We’ve always said that our playsets are great for kids and adults alike. And we have had families tell us that their pets love them, too. So, we now plan to push the boundaries a bit further and see if stuffed animals are equally fond of CedarWorks.

I have little doubt of the outcome.

In the next few weeks, a Rhapsody playset festooned with stuffed animals will grace the display window at Planet Toys, a rockin’ great place for kids stuff right next door to us in Rockland, Maine. And, inside the store, there will be a second Rhapsody playset ready for kids to climb, slide, hoot, and holler.

If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by and check it out.

This time of year, as folks are headed out to the back yard and gathered ’round the BBQ, your CedarWorks swing set is likely getting a full workout!  Here are some handy tips to help you with some quick troubleshooting for common swing set use.

1.  Squeaky Swings! Swing set hangers can often dry out in the sun.  A quick dose of silicone spray (like WD40) should do the trick.

2.  Unwanted Visitors!  Squirrels, racoons, bees, and other little visitors may enjoy your swing set as much as you do!   A little vinegar spray around nest areas can often encourage them to shack up elsewhere.

3.  Keeping up Appearances!  You may wish to freshen up  your swing set.  A light power wash can usually do the trick.    A power wash delivers water under pressure. To clean the wood without marring it requires both the proper technique and an appropriate water pressure. We have used a power washer at approximately 2,000 psi (pounds per square inch) with clear water and 40 degree tip on the end of the washer.
Start the water with the wand pointed away from the playset. Then, maintaining a distance of about 3 inches, start moving the wand across the playset along the grain of the wood. Adjust distance as needed to achieve the best result. Constant motion will prevent the creation of ridges on the wood. A light sanding after the wood has dried will remove any “fuzz” that may be left after the power washing.  CAUTION: It is important to experiment to determine the proper pressure and technique. We recommend first trying it on the ground stabilizers or on the most hidden side where any accidental marring would be less obvious.  For more info on power washing  your CedarWorks swing set, please call our customer service at 800-462-3327.

4.  Organics!   Sometimes, you may notice small areas of mold where your swing set has come in contact with grass, leaves, mulch, etc.  This is an easy fix.  If you don’t want to power wash the whole set, try washing the area with a one part bleach and two parts water solution.

If you have questions about your swing set, please don’t hesitate to call CedarWorks customer service at 800-462-3327.  We are happy to help!  Or, if you have a handy tip that you’ve discovered, please share it in the comments section below this post.

Early last fall, CedarWorks embarked on a new mission.  A mission to adapt to an ever-changing media market and take a good hard look at how we interact with our customers and, most importantly, how our customers want to interact with us.   With things changing quickly thanks to the internet, it was time for CedarWorks to revamp the communications process including a heavy-duty effort on polishing up on our “social media” skills.  This translated to a need to be better listeners and communicators above and beyond the typical forms of media advertising.  Sure, you could see our ad in a magazine, or while browsing the web, but wouldn’t it be much more fun to “hang out” on Facebook? Or Twitter? Wouldn’t it be cool to read in detail about someone else’s CedarWorks experience before making your decision to purchase a CedarWorks set?  We thought so!  After all, someone’s personal endorsement (or lack thereof) for any product is far more powerful than even the prettiest advertisement.   As part of our CedarWorks customer engagement efforts, we are working diligently to create relationships with  well-regarded members of the online media to continue to provide you with opportunities to experience CedarWorks on your time.  Of course, we’d love for you to call and talk to us directly, but we  also understand that many  folks like to browse through the internet world of choices in peace and at their leisure.  Besides, if you are reading this blog post,  you probably already know that a helping hand or a question answered from CedarWorks is just a phone call away.    With all of that said, please enjoy this recent blog post from Ms. Stephanie Manner Wagner, a professional Mom Blogger of a well-attended blog entitled “And Twins Make 5″.  She describes in detail the process that she and her family experienced while shopping for their new family swing set. We are delighted that she and her family chose to work with  CedarWorks, and we are honored to be a part of her blog reviews.  And remember, we love to hear your feedback on how we’re doing.  If you have any ideas or suggestions on how we can enhance your communication with CedarWorks, please share below in the “comments” section.  Enjoy!

http://andtwinsmake5.blogspot.com/2010/05/buying-swing-or-playset-cedarworks.html

Have you dreamed of owning a CedarWorks Swing Set? A fully customized Rhapsody Indoor Playset?  Or, perhaps you were captivated, as I was, of the amazing new Rhapsody Bunk and Loft Playbeds.  If ever there was  a time to act on that dream, it’s NOW!  We’ve got Spring Fever and the Design-And-Win contest is our way of beckoning you to get creative and possibly win the perfect CedarWorks set for your family.  Imagine how much fun July 4th will be with that fabulous new swing set!  Or, the look on your kids’ faces when the Rhapsody Indoor set arrives in time for the summer slumber party!  Oh, the fun!

