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Interview With . . . Stephanie Johnson Organize Fabulous Annapolis, MD by Maria Gracia 1. How long have you been in business? Since April 2005. 2. Is this your primary business, or a part-time business? This is a part-time business for me. 3. Are you a member of NAPO? (Please indicate if you're an officer.) Yes. 4. Why did you become a professional organizer? I think I have the 'knack' for it. I'm a stay-at-home mom that would like to own her own business and this seems like a field with limitless potential for growth. I'm also one of very few professional organizers that specialize in organizing military families. 5. What type of organizing do you specialize in (home, office, etc.)? Military families and the unique organizational problems that come with their 'nomadic' lifestyle of moving every 2 - 3 years. 6. Do you sell products, services, or seminars? Please describe. Organizing services, plus I've got a few products in development. 7. Have you written a book(s)? If so, what is the title(s)? No. 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. 9. Do you have a web site? If so, what is the address? I do. It's www.organizefabulous.com 10. Is travel a big part of your business? No, I don't need to travel. 11. Who is your primary target audience? Military families, family lifestyles. 12. Describe your typical workday. I'll usually work 3-5 hours on the days I've got clients scheduled. My first job right now is as a mom so I have to schedule around my children. 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? Yes. I think this is a business field with unlimited potential. I just need to figure out which direction I want to steer my business. 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 have used targeted magazine advertising, workshops, classes, and my web site. 15. Which one marketing technique have you found works the best for you? Please describe. An initial paid consultation including a solid organizing plan and follow-up sessions, if warranted. 16. Describe a successful, creative marketing technique that you use, or that you've used in the past. I like to walk through the house with my client. I want to get a sense of the flow of the family. It makes more sense to organize around the already-established basic routines of the family, rather than try to change their habits. 17. Do you feel that networking plays a big role in growing your business? Absolutely. Word of mouth and positive referrals are the best way to achieve longevity in my business. 18. What do you do to generate referrals? I offer a discount on future organizing projects if a client refers me for a paid consultation. 19. What do you find to be the most exciting part of your business? A happy client who's able to keep their house as organized as they want. 20. What do you find to be the most frustrating part of your business? When potential clients don't feel that I'm worth what I charge. 21. Describe your greatest success in this field. A chronically disorganized client moved away after over a year of monthly organizing sessions. The last session we had together was to organize all the important paperwork she was going to need for the family's move from Japan to Virginia. She said all our work was worth it when she saw the proud look on her husband's face when