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Interview With . . . Kelly Dawicki Organize Now Mattapoisett, MA 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 Kelly Dawicki and my company is Organize Now. I'm located in Mattapoisett, MA. I've been in business for 11 months. 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. 4. Why did you become a professional organizer? After organizing friends and family just for the FUN of it, I realized that there is actually a market. I decided to try and succeed with a business of my own. I feel as if I am having FUN more than actually working. It is very rewarding to have someone tell you that you've made their life easier. That is what I like to focus on, making my clients life easier. 5. What type of organizing do you specialize in (home, office, etc.)? I specialize in residential organization. That includes any room in a residence. I love to create file systems. It's great to sit with a client and discuss how to help them manage a file system that is simple and makes things easy to find. 6. Do you sell products, services, or seminars? Please describe. I currently only sell my services. 7. Have you written a book(s)? If so, what is the title(s)? I have not written any books, but would like to write an article for a local paper. 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 am currently working on a quarterly newsletter to send to current and potential clients. 9. Do you have a web site? If so, what is the address? I don't have a web site. 10. Is travel a big part of your business? Travel is an important part of my business. I always travel to the client for consultations or appointments. I never require the client to travel to me. 11. Who is your primary target audience? I target a wide array of clients, from the busy professional to the busy stay-at-home mothers. I think it is important to get these services to anyone in need. 12. Describe your typical workday. My typical workday is a 9 am-12 pm appointment. I have lunch and sometimes another 1-4 pm appointment. If I do not have an afternoon appointment booked I will be home with my daughter while working on marketing, usually preparing mailers that I send out locally. 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 believe that you get back what you put into this business. If you work hard and market well, you will be rewarded. The best thing about it is that you work for yourself, you are your own boss. 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)? Direct mail and newspaper advertising have been my main marketing vehicles. I also leave business cards and flyers and local business, coffee shops, etc. I like to take advantage of any free advertising. 15. Which one marketing technique have you found works the best for you? Please describe. I have found that most of my clients have picked up my card at local coffee shops. 16. Describe a successful, creative marketing technique that you use, or that you've used in the past. I've made a flyer with tear offs on the bottom of the flyer with my name and contact information. I make sure to use bright paper and I post these at many places locally. 17. Do you feel that networking plays a big role in growing your business? I believe it does. I attend different functions and always find a way to tell others about my business. Even if it is a neighborhood Tupperware party, you never know where you're going to meet a potential client. 18. What do you do to generate referrals? I give clients extra business cards and leave it up to them to refer my services. If they do refer me I send them a nice hand written thank you note. I like to be personal. 19. What do you find to be the most exciting part of your business? The most exciting thing about this business is meeting new people. 20. What do you find to be the most frustrating part of your business? Marketing, marketing, marketing. It takes a significant amount of time and is not always successful. 21. Describe your greatest success in this field. My greatest success so far has been when a client which I helped organize a closet for told me that "She LOVED it, and it was working great." Even with 2 small children, it was staying organized and the children were able to keep it organized along with the client. 22. As a professional organizer, do you have a funny story to share? I recently helped a small business owner organize her home office. The funniest thing about her desktop was that she had not seen it in years. We actually found a file from 1986. We had a good laugh when I told her I was only 6 years old when the file was made. 23. As an organizer, what professional organizing information or tools are you always on the lookout for? I am always on the lookout for the best prices on organization products. I like to find the best source for the client, so that they get the most out of their money. 24. Looking ahead, what do you see as your greatest challenge? I believe my greatest challenge will be working with someone who is not willing to listen to my ideas. I like when a client is very open to my ideas. I suppose if a client was not willing to listen to my point of view, I may get somewhat frustrated. 25. What is your best tip for people interested in becoming professional organizers? Do your research. And purchase Maria's Ultimate Guide for Professional Organizers. It has a wealth of information. 
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