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Interview With . . . Diane Hatcher Timesavers Services Cooper City, FL 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 Diane Hatcher and I own Timesavers Services. We're located in Cooper City, Florida (near Ft. Lauderdale) and have been in business for 3 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, I am a member of NAPO. 4. Why did you become a professional organizer? I wanted to own my own business and perform a service that people needed and appreciated. I wanted to feel that I was providing value to clients. 5. What type of organizing do you specialize in (home, office, etc.)? I specialize in organizing homes, offices, desks and filing systems. 6. Do you sell products, services, or seminars? Please describe. I offer gift certificates. I also provide a 2-hour seminar to businesses entitled 'Organize Your Office and Stay That Way.' 7. Have you written a book(s)? If so, what is the title(s)? No, but I would like to in the future. Right now I am enjoying reading everyone else's. 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? No newsletter, but I do send out articles that I have written that have been published in local newspapers. I have a monthly column in a local paper that goes out to 30,000 homes. I also write for other papers and magazines. 9. Do you have a web site? If so, what is the address? Yes, an excellent one, which I am very proud of. The address is www.timesaversUSA.com 10. Is travel a big part of your business? I drive to Dade and Palm Beach counties often. 11. Who is your primary target audience? Homeowners and businesses are my main targets. 12. Describe your typical workday. There is no typical day. Each day is different and that's what I like about it. One day I could be working with a homeowner for 4 hours clearing out clutter and sorting through papers to throw out. Yet another day I could be giving a seminar to employees of a large business, such as Broward County. Still another day I may be working one on one teaching a chronically disorganized person the best techniques for organizing his desk, time, and paperwork to help him become more efficient, productive and less stressed. 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? With the proper marketing and diligence, creativity and effort, a resounding YES. It is definitely a legitimate business with a market out there. 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)? I use a combination of all, direct mail to prospects and clients, newspaper articles I've written (free publicity) but not paid newspaper ads as that did not work for me in the beginning, free speeches to good target groups, radio ad in trade for a seminar, television when a local ABC affiliate did a story about my business (free publicity), yellow pages, getting on other organizers Web sites including the Organizers Webring, having my own Web site, public seminars, lots of email, membership in and networking at chamber events, and networking groups, and joint ventures with closet companies and related businesses. 15. Which one marketing technique have you found works the best for you? Please describe. Writing articles for the newspaper. It gives credibility, keeps me in front of a large number of people monthly, and is free. Next I would say, my Web site, then networking. Networking has other advantages as well like meeting people who can support you in other ways. 16. Describe a successful, creative marketing technique that you use, or that you've used in the past. I went to the local bookstore and placed my business card in some organizing books they were selling. (Haven't gotten any responses yet but thought that was pretty creative). I also put together a media kit and sent it to all the local television stations, newspapers and some magazines. That's how I got the TV story, and have a promise for a future article about my business in a magazine. 17. Do you feel that networking plays a big role in growing your business? Absolutely. I believe you can always learn from others, you can always use another friend, and you never know when someone will recommend you to someone else. It helps to educate the people I know, about what I do. 18. What do you do to generate referrals? After I complete my work with a client, I ask my satisfied (all) clients if they know of someone else like themselves who could benefit from my services as they have. I also advise them on how they can make a recommendation about using a professional organizer without sounding as if they are insulting or offending the other person. I have offered a $25 referral fee in the past, and I also give a Mary Kaye gift certificate with my thank you note when asking for referrals. 19. What do you find to be the most exciting part of your business? When a client is very demonstrative about how wonderful they feel and how much I have helped them. 20. What do you find to be the most frustrating part of your business? When a client cancels an appointment less than 48 hours in advance. It doesn't leave me time to find another to fill the appointment. Then it causes me to be concerned that they may do it again the next time. I want to sound gracious like it doesn't bother me, but inside I am wondering how they cannot understand that they are causing me to not be able to make any money that day. 21. Describe your greatest success in this field. I think that starting a business from scratch, from just an idea when I had never even heard of professional organizing, and being successful at it, growing the business, becoming known in the community and making some money, has been the biggest success of all. Also, developing a seminar and landing Broward County as a client for this seminar is also a great success to me. 22. As a professional organizer, do you have a funny story to share? Not so much funny as a coincidence that comes to mind. A lady called me who had gotten my name from the Yellow Pages. She relayed that her husband was very apprehensive about using an organizer. When I called her back to leave a message on the answering machine, the name was familiar (back from my high school days many moons ago). When we spoke again and realized her husband had known me back then, his attitude changed and he was all for my coming over. We de-cluttered and re-organized their entire home over a few months period and it was a very rewarding job. As in several other cases, I have made a new friend in his wife. 23. As an organizer, what professional organizing information or tools are you always on the lookout for? I'm on the lookout for new information, better ways to do things and tips from other successful organizers about marketing and methods that have worked for them. 24. Looking ahead, what do you see as your greatest challenge? Constantly finding a steady stream of new clients. Also hiring someone else to do my marketing, book-keeping, administrative work or even organizing so that I can increase my income beyond the number of hours available to me in a day. 25. What is your best tip for people interested in becoming professional organizers? Know yourself. Are you a self-starter, do you make logical decisions, do you get along well with all kinds of people? Do a lot of research about the various systems and alternatives available to offer your clients. Decide that integrity is a priority and have a lot of patience. 
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