I wrote catalog introductions to help create for customers a positive image of the company and merchandise. I trie to convey an image of a small, family-oriented, kid-friendly, high quality retailer. I wrote intros for 16 catalogs per year for CWDkids. Here are some that appeared in 2001 and 2002:

Flapdoodles (March 2002)
From classic cuts to wildly imaginative designs, Flapdoodles offers quality, comfort, and style. Flapdoodles was started in 1985 by Marc Ham and Carole Bieber to create comfortable, high-quality clothing for kids that's both functional and fun to wear. Since then, Flapdoodles has evolved into one of America's leading children's clothing resources by adhering to its original principals and designing with fresh and innovative ideas. Kids love Flapdoodles' clothing because it's soft, comfortable, and playful. Parents love it because it's made from all-natural, pre-shrunk fabric in a wide array of vibrant colors and stylish designs. From basics to fashion pieces, Flapdoodles provides bright clothes and coordinated separates for building a versatile wardrobe. We're pleased to be able to offer Flapdoodles to our customers and hope you and your kids enjoy our selection.

Employee Focus: Quality Control (February 2001)
Providing quality merchandise takes top priority in our company, and we've assigned an important person to head our quality assurance team. Not only has Sandra Williams been with CWD for 20 years - she's also a mom and a grandmom with an experienced eye for how clothes fit best. She's the one who personally checks every item before it goes into the catalog to ensure that sizing, color, fabric content, and other details meet our high standards. And if they don't, she calls the manufacturer to redesign the product. Sandra feels strongly about her work: "As a consumer, I want to be sure I get what I see in the catalog," she says. "If I don't think it looks right or isn't going to wear well, I speak up. It makes me happy when I catch a mistake, because it means it'll keep a child from being disappointed. Our guarantee says 100% satisfaction, and we really mean it." Like the other loyal employees who have worked at CWD for many years, Sandra believes in the company and what it stands for. "I've never had a day I didn't want to go to work," Sandra says, "It's a family run business, and it truly is a family atmosphere." Sandra and the rest of our team at CWD always strive to bring you the best quality merchandise from the best manufacturers for the best value.

Making Dreams Come True At CWD (February 2002)
We like to support charities that directly benefit children. We have focused our involvement on activities that let children enjoy life fully and add to their richness of experience, including art and science museums and nature centers. The Make-a-Wish Foundation is one of our favorites, because we like to help a child's dreams come true. This year the child we sponsored through Make-A-Wish, seven year old Brenden, wanted to go with his parents to Disney World. Brenden was able to hug and talk to all the characters in the Magic Kingdom and to go on a "real" safari in the Animal Kingdom. He loved everything about the trip, but especially his villa at "Give Kids the World Village." There he was tucked into bed by Mayor Clayton, a six foot rabbit dressed in pajamas.

Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in 1980 to give children with life-threatening illnesses a chance to fulfill their greatest dream. Wishes include going special places, meeting famous people, having a certain career for a day, or having a special item or toy. Over 80,000 wishes have been granted, and the foundation is now an international organization. If you would like to help a child's wishes come true, call the foundation at (800) 722-WISH or www.wish.org.

Swimwear (March 2002)
With kids outside enjoying the water, it's time to think about sun protection. And we've got a lot to help you protect your kids' skin while letting them have a good time. Our sun hats are a good start for shading tender faces. They include the Daisy Chain Beach Hat featured on our cover (also on p. 47) and the Petite Sun hat in white or pink (p. 50). Girls will enjoy choosing from among several crocheted and terry cloth cover-ups and swim skirts. Boys can throw on a large selection of beach theme tees. Best of all, we've got an extensive selection of wetsuits that offer 99% UV protection in high style. Ultra comfortable, sleek, and stylish, these wetsuits are a favorite for kids and parents alike.

"Justin and Kayli enjoy wearing CWD's wetsuit when they have their swimming lessons. It makes them feel a little warmer than a basic swimming suit," said their mother Patti Doll from Chesterfield OH. "My daughter is in love with her new wetsuit! Your print is so good-looking!" said Tracey Thomas from Washington DC. "I love the wet suit style swim suits. I live near the beach and love to keep the kids covered," said Tammy Watson from Newport Beach, California. "Thank you for helping us find this attractive, affordable, and safe suit so my daughter Hannah is protected from the sun," said Debbie Robertson from Glen Allen, Virginia.