But, there is only one week to play.  So follow this link, create your perfect design, request a quote, and be entered to win your CedarWorks this year! Your kids will thank you for it.

http://www.cedarworks.com/design/win

We are excited to tell you about a new addition to the CedarWorks website.   Over the past couple of weeks, we have started construction on the new CedarWorks Press & Media “room”.   The CedarWorks Press & Media room will give interested readers a chance to catch up on CedarWorks news, and CedarWorks in the news.  In just a few weeks, there will be opportunities for bloggers and members of the media to easily access information about the CedarWorks company, photos and social media opportunities.   If you would like to keep up with the latest CedarWorks news and media, check it out at http://www.cedarworks.com/press and subscribe via RSS.  You will receive up- to- date company press releases, as well as news stories that feature CedarWorks products and company news.

In Rockport Maine its been much “warmer” these days.  I suppose that is a relative statement depending on where you are in the world, but here it’s been sunny and in the mid-30′s.  When the weather turns like this, its hard not to get a little kiss of Spring Fever.  I am already peeking around the leafy mush to see signs of crocus!

This year, in celebration of Spring,  CedarWorks is having a special sales promotion that we hope will spread a little “feel good” in a variety of ways.

First, for every play set order , indoor or outdoor, that you place by March 15, 2010, CedarWorks will donate $100 to charity on your behalf.  The second “feel good” is that you get to have fun picking, planning and designing the perfect play set for your family! And finally, there is the excitement and anticipation that comes when you and the little one’s are awaiting the arrival of that amazing new play set.  Then of course, the fun really begins. Join CedarWorks in planting some Spring Seeds of Cheer this year! Choose between and environmental or child-related charity at the time of your purchase, and we’ll take care of the rest! Please call us for details or information at 1-800-462-3327.

As promised, CedarWorks has several new products for your family’s upcoming enjoyment. Although we aren’t ready to show you the whole kit-and-kaboodle, we thought you might enjoy a teaser of what’s to come for 2010.

As you can imagine, setting up for a product photo shoot is a pretty big task. I had no idea how big until I ventured over to check out the second site location. I was amazed at the amount of equipment, people, and space that is necessary to communicate to our customers the true dimension and life of these new products.

The set-up crew hauls the materials to the site and assembles them. Once the products are in place, the design team arrives to begin their magic. (more…)

Or chalk, as the case may be.

CedarWorks is on the brink of launching exciting new products for your families!  We have been very busy working away the winter hours here in Rockport, Maine.  As spring arrives, so will a plethora of totally new CedarWorks products designed especially for children.  We are nearing the final  phase of development, and we need your help solving a design conundrum.

Our dilemma:  While we have created an amazing new concept for a  child-sized table and chairs, we are undecided as to the kind of finish which  should grace the new table top.  This is where you come in.

Would you prefer a:

• Chalkboard table top finish (in blue or black)

• Traditional gloss table top finish (in blue, black, or natural)

• Or another idea altogether?

Post your comments here or on the CedarWorks Facebook page www.facebook.com/cedarworks.  Thanks for your help!

Each year, CedarWorks participates in a variety of charitable and goodwill events that lend a helping and bring a bit of joy to someone in need.  Most recently, Carina Richards of the CedarWorks sales team received a call from an oncology nurse from the Mary Dow Center at Maine Coast Hospital in Ellsworth, Maine.

The oncology team was caring for a man suffering from terminal cancer with a very poor prognosis.  This man is a single father to a two-year old girl. With the holidays and his daughter’s birthday right around the corner, their patient conveyed that he wanted to provide an amazing gift that his daughter would cherish for years.  After some discussion, he mentioned they had always dreamed of a swing set that included a slide. He recalled the beautiful fall weather, and how much he enjoyed spending time with his little girl at the playground.  It’s a story that touched us deeply here at CedarWorks. (more…)