Ask the Experts - Professional Organizing Trends and Industry Changes
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The Professional Organizing Industry is definitely on the rise as a trendy career option for entrepreneurially minded individuals. As student loan payments continue to bury many Millennials, more folks are searching for their place in a reimagined American Dream. The internet provides the perfect stage for those looking to create their own executive future, and Professional Organizing certainly tops the list of possibilities. One can feasibly build a business with low overhead, build a brand for free via social media, and a client base to serve in person or via virtual help. What’s not to love?
The industry wasn’t always so glamorous - worthy of household names like Marie Kondo, and a Netflix series featuring The Home Edit. As some interviewees attested, 10 years ago people thought organizers were house cleaners and junk removers. Thanks to social media and organizations like NAPO (the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals), the industry has become a robust community of specialized, educated, and passionate people who are on everyone’s Instagram radar.
I’ve gathered some serious intel from TEN of the most seasoned, power-house organizing professionals in North America. If you’re considering this as a career, the following advice is as good as gold. I’m honored to share the wisdom and insight of these industry pros with you.
Read each of their extended interviews (which I’ve included at the bottom of this article) and connect with these ladies on social media. I’ve learned so much from each of them in my career and I know you will too!
I just thought of a joke about alcoves, but it’s a bit niche.
The specialties of the organizers I interviewed include -
Photo organizing
Productivity coaching
Downsizing
Home office
Life coaching
ADD organizing
Chronic disorganization
Hoarding
How in the world do you find your niche?
Diane N. Quintana, CPO, CPO-CD, Master Trainer, and Owner of DNQ Solutions, LLC talks about how the industry has evolved as well as discovering her niche -
“There are many opportunities to get training in specific organizing areas of interest. When I started out, I had not decided on an area in which to focus my business. After a couple of years, I realized I could put my training as a special education teacher to good use and work with families challenged by ADHD and hoarding-like behaviors. That is when I joined the ISD (Institute of Challenging Disorganization). Also, there were many more people like me - beginning an organizing career after finishing a career in a different field. Now, there are many young organizers joining ICD and choosing to work as a professional organizer as a first career.”
So, what makes home organizing so trendy?
The clear theme that emerged from my interviews was the influence of social media marketing. Four responses cited this as the most prominent change in the industry and how it’s influenced their work.
Seana Turner, owner of The Seana Method, has been in business for 11 years and sums it up well - “We promote more social media these days, which leads to a great emphasis on styling and appearance of results.”
Lisa Tonjes Moritz, owner of HOPE Organizing, has a unique perspective as a photo organizer. She noted the importance of - “Instagram worthy photos. When I first started, only college kids were using Facebook and MySpace was the big thing. You can make a big transformation in someone’s home/life, but it may not look picture perfect. I think that is what a lot of people expect now.”
And there is certainly the demand for that Container Store aesthetic, particularly on Instagram and TikTok. The challenge is figuring out how to blend the wisdom of minimalism and decluttering, with the upscale aesthetic of a refrigerator full of acrylic bins (with custom vinyl labels, of course.) I entice/inspire people to get organized using an attractive visual or fun video demo, but rarely execute these types of projects for clients.
Sometimes, the pantry full of labeled baskets is the result, but 90% of the work comes from decluttering and helping clients improve their organizing/productivity habits. Those tasks don’t always translate well on social media, though I am on a mission to make productivity glamorous too.
“You can make a big transformation in someone’s home/life but it may not look picture perfect.”
Time to ask the experts!
You’re likely reading this because you want to get in the biz of professional organizing. I asked these ten industry experts for their best advice for newbies.
Sabrina Quairoli is the owner of Sabrina’s Organizing and Admin Services. She’s been in the industry a whopping 27 years! She says - “Try doing all the different home organizing areas for a year or two. Don’t turn anyone away. Experience all different types of clients. Then pick a niche and a target audience that you love, and research what they would want from you. It will help you determine your marketing plan to use for social media and other marketing outlets.”
This is excellent advice.
