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Interview With . . . Leslie Merriman Organizing P.L.U.S. Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia area 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 Leslie Merriman. My company name is Organizing P.L.U.S. I'm located in the Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia area and have been in business for two 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! 4. Why did you become a professional organizer? Becoming a professional consolidated the many skills I've utilized over my 20+ years in Corporate and nonprofit careers. It allowed me the flexibility I needed to be with my family and fulfills my life purpose: to meaningfully create -- feeling the pride, recognition and personal satisfaction of positively impacting others. 5. What type of organizing do you specialize in (home, office, etc.)? Corporate workshops, speaking, space planning, paper management and client contact data. 6. Do you sell products, services, or seminars? Please describe. I sell services such as space planning, kid's rooms, kitchens and closets. I also do workshops. 7. Have you written a book(s)? If so, what is the title(s)? No, I haven't. 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, but I am a monthly featured columnist in a popular magazine in my area called Fayette Woman Magazine. 9. Do you have a web site? If so, what is the address? Yes, it's www.LesliesOrganizingPLUS.com 10. Is travel a big part of your business? Not currently. 11. Who is your primary target audience? My primary target audience is small to mid-size companies and residential families. 12. Describe your typical workday. My schedule looks something like this: 8:15AM check emails (after girls are off to school--2nd grader and kindergartner) 9AM off to client 1PM draw up plans for clients 3PM return phone calls before girls get home 8PM billing/paper work 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? Your return will be equal to how hard you are willing to work. It can be potentially limitless. 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 monthly feature article in a local magazine, yellow pages, website and an HGTV appearance. 15. Which one marketing technique have you found works the best for you? Please describe. Personal referrals and phone book listings. 16. Describe a successful, creative marketing technique that you use, or that you've used in the past. I would say that would be faxing coupons for upcoming sales of organizing services. 17. Do you feel that networking plays a big role in growing your business? Yes! 18. What do you do to generate referrals? I network, I'm a member of NAPO and I'm a member of the local chamber of commerce. Referrals are generated from all three sources. 19. What do you find to be the most exciting part of your business? Stepping back and seeing the before and after and the satisfaction and relief from the client. 20. What do you find to be the most frustrating part of your business? As of late, I seem to have as many people who are calling me to pick my brain about how to start their own business--just like mine--vs. clients calling. I refer them to NAPO and your web site. 21. Describe your greatest success in this field. Definitely long-term, repeat clients who refer me to the same. Also having the winning proposal for an appearance on the HGTV program, 'Room-to-Improve.' 22. As a professional organizer, do you have a funny story to share? A creative client of mine insisted she wanted to put everything in her offices in storage size boxes on shelves--she was 'a box person, not a file person.' We narrowed her box category to 22 boxes! After returning on the second visit she began to rethink the 'box' approach after I peered into one box labeled 'home decorating' and there was a single sheet of paper in it! You had to be there I guess, but we laughed for 10 minutes! She's narrowed her boxes down to 10 key categories. 23. As an organizer, what professional organizing information or tools are you always on the lookout for? Tools for paper management. 24. Looking ahead, what do you see as your greatest challenge? My greatest challenge is chronically disorganized folks and working with their deeply engrained habits. 25. What is your best tip for people interested in becoming professional organizers? Join NAPO. 
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