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Interview With . . . Janette Gomez Artistic Archiving Solutions South Florida 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 Janette Gomez and I am President/Owner of Artistic Archiving Solutions, which is based in South Florida. My firm has been around for a little over a year. 2. Is this your primary business, or a part-time business? My company is multi-faceted and while Professional Organizing is the main aspect, I also provide, Archiving, both Digital and Non-Digital as well as Freelance Photography and Design services. 3. Are you a member of NAPO? (Please indicate if you're an officer.) I have been a member of NAPO since November of 2000. 4. Why did you become a professional organizer? I love to help people! And like most professional organizers, I have always had a talent for the art of organizing. Becoming a professional organizer was a natural choice for me. 5. What type of organizing do you specialize in (home, office, etc.)? I specialize primarily in homes and artists' studios, but I also have a few clients at small offices. I also specialize in archiving. 6. Do you sell products, services, or seminars? Please describe. At this time, I am running a one-woman show, so I am focusing on consulting, as well as, hands on organizing. When my business grows I will expand into seminars, books and possibly products as well. I do however; offer gift certificates for time blocks. 7. Have you written a book(s)? If so, what is the title(s)? No books, YET. My education is actually in Art History, so writing is also a natural forte. I just have not had the inclination nor the time to devote, but when I do I will attempt to write a profound and inspiring book that will transform the unorganized into organized freaks! (hehe) Well isn't that what we all aspire to? 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? Again, not at this time, but it is on the back burner. 9. Do you have a web site? If so, what is the address? Yes, I have a Web site, which I am very proud of since I learned Web design hands-on and designed it myself. The official address is www.artisticarchiving.com 10. Is travel a big part of your business? Not a large part. I have traveled to family members homes out of state and took care of very large projects, but it is not something that I wish to pursue at this time. I primarily travel through the tri-county area now (Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach). 11. Who is your primary target audience? I would like to build a large client base of artists and artisans because of my background. However I do enjoy working with homeowners and small businesses as well. 12. Describe your typical workday. It is never typical, that is one of the reasons why I love this career. 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? If you think 'out of the box' and wear many hats you can accomplish anything. If you keep things fresh, and keep an open mind to possibilities you can definitely make 'enough' money. The question is 'what is enough?' If you want to be Bill Gates, prepare to work very hard. If you want to be content, pay your bills, be your own boss and still have more than enough to enjoy life this is definitely the way to go. 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 have used a combination of direct mail, Web site exposure, newspaper ads, advertisements in holistic magazines, as well as, some other little secrets. I am in the process of writing a few articles for newsletters, and newspapers. 15. Which one marketing technique have you found works the best for you? Please describe. My Web site plays a BIG part in my marketing strategy. Since the development of my site and its steady climb towards the tops of the search engines, I have received many inquiries from both potential clients, people interested in becoming PO's and requests for Web design. Networking also plays a big part. I found that although the term 'Professional Organizer' is pretty self explanatory, many people don't understand what exactly it is we do. When you take the time to explain the many advantages of a PO, people are in awe and excited. If they are not in need of a PO, chances are they know someone somewhere. 16. Describe a successful, creative marketing technique that you use, or that you've used in the past. My 'Got an Organizer' postcard with before and after pictures on the front and list of services on the back gave me a very good response. I even received a few calls from people who loved the card and wanted to know who designed it. (Me :) After discussing the 'post card' creation process and printing, they actually referred me to their clients. Pretty cool. Also, the Web site, it is after all a creative endeavor. 17. Do you feel that networking plays a big role in growing your business? YES! YES! YES! Even if it is at a super bowl party, tell people about your services, ask to send them literature and keep you in mind. 18. What do you do to generate referrals? Generally at the end of a session/project with a client, I ask them how they felt about the experience and during this time I ask them to keep me in mind for others who might benefit from my services. I then offer them a referral fee or a follow up consultation at no charge. I also target specific markets, which I feel have a big contact with customers who are 'aware' of home/office improvements, such as interior decorators. I then offer them a referral fee for qualified leads. 19. What do you find to be the most exciting part of your business? Finishing. Not because I don't like it, but because it is exciting to see the results of a project. The bigger the better. It is very rewarding. Especially when the clients can't contain themselves and they give me a big hug. 20. What do you find to be the most frustrating part of your business? Having to constantly explain what we do. It is nice to enlighten, just sometimes it would be great if when people heard 'I am a Professional Organizer' they say, 'I've heard about all the wonderful things you can do, when can you come over.' If this would happen, the second frustration (wondering when your next client is coming) would not be so often. It is slowly happening, since the exposure of other renowned PO's like Julie Morganstern on Oprah, but it would still be nice if the previous were the norm. I look forward to the day that people call on us as quickly as they would call an interior decorator or movers. 21. Describe your greatest success in this field. Almost everything. Becoming an entrepreneur and 'Commander in Chief of my one Woman Army.' Learning and designing my own site. But most of all was when a client called me up and expressed how overwhelmed she was about her home. It was truly 'disorganized' to the point that she could not invite her friends over. We organized the entire home and now she is throwing parties left and right. She even invited me!! 22. As a professional organizer, do you have a funny story to share? Not so much funny as interesting. I have had a couple of inquires where the 'client' expresses interest in one of my services, has me send them information, and set up consultations, only to have them cancel. After a lot of diligent follow up I give up and then later find out that they joined NAPO as new members. I have to laugh at it, otherwise it can be a disheartening thing. 23. As an organizer, what professional organizing information or tools are you always on the lookout for? Always looking for new and innovative supplies, like storage etc. And tips from Interior Decorating shows that can better my consultations and sessions. 24. Looking ahead, what do you see as your greatest challenge? Establishing a lucrative business with several employees, and relinquishing some of my duties, such as, marketing, printing, accounting, Web maintenance, data entry etc. etc. I find it to be a challenge because I am very detail oriented and I will need to find employees to meet those criteria. 25. What is your best tip for people interested in becoming professional organizers? In the words of a PO who advised me when I was starting out, 'Find your niche.' Once you have that, you can branch out, but you need to have a base of interest. You need to have a specialty and then you can add on to that. Secondly, Don't stress! If you just let it go and trust that it will happen, it will. Patience, Patience, Patience. 
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