You’ll never be sure which tasks you like/dislike or where your true talent lives unless you execute in a variety of circumstances. Keep project logs and records of the outcome for future reference. It’s also a good idea to create a satisfaction survey and have clients evaluate their experience. Feedback will help you improve your business.
Julie Bestry, 20 year pro, CPO®️ and owner of Best Results Organizing, encourages folks interested in this career to consider education and training carefully. She says - “Invest your time and effort into learning and education (through NAPO, especially) to understand that our profession is not just about “moving the stuff around,” but actually about the psychological (and other) needs of our clients. Instead of spending money on advertising, spend as much effort as possible on developing your skills and knowledge base so when you do promote yourself, you’re promoting an authentic version of yourself, one with expertise and understanding.”
Absolutely SOLID, Julie.
NAPO has generous course offerings on industry safety, ethics, business development, and specialty training. If you’re serious about this industry, it’s worth checking out the NAPO website and attending a local chapter meeting.
It’s true that many clients won’t ask if you’re certified or educated in a particular specialty. However, I’m a firm believer in continued education. There’s always room for growth, a fresh approach, and discovery of different perspectives. In case you’re curious, I’m planning on becoming a member and furthering my education in 2022. Since membership can be costly and time-consuming, I decided to get some experience (and cash) under my belt before taking the plunge. I can’t wait!
These 10 experts shared so much quality information with me, so I’ve included their full responses below. Do yourself a huge favor and read through them. I wish you the absolute best on your journey.
Please leave a comment, introduce yourself, or ask us a question. Contact information is below as well. Also, schedule a free 30 minute call with me if you’re interested in some 1-1 advice.
A huge thank you to all the experts who took part in my interview! I’m continuously blown away by all they’re willing to share, and the passion they have for improving the lives of others. I am truly grateful and inspired by them all!
Yours in Decluttering,
Melanie
Click a name below to expand.
Julie Bestry, CPO®
Name of your business.
Best Results Organizing
How many years have you been a Professional Organizer?
20 years
What is your niche or specialty within the field of professional organizing?
Paper and Productivity
Describe a significant change you’ve noticed in the industry since you began your business.
1) Far more people entering the industry who do not join NAPO or seek out education and ethics training. 2) People entering the industry as a first career; it used to be a second or third career. 3) Far more multi-person organizing firms vs. just solopreneurs.
What’s your best advice for someone new to working in the industry?
Invest your time and effort into learning and education (through NAPO, especially) to understand that our profession is not just about “moving the stuff around,” but actually about the psychological (and other) needs of our clients. Instead of spending money on advertising, spend as much effort as possible on developing your skills and knowledge base so when you do promote yourself, you’re promoting an authentic version of yourself, one with expertise and understanding.
Link to your website.
Link(s) to your socials so readers can connect with you further.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliebestry/
https://www.facebook.com/BestResultsOrganizing/
https://www.pinterest.com/juliebestry
http://twitter.com/proforganizer
Sabrina Quairoli
Name of your business.
Sabrina’s Organizing and Admin Services
How many years have you been a Professional Organizer?
27
What is your niche or specialty within the field of professional organizing?
I started with moms and homeowners then evolved into small businesses.
Describe a significant change you’ve noticed in the industry since you began your business.
Technology has evolved tremendously over the years. The more technology evolved the more people started refocusing their energy on reducing the paper and resources because they could find it online for free.
What’s your best advice for someone new to working in the industry?
Try doing all the different home organizing areas for a year or two. Don’t turn anyone away. Experience all different types of clients. Then pick a niche and a target audience that you love. And research what they would want from you. It will help you determine your marketing plan to use for social media and other marketing outlets.
Link to your website.
https://www.sabrinasorganizing.com
Link(s) to your socials so readers can connect with you further.
https://Facebook.com/sabrinasorganizing
https://Pinterest.com/smqorgadm
Janet Schiesl
Name of your business.
Basic Organization
How many years have you been a Professional Organizer?
15
What is your niche or specialty within the field of professional organizing?
