|
Interview With . . . Beth Randall Joe Organizer Plainfield, Illinois by Maria Gracia 1. What is the name of your company? Where are you located? How long have you been in business? My name is Beth Randall and my company is Joe Organizer. I'm located in Plainfield, Illinois. I have been in business for 2 1/2 years. 2. Is this your primary business, or a part-time business? This is my primary business. 3. Are you a member of NAPO? (Please indicate if you're an officer.) Yes, Member of the Ambassadors and Quantum Leap. 4. Why did you become a professional organizer? I was in corporate America for 18 years in the field of Information Systems. The last 6 I had worked part-time to be available for my family and children. In April of 2003, the company I worked for filed bankruptcy and I was laid off. I did not want to work at an office full time and there were not any part-time positions available. My priority was to be there for my kids more then anything. A cousin of mine suggested the field of professional organizing. Though I didn't know anything about it I started to research it. I realized that I had two of the most important assets to be a professional organizer, the knack of organizing and the desire to help others. Within a month of losing my job, Joe Organizer was born. I haven't looked back! 5. What type of organizing do you specialize in (home, office, etc.)? I work primarily with residences including lots of home offices. I have done a couple corporate offices also. I also help with relocations particularly seniors who are downsizing, who have no children or whose children live elsewhere or are too busy to help with the going through of all the belongings. 6. Do you sell products, services, or seminars? Please describe. I do sell a couple products, some through affiliation and one that I have developed myself. It is a decorative file box to be used in your household or in your office to hold all of your 'active' files. I teach classes at 3 local park districts and 2 local colleges. I also give presentations to any size group on any topic - I customize my presentations for each audience. I also teach a seminar about once a quarter on 'How to Become a Professional Organizer'. I also have begun coaching new organizers. 7. Have you written a book(s)? If so, what is the title(s)? I wish! I recommend a lot of books. 8. Do you publish a newsletter? If so, is it a print newsletter, or an e-zine? Is it free, or is there a charge? I haven't gotten there yet, but some day soon I hope! 9. Do you have a web site? If so, what is the address? My Web site is www.JoeOrganizer.com 10. Is travel a big part of your business? I travel within the Chicagoland area to work with clients and give presentations. I wouldn't mind traveling to further away locations. 11. Who is your primary target audience? Most of my presentations have been to mothers groups that are associated with churches. I am starting to give more presentations to employee groups, local libraries, sorority meetings and such. 12. Describe your typical workday. After getting my children off to school, I work with a client from 3 to 5 hours. I am usually back home by 2:30 or 3:00 to greet my kids when they return from school. In the evening I typically teach my classes - usually 2 a week. I attend luncheons, meetings and networking events sporadically throughout the month also. 13. Every person interested in entering the professional organizing field is wondering, "Can I make enough money doing this?" What is your outlook on this question? I have made enough money during the past year to support my portion of the family household budget. The first year was slow and I was fortunate that I had other means of income from the loss of my corporate job. 14. Which of the following marketing vehicles have you used to help you grow your business (direct mail, newspaper advertising, free workshops, radio, television, web site, e-zine, telemarketing, yellow pages, joint ventures with other professionals, publicity, other: please describe)? My only newspaper advertising has been through articles written on me, which I did not pay for. I have been interviewed on the radio and I have been interviewed for a segment on the CBS 2 News in Chicago. I do have a one line listing in the yellow pages. I do have a web site. I give free workshops but not as often as I did, I typically ask for compensation. I also have magnetic signs on my van that have brought in calls and some business. 15. Which one marketing technique have you found works the best for you? Please describe. Teaching the classes at the park districts and colleges has been the number one source of my getting clients for the last 6 months. 16. Describe a successful, creative marketing technique that you use, or that you've used in the past. I think marketing is tough. It's hard for me to point to one technique that was extremely successful. If there was one, I would continue to use it and wouldn't be stressing out about having enough clients on a regular basis. 17. Do you feel that networking plays a big role in growing your business? I do a lot of networking through the chamber and NAPO. I wouldn't say it plays a big role in obtaining clients but it helps to get my name out there. I find it very helpful to be able to discuss the trials and tribulations of owning a small business and working with clients with other organizers and other small business owners. 18. What do you do to generate referrals? I haven't actually done a certain program to generate referrals but I do send the person a $10.00 gift card if I get a referral. I guess I don't advertise that enough. 19. What do you find to be the most exciting part of your business? The most exciting part of my business is that every day is different, challenging, and rewarding. I never know from one day to the next what to expect from the various projects that I undertake. It's fun!! I love helping people. 20. What do you find to be the most frustrating part of your business? I would say the stress I experience when I don't think I have enough clients to keep me afloat - though that hasn't been the case for the last couple months. I'm a little concerned with the summer as that was a slow time last year. 21. Describe your greatest success in this field. My greatest success would be landing the interview on CBS 2 Chicago. That was such an exciting experience for me. The producer of the news program was in the audience at one of my presentations (unbeknown to me) and approached me and asked me if I wanted to do the program. I was so thrilled! I did not go looking for the opportunity but just my presentation style and information shared brought it to me. 22. As a professional organizer, do you have a funny story to share? I like to tell the story of finding over $7,000 in cash while going through an elder clients belongings so she could sell her home and move. The money was scattered throughout her household in the strangest locations. This might not be funny to some, but with the same client I came across a box from a funeral home which I thought contained the thank you notes. Was I surprised when it was actually a plastic bag with her husbands ashes. She says 'Oh there's Johnny'. I about croaked! 23. As an organizer, what professional organizing information or tools are you always on the lookout for? I love to read all the new organizing books to get ideas to share with my students and clients. 24. Looking ahead, what do you see as your greatest challenge? To continue to find the clients to keep me busy on a weekly basis so I can continue to be here for my kids. 25. What is your best tip for people interested in becoming professional organizers? You MUST LOVE to work and help other people. You must have lots of patience also. 
Click Here for Contact InformationCopyright 1998 - 2008 Effective Business Systems Get Organized Now!™ 611 Arlington Way Watertown, WI 53094 |
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZERS NEWSLETTER We respect your privacy. Your e-mail address will never be shared with or sold to anyone.
|