we do agree that family is important. The older I get, the more I realize that my family will always be there for me when everyone else walks away.

What's one thing you're looking forward to this year? I'm looking forward to my daughter receiving her Ph.D. in mathematics from NC State.

Great marketing plans start with the future.

So what does that mean? Plan ahead by ordering your magnetic calendars now. For the past nine months, our design team has been working to bring you the best lineup yet. Fresh designs. New options. More ways to inspire the most important people in the industry — your clients.

What should you know?                     

• This year, both of our recipe calendars were made with a special ingredient. We asked our customers, friends and grandmothers to dig up their most tasty, family-approved dishes. That’s why you’ll find things like sugar-glazed southern sour cream pound cake, hot cider punch and white chicken chili. Hungry yet?

• Our Jumbo Calendars, featuring six beautiful covers, mail for the same bulk rate as our Standard Tear-Off Calendars. That’s right. Mail more for less when you choose our Mailing Services.
  

• Year-at-a-Glance Calendars are better than ever this year. Why? Because we’ve designed them to comply with Every Door Direct Mail, a service from the U.S. Postal Service that allows you target customers who might be interested in your business. Simply choose your zip codes using demographic data and select a delivery route.

By choosing Year-at-a-Glance, you’ll have the option of our exclusive bump and wave shapes. We also offer a house shape, a favorite of real estate agents. Because why not stand out?

Are you in? Don’t wait for your competitors to jump on our 2015 lineup. Treat yourself, your business and your clients with a smarter marketing plan today.

To get your order started or to find out which option is best for you and your clients, check out our calendar array.