Large jobs that require a team.
Describe a significant change you’ve noticed in the industry since you began your business.
Using social media to market your business.
What’s your best advice for someone new to working in the industry?
Get as much education as you can and learn to use social media.
Link to your website.
http://www.BasicOrganization.com
Link(s) to your socials so readers can connect with you further.
@BasicOrganizer
Lisa Tonjes Moritz
Name of your business.
HOPE organizing
How many years have you been a Professional Organizer?
14
What is your niche or specialty within the field of professional organizing?
Photo Organizing
Describe a significant change you’ve noticed in the industry since you began your business.
Instagram worthy photos. When I first started only college kids were using Facebook and MySpace was the big thing. You can make a big transformation in someone’s home/life but it may not look picture perfect but I think that is what a lot of people expect now.
What’s your best advice for someone new to working in the industry?
Keep 1 good list of clients and and potential clients - can be as simple as a spreadsheet. Also, create workflows and document them! (especially is you ever have someone work with you).
Link to your website.
Link(s) to your socials so readers can connect with you further.
HOPEorganizing on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and Pinterest.
Margarita Ibbott
Name of your business.
DownshiftingPRO.com
How many years have you been a Professional Organizer?
I spent over 10 years as a PO.
What is your niche or specialty within the field of professional organizing?
I did everything but loved family organizing mostly. Now I’m focused on DOWNSIZING.
Describe a significant change you’ve noticed in the industry since you began your business.
There is a greater awareness for the value of working with a professional organizer. People now know what that means. When I started, most people thought we were home cleaners. I did video consulting before it was called virtual organizing.
What’s your best advice for someone new to working in the industry?
It’s hard physical work. It can be very fulfilling but can be frustrating when clients don’t want to do the work. THEY have to put in the tough decisions-making work.
You need to be dedicated to building your business and knowing your worth. You need to wear many hats at the start: marketer, sales, blogger, speaker, accountant, etc. Learn the basics about running a business before you open up!
Link to your website.
Link(s) to your socials so readers can connect with you further.
https://Facebook.com/DownshiftingPRO
https://Twitter.com/DownshiftingPRO
https://www.instagram.com/DownshiftingPRO
https://www.youtube.com/c/MargaritaIbbott
https://www.pinterest.ca/DownshiftingPRO/
http://ca.linkedin.com/in/margaritaibbott
Julie Stobbe
Name of your business.
Mind over Clutter
How many years have you been a Professional Organizer?
15
What is your niche or specialty within the field of professional organizing?
Residential and home offices
Describe a significant change you’ve noticed in the industry since you began your business.
The industry is much better known than 15 years ago. Social media is a much bigger part of advertising. There are many more niches in the industry such that the industry is becoming known as Professional Organizing and Productivity Experts. Clients are understand the value of our services and the importance of being organized in making their lives better and helping them to reach their goals. It used to be thought of as more of removing junk.
What’s your best advice for someone new to working in the industry?
Start by working with an experienced Organizers and learn the business side of organizing. Most new organizers will be good at organizing but learning, pricing, advertising, networking skills, paperwork forms etc will help your business to grow more quickly. Join your Organizing association, NAPO, POC , NASM ADPO etc to learn from others and help grow the industry.
Link to your website.
Link(s) to your socials so readers can connect with you further.
YouTube http://www.youtube.com/c/JulieStobbe
Twitter https://twitter.com/Julieorganizer
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mindoverclutter/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.ca/juliestobbe/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliestobbemindoverclutter/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/juliestobbe/
Lucy Kelly
Name of your business.
Joyful Surroundings LLC
How many years have you been a Professional Organizer?
8
What is your niche or specialty within the field of professional organizing?
People who struggle with organization - what the Institute of Challenging Disorganization calls the chronically disorganized. From the ICD website: “What defines chronic disorganization? Chronic Disorganization: - persists over a long period of time - frequently undermines quality of life, and - recurs despite repeated self-help attempts.”
Describe a significant change you’ve noticed in the industry since you began your business.
