National Wholesale Co. was well-prepared long before its founder’s passing

By Paul Miller

Many of the women who’ve bought from the catalog for years — and a good portion of them still mail in hand-written orders — rely on the cataloger’s order-takers and customer service reps to solve their problems, and have built up a warm rapport with the company over the years. Like the many ways Smith led by example, Swann and company have continued to make sure they can solve all customers’ problems and special needs. “There’s a palpable sincerity for people and their well-being,” Boyle-Brayfield says.