20th Anniversary Catalog - Babyworks

Dear Friends,
I’ve been at this business for 20 years now.
It has grown up right alongside my
three children, who are all now
adults. Just wait, new moms and dads
of precious little babies! They will grow and change right before
your very eyes, in a continual transformation that doesn’t end
for at least 18 years. And know that in your heart they will still
remain your “babies”--even if they do end up taller than you
are (my son towers over me!). Still delighting you, in different
ways; still inspiring feelings of wonderment and pride; still
existing within that bond of mutual love which you set into
motion from the beginning. Take time to enjoy each phase of
the journey, for no phase lasts long. Enjoy the unique talents
and ways of being that each child brings. There is a profound
sense of satisfaction I feel in having my children reach adulthood
as happy, centered and confident people who contribute
in a positive way to the world. And I know without a doubt that
the simple words my dad told me as to how to parent successfully
-- “Just love them!” -- is indeed the key. I have seen with my
own kids as well as others that the greatest influence in the long
run comes from you - your own love towards them, your respect
towards them, how you live your life - these can trump the many
questionable values you might worry about as I did, that are put
forth in today’s society.
Babyworks has grown up, too. The first catalog was a trifold
brochure - yes, an 8-1/2”x11” piece of paper folded into thirds,
containing a single set of products - Nikky Diaper Covers,
which I hoped I could entice people back to cloth diapers with.
The pen and ink drawings were done by a neighborhood mom.
There was no internet; it was real mail order. I worked from
home for the first 10 years, with a 7 year old and a new baby, and
then another baby two years later, and then an employee. We
grew at the speed of the tortoise, not the hare, as my number
one priority was my children, so there were many distractions.
My desire, my vision and my faith pulled me steadily forward,
through ups and downs and various learning curves - just as with
parenting!
This 20th year edition of our catalog is dedicated to
Adrienne. What an amazing employee, who has been
here off and on with great enthusiasm and dedication
since the business was in my home. And both before
and after getting her formal degree in photography, she
has always taken great pictures for us, many of which
appear in this catalog. I feel a deep sense of gratitude
for all that she has done.
2 Call toll free 800-422-2910 or visit www.babyworks.com
Now our mission is to bring you a complete line of products
that are top quality and which support a healthy lifestyle for you
and your baby—and for the earth! We don’t
carry products because they “seem like a good idea” and
especially not because they are the latest gadget – we carry
products that have been tested and found top notch by a
majority of people, products which we hope will support and
enhance your parenting experience. We do our best to research
the working conditions and other particulars of products we
carry. While we’re mostly a mail order/internet/telephone business,
we do have retail hours here in Portland so you can
come in to shop. Our hours are always posted at
www.babyworks.com, in the About Us section. Currently, they
are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
There are some important things to know about doing business
with Babyworks:
• All of our merchandise is sold with a 30-day money back guarantee,
which extends even to items
that you have washed and
used. There is no “restocking
fee” for returned items.
Drawing of my brother by
my mom, Faye DeVore,
a talented artist and the
ultimate loving
• We ship nearly all in-stock
orders within one working day of
receipt. If an item is on backorder,
we’ll let you know promptly.
mom.
• We sell our merchandise at reasonable prices;
prices which offer you
competitive value while at the same time allowing us to remain a
healthy business, offering excellent service and an unbeatable return policy.
As carrier shipping charges creep upwards, we strive to keep our shipping
charges as low as possible. People ask if we will match prices; we may
consider it, but will take competitive shipping charges into account.
• All the products we offer are carefully chosen and tested, and we know
them thoroughly. We’re happy to assist with questions about sizing, product
selection, whatever you need. If you have a product you’d like to see us carry,
please let us know!
• We will not sell, give or otherwise trade your name or personal information
to anyone else! (You might be surprised at how often this is done,
even by businesses claiming to be environmentally conscious.) Also, we won’t
intentionally mail you multiple copies of our catalog.
Look for a coupon on page 36!