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Interview With . . . Rebecca Schmidt Streamline Organizing Raleigh, NC 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 Rebecca Schmidt. My company name is Streamline Organizing. I'm located in Raleigh, NC and have been in business for five 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? I've been compulsively trying to organize the world my entire life (Cleanup Master of Kindergarten, creating budgets for friends in high school, etc.). Why not live my dream job? 5. What type of organizing do you specialize in (home, office, etc.)? 70% Residential and 30% Small Business. 6. Do you sell products, services, or seminars? Please describe. I sell my organizing services. 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? Not yet. 9. Do you have a web site? If so, what is the address? Yes, it's www.StreamlineMyLife.com 10. Is travel a big part of your business? Yes, I travel extensively. 11. Who is your primary target audience? My primary target audience consists of housewives, small business owners and busy professionals. 12. Describe your typical workday. My schedule looks something like this: A.M. Communication hour Consultations Appointments Networking Events P.M. Communication Hour 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? How much does your spouse make? How much security do you have right now? How much time can you afford to spend learning the trade? The amount you can earn is dependent upon your experience, education, location and market. 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've used direct mail, newspaper ads, my web site, Yellow Pages and networking. 15. Which one marketing technique have you found works the best for you? Please describe. Networking! The first 4 years of my business were based on word of mouth, and just since the 'Organizing Tidal Wave' has hit this past year, I had the new competition to demand marketing. Networking is personal with immediate results and I can gauge interest and demand quickly. 16. Describe a successful, creative marketing technique that you use, or that you've used in the past. I loved the postcards that I'd designed and sent out. Sadly they were unsuccessful. The good old fashioned Yellow Pages has worked great in this area. 17. Do you feel that networking plays a big role in growing your business? YES! (See #20) 18. What do you do to generate referrals? I simply ask my clients for them. 19. What do you find to be the most exciting part of your business? The hands-on organizing and REALLY HELPING people! 20. What do you find to be the most frustrating part of your business? Administrative work and sales, the residual parts of this business that I'd love to delegate. 21. Describe your greatest success in this field. Making people cry. It's a good thing! Whether it's helping their home transitioning, teaching their kids good time management skills or creating a system for an ADD client that they get and can use! When they cry at the end of a project, it's my reason for living. 22. As a professional organizer, do you have a funny story to share? Not at this time. 23. As an organizer, what professional organizing information or tools are you always on the lookout for? New, creative, ingenious ideas, usually new uses for old things to keep my client's costs down. 24. Looking ahead, what do you see as your greatest challenge? Competing with the millions of organizers popping up everywhere. 25. What is your best tip for people interested in becoming professional organizers? When you start out, don't take money for organizing just because you are a neatnik and your neighbor needs help. That is exploiting their faith and trust. Take the time to get experience, work for free to become knowledgeable to earn those wages. Basically, remember to be morally responsible despite the opportunities provided by supply and demand. 
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