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Interview With . . . Frances C. Walker Organization Sensation Signal Mountain, TN 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 Frances C. Walker. My company name is Organization Sensation. I've been in business since August, 1996. 2. Is this your primary business, or a part-time business? This is my primary business now, full-time. 3. Are you a member of NAPO? (Please indicate if you're an officer.) No, I am not a member. I checked into it when I first heard of it a few years ago, but did not join due to financial challenges. 4. Why did you become a professional organizer? It is a natural gift and I enjoy surroundings that are esthetically pleasing. I tell clients I was born with this affliction! As I began examining (looking for) all of my gifts and talents, I combined them with work experiences and decided it was time to do what I loved to do. It is my opportunity to serve others while doing something I enjoy with lots of immediate gratification. 5. What type of organizing do you specialize in (home, office, etc.)? My main focus areas have been as a personal organizer for residential, sole proprietorships and home businesses. My special interest is in working with Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) adults in their homes or offices. 6. Do you sell products, services, or seminars? Please describe. Not at this point. I do, however, have on the drawing board a product to assist ADD/ADHD children. Maybe this will graduate into an adult version one day. 7. Have you written a book(s)? If so, what is the title(s)? Yes, but doesn't pertain to organizing. 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, not at this time. 9. Do you have a web site? If so, what is the address? My Website is in production (with a little help from my friends). 10. Is travel a big part of your business? I have several clients throughout the Southeast and the Caribbean. I require a minimum of a 3 day stay with additional fees for mileage (travel expenses), accommodations and meals. 11. Who is your primary target audience? My primary focus is ADD/ADHD adults but I am certainly not limited to this area. I will assist anyone in need. 12. Describe your typical workday. This work is so varied I'm not sure that there is a typical workday. One day it is working with a homemaker putting a child's room in order. Another day may be organizing a storage area for a small business. Another would find me at a computer working on a client's books. One reason I love this work is that it is so varied, rarely doing the same thing 2 days in a row. 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? How much is enough? There are so many variables. Size of your community, areas of focus, willingness to do what it takes to get the job done, choices of advertising, etc. I can tell you that this business has supported me for over 4 years and I don't have any needs that have not been met by this profession. I do suggest keeping prices low enough to encourage repeat business. 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 first marketing was going around to local businesses and letting them know that I was available. Networking with friends was a big boost in the beginning--they are good to practice on. I posted brochures on any bulletin board that I could find and, as a result, one was seen by a newspaper reporter. I was interviewed and gained at least 20 new clients, some over 2 years after the article first appeared. I also bartered for advertising in our local bi-monthly newspaper. I haven't had the need to advertise in over 2 years as all business is now from referrals or word of mouth. 15. Which one marketing technique have you found works the best for you? Please describe. The interview in a local paper was very instrumental in getting my business off the ground. 16. Describe a successful, creative marketing technique that you use, or that you've used in the past. I have had a banner made that is attached to the basket of a hot air balloon. Not practical for everyone but it certainly gets noticed! 17. Do you feel that networking plays a big role in growing your business? Certainly. Our contacts are our greatest resources whether they are in a complimentary business, friends or mere acquaintances down the street. 18. What do you do to generate referrals? From day one, as an incentive, I have informed clients I would give them 1 hour's work free for every referral that I worked for. There are families and groups of friends that I work with on a regular basis. 19. What do you find to be the most exciting part of your business? The expressions of relief on people's faces and the way they behave once the 'stress of that mess" has been brought under control. 20. What do you find to be the most frustrating part of your business? Not being able to take care of everyone as quickly as they (and I) would like. I am normally booked 2-3 months in advance. There definitely is a great need for this service. 21. Describe your greatest success in this field. I had a client for nearly 3 years that I worked for every other Saturday. A Speech Pathologist, single mother with four exceptional children, all with ADD, living in a 5,000 sq. ft. home that had originally been a tri-plex. The home was in the midst of being converted back to a single family dwelling, compounded by 30 years of accumulation and was always in a state of disarray even with a weekly maid. By the end of the 3 year period not only had she finished the house but put it on the market, moved to a tropical island (where one of my clients lives) and is happy now working for that client full time as HIS organizer/assistant (she claims she will do anything other than paperwork!) 22. As a professional organizer, do you have a funny story to share? Too many stories. What comes to mind and may strike you as a bit odd but funny nonetheless is that I have 3 clients (all female) that have made me swear that if they should die or be killed suddenly that I will promise to go to their home, get their 'personals' (I'll leave that to your imagination) out of their hidey places and discreetly leave, not allowing any family members or friends to catch me doing it! Now that is being intimate with your clients! 23. As an organizer, what professional organizing information or tools are you always on the lookout for? This also varies quite a bit from Web sites to pieces of furniture. I always keep my eyes and ears open for anything that may be useful to any of my clients and then convey the information via phone, fax, email, USPS or in person, whatever works best for them, including any information that will help me to make their lives easier. Methods for simplification, to make things easier to remember or find (similar to 'Hints from Heloise' but it is 'Frannie-izing'). 24. Looking ahead, what do you see as your greatest challenge? Finding a way that I can help ADD/ADHD people all over the country rather than just in my area. 25. What is your best tip for people interested in becoming professional organizers? We all have natural gifts to be used in the service of others. If service is not your main focus then find something else to do. 
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