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Interview With . . . Joan Huguenard ClutterFly Corner by Maria Gracia 1. What is the name of your company? Where are you located? How long have you been in business? I'm Joan Huguenard, operating ClutterFly Corner. My home and office are in a motorhome I bought 8 months ago. Already I have traveled over 10,000 miles in it. I have been organizing people for a fee for 20 some years. 2. Is this your primary business, or a part-time business? It is part-time. Currently, in my nomadic life, I primarily give talks and seminars on organizing, but happily accept individual clients as availability dictates. The work that gets most of my focus these days is another business I call "First Century Live!" Its centerpiece is a one-hour, one-woman show, "Come to the Water," which dramatizes life in the first century in Palestine. 3. Are you a member of NAPO? (Please indicate if you're an officer.) Yes, I am a member. 4. Why did you become a professional organizer? For nearly ten years, I was a sales representative for the company that introduced efficient filing systems to American business. During all that time, the phrase I heard most often was, "Oh, I wish you could help me get organized!" So even before my career path changed, I started making my services available. 5. What type of organizing do you specialize in (home, office, etc.)? I love it all. Obviously I'm good with office papers, but I especially like kitchens and closets, with some original approaches to the wardrobes within. 6. Do you sell products, services, or seminars? Please describe. I have some products under development. I offer - as already stated - services as the needs fit my travel schedule, and seminars of varying lengths. 7. Have you written a book(s)? If so, what is the title(s)? Yes, it's titled. Embracing the Yes! ; A Life Recycled. Though this is not a book on organizing, it is autobiographical and does depict the organizing work conducted with some of my notable clients in an earlier time. 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? Not one on organizing at this time. My personal one, The Joan Times, appears randomly two or three times per year and is free. 9. Do you have a web site? If so, what is the address? Yes. It's www.firstcenturylive.com Clutterfly Corner and the seminars are found through the Artist tab. 10. Is travel a big part of your business? Is it ever! 11. Who is your primary target audience? The general public, as there are needful everywhere (as you well know.) However, I have specialized somewhat on mothers of preschoolers (having brought eight of my own through that stage) and on senior citizens (having entered their ranks many years ago.) 12. Describe your typical workday. These days, much of my life is at the computer designing brochures and promotional materials, and on the phone getting bookings. 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? Oh, I think without question if you have good organizing sense, have done plenty of homework and legwork and love to work hard, there is plenty of money to be made in the organizing field. 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)? For Clutterfly Corner it has been primarily circulars distributed door-to-door in designated communities, newspaper advertising, and - the best of all - word of mouth. 15. Which one marketing technique have you found works the best for you? Please describe. Probably the targeted flyer distribution. 16. Describe a successful, creative marketing technique that you use, or that you've used in the past. As stated above, my targeted flyer distribution was successful. 17. Do you feel that networking plays a big role in growing your business? If I were actively marketing my organizational skills now, I would want to be very involved in networking. 18. What do you do to generate referrals? Word of mouth. I simply do a great job! 19. What do you find to be the most exciting part of your business? Helping people find answers within themselves to their problems, and motivating them to get started. 20. What do you find to be the most frustrating part of your business? Right now, doing talks and seminars, I'm not encountering much frustration. I find people eager to get information and motivation. 21. Describe your greatest success in this field. My greatest success has never been defined in terms of money. I feel success when even one person has a moment of "Aha," and sets out to change some life pattern. 22. As a professional organizer, do you have a funny story to share? Of course! Too many to list here! 23. As an organizer, what professional organizing information or tools are you always on the lookout for? Ways and tools for making the best use of available space. You should see the way I have organized my small motorhome (at 24'. it's called a Mini) to accommodate everything for my daily life, plus quantities of materials for each of my three businesses, a full console computer as well as a laptop, a scanner and two (!) printers. 24. Looking ahead, what do you see as your greatest challenge? Getting enough bookings for my other business. 25. What is your best tip for people interested in becoming professional organizers? Study, study, study. Practice on your friends until you become competent and confident. Then go for it! 
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