The growing acceptance of virtual organizing due to the Pandemic. IMO, this change will not be long lasting :-). I know many organizers will disagree with me, however I’m convinced that when we can return safely to in person organizing (soon!), many of us will find our clients want to go back to in person organizing. The connection that comes from working side by side with someone who can hold your emotions and keep the space safe for you to process your feelings about your things isn’t something that passes easily through the screen.
Virtual organizing is a lot of work for our clients. When you organize virtually, who does all the heavy lifting? They do. Who corrals the donations and find somewhere that’ll accept them? Them again. Who has to put everything back together after the session? Still them.
All the extra details a professional organizer handles to make everything as easy and painless as possible for clients now fall squarely on their shoulders. Anyone who learns best kinesthetically (learning by doing) by working side-by-side with an organizer will be thrilled not to have to rely on the visual and aural learning skills that virtual organizing depends on.
What’s your best advice for someone new to working in the industry?
Don’t work with everyone who calls you. It’s so tempting when they tell you to come up with your ideal client avatar to list, “someone who has a checkbook” but the costs of working with someone who isn’t a good fit are too high. Pay attention to how you feel when you’re interviewing a potential client and don’t ignore your gut feeling.
Link to your website.
https://joyfulsurroundingsllc.com/
Link(s) to your socials so readers can connect with you further.
https://www.instagram.com/lucyfkelly/
https://www.pinterest.com/jsurroundings/
https://twitter.com/LucyKellyJoyful
https://www.facebook.com/getorganizedBouldercountyandLongmont
Seana Turner
Name of your business.
The Seana Method
How many years have you been a Professional Organizer?
11
What is your niche or specialty within the field of professional organizing?
Residential, life coaching.
Describe a significant change you’ve noticed in the industry since you began your business.
How we promote, more social media these days, which leads to a great emphasis on styling and appearance of results.
What’s your best advice for someone new to working in the industry?
Work anywhere you can to figure out what you like doing best.
Link to your website.
Link(s) to your socials so readers can connect with you further.
@TheSeanaMethod on Twitter, FB, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram
Lisa Gessert
Name of your business
organizing.buzz
How many years have you been a Professional Organizer?
21
What is your niche or specialty within the field of professional organizing?
Papers, filing, time management, time blocking.
Describe a significant change you’ve noticed in the industry since you began your business.
More companies are bigger, hiring on help. Back in the day it was just a solo operation for most.
What’s your best advice for someone new to working in the industry?
Take any jobs as many as you can and then find your niche when you are established. Many start out with a certain area they organize without delving into all the areas such as kitchens, clothing, attics, garage..become established first.
Link to your website.
Link(s) to your socials so readers can connect with you further.
Blog Page: http://organizingbuzz.wordpress.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/organiZing.buzz
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lisagessert1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Organizing_Buzz
Pinterest : http://www.pinterest.com/lisagessert/
Diane N. Quintana, CPO, CPO-CD, Master Trainer
Name of your business.
DNQ Solutions, LLC
How many years have you been a Professional Organizer?
16
What is your niche or specialty within the field of professional organizing?
Chronic Disorganization/ Hoarding/ ADD Organizing Specialist.
Describe a significant change you’ve noticed in the industry since you began your business.
There is much more specialization. There are also many opportunities to get training in specific organizing areas of interest. When I started out, I had not decided on an area in which to focus my business. After a couple of years, I realized that I could put my training as a special education teacher to good use and work with families challenged by ADHD and hoarding-like behaviors. That is when I joined the ICD (then it was called the NSGCD). Also, there were many more people like me - beginning an organizing career after finishing a career in a different field. Now, there are many young organizers joining ICD and choosing to work as a professional organizer as a first career.
What’s your best advice for someone new to working in the industry?
Find a niche and then stick with it. Remember it’s not about how you want something to look, organizing is about the person and making the space work for them.
Link to your website.
Link(s) to your socials so readers can connect with you further.
www.instagram.com/dnq_solutions
www.twitter.com/DianeNQuintana
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