To help little ones stay afloat while learning to swim, we've got a floatation suit for beginners which is perfect for the job. This durable one piece suit has six inflatable inserts for extra buoyancy. They can be removed one by one as your child learns to swim. For the youngest swimmers needing two kinds of protection, we offer a swim diaper trunk and matching swim vest with Styrofoam floats. Of course we are also loaded with stylish trunks, tanks, and two pieces for kids who've got their sunscreen nearby. So no matter what kind of swimwear your kids like, we've got what they need to get the most out of the summer.

Employee Focus: Customer Service (April 2002)
We know how important it is for you to be able to reach "a real person" when you have questions about your web orders, and that's why we have Kelley Ullom on the job. Not only does she personally answer all the e-mails we receive, but she does so within 24 hours. Awarded Employee of the Year in 2001 for her outstanding efforts, Kelley solves every customer problem like Sherlock Holmes does his mysteries-with a special talent. "I love my job," Kelley says, "I love helping people when they have problems."

The most common issue is when a customer needs an item for a birthday or holiday and it's out of stock. Kelley tracks down the clothing in the warehouse or retail store and even calls the vendor if needed. She then ships it out that day, and another child and parent are able to enjoy their special occasion. We often receive letters thanking Kelley for her efforts. "I am writing today to tell you how impressed I was with your employee Kelley," says Jane Brennan-Martin from Houston. "She went above and beyond to help me find two pairs of Jelly Clogs which were no longer available in my children's sizes. She went the extra mile to double check the stock personally, and after two attempts, she found them in both sizes! She absolutely brightened my day." Sue Herzog, from Charlevoix, MI., says "Kelley from the website customer service is GREAT!"

So the next time you turn to our website for the convenience of internet shopping, you'll know that there's someone there to help you if problems arise.

Sweet Potatoes (January 2002)
What better way to get ready for spring weather than with sweet designs by Sweet Potatoes? Fresh and fun, these outfits let kids dress and play like kids. Sweet Potatoes was founded in 1978 by two young moms who shared a dream of creating bright, imaginative clothing for kids. Since then their kid-friendly clothes have become a big hit with parents and kids.

The hallmark of the Sweet Potatoes look is the innovative use of silkscreen, embroidery, appliqués, and fabric prints. Sweet Potatoes strikes the perfect balance between boldness of design and subtlety of detail -- all in soft, comfortable cotton fabrics. Girls will love the extra touches that let them feel special, like crocheted flowers, ribbon trim, and matching hats and kerchiefs. From subtle orange blossoms (p. 3) to bold lavender prints (p. 63), Sweet Potatoes offers her style and comfort for warm weather play. Nothing beats a wraparound truck tee to get a boy's heart pounding. He'll love the bright colors and terrific details of these dump trucks and bulldozers (p.10 ) Sweet Potatoes even has the perfect beach outfit - a lifeguard tee with cool matching jams. (p.15 ).

So as you think of new outfits for spring, think Sweet Potatoes.

Speedo (March 2001)
Now you can have everything you need for the beach or pool with our generous selection of Speedo suits and accessories. With vivid colors, great fit, and catchy designs, Speedo suits are sure to keep your kids happy this summer. Our customers have told us how much they love their Speedos. "The Speedo swirl tie dyed tank and cover-up are gorgeous! The pictures in the catalogue don't do them justice," said Dawn FitzMaurice from New York. "I ordered a Speedo swimsuit for my daughter-she was so pleased! Also a pair of goggles-they're the best, " said Kim Sheaffer from Pennsylvania. "Speedo has such good quality and fit," said Rene Dozzi from Minnesota.

What we love about the Speedos is not only their dependable quality and comfort, but also their extensive selection of both classic and innovative designs. You can count on them to create eye-catching suits, shorts, and cover-ups that will delight your kids when they see them. At CWD, we wish you the very best summer yet, with many trips to the ocean and pool!