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Interview With . . . Linda DePaz Be Clutter-Free Western NY by Maria Gracia 1. What is the name of your company? Where are you located? How long have you been in business? I am Linda DePaz from Western New York. I started my business, Be Clutter-Free in July of 2001. 2. Is this your primary business, or a part-time business? This is my primary business. BUT since my business is more like my hobby, I have worked my schedule to spend more time with my family than my business. 3. Are you a member of NAPO? (Please indicate if you're an officer.) No, but I plan to be by the end of this year. 4. Why did you become a professional organizer? I love to organize and help others get that way. I wanted to do something that gives a sense of accomplishment. This just about accomplishes that. 5. What type of organizing do you specialize in (home, office, etc.)? Home organization and time management. 6. Do you sell products, services, or seminars? Please describe. I offer online consulting, online classes, and for those who wish it, in-person consultations. I have become an affiliate of many places and 'sell' their products on my website. 7. Have you written a book(s)? If so, what is the title(s)? I haven't written any yet, but am in the process of doing so. I offer an online class (Learn to Be Clutter-Free at UniversalClass.com) and that is a mini how-to book in itself. 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 write a free monthly e-newsletter entitled, 'Choose to Be Clutter-Free!' 9. Do you have a web site? If so, what is the address? Yes, Be Clutter-Free at www.BeClutter-Free.com 10. Is travel a big part of your business? Not yet, since I mainly do my consulting online, but if Banyan Productions finds that they would like me to be a part of their show, I will be traveling up and down the East Coast! 11. Who is your primary target audience? In my online class, it's mainly women who want to get organized in their homes. BUT there are also quite a few men out there who want to spend time doing what matters most! 12. Describe your typical workday. I first check my e-mails to see if any of my students or clients have emailed me. I respond to their questions and assignments. Then I work on writing new lessons, articles, and updating my website. I also get a few in-person requests, but since most of my work is online, I fit the 'in-person' consultations into my schedule. 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 think it depends on the area that you live in and what you plan to offer. If you live in an area where I do, you have to find a variety of avenues to do your organizing. That is why I went online to offer consultations. My husband is the one who brings home the money in our family. My business is a form of hobby for me, so I haven't pursued it to the point of bringing in a lot of money. 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 use my article bylines when I submit articles to newspapers and ezines. I also tell people I meet what I do and that sparks interest right away. I have also signed up with online lists that show my name, business, and website. 15. Which one marketing technique have you found works the best for you? Please describe. Honestly, I don't have a specific marketing technique. I just mention my business whenever and wherever I can. 16. Describe a successful, creative marketing technique that you use, or that you've used in the past. I really don't have any. 17. Do you feel that networking plays a big role in growing your business? Yes. I have created a network, mainly through my students and have had a lot of referrals that has proved quite beneficial. 18. What do you do to generate referrals? I ask my students and clients to refer me based on the sense of satisfaction that they are getting. 19. What do you find to be the most exciting part of your business? Seeing the joy on people's faces or the excited tone in their voice when they are actually seeing progress--it's a sense of satisfaction. I love receiving 'thank-you's' in my email inbox! 20. What do you find to be the most frustrating part of your business? In my area, there isn't a call for professional organizers. I live among Amish and low-income families. 21. Describe your greatest success in this field. I have a student online who organized her entire home (a small condo) in a week because of the motivation from my online course that I offer. 22. As a professional organizer, do you have a funny story to share? Most of my consulting is through my online classes that I offer, so weird things don't happen very often. 23. As an organizer, what professional organizing information or tools are you always on the lookout for? I like innovative storage solutions and time management tools. In fact, I LOVE time management tools! 24. Looking ahead, what do you see as your greatest challenge? Since I have been asked to consider being on a TV show, being in front of thousands of people is quite daunting. But it is a task that I am willing to get used to. 25. What is your best tip for people interested in becoming professional organizers? Get to know other PO's. Don't view them as competition. Think of them as partners. You can help one another out. Share ideas and clients, especially if you complement each other in what you enjoy doing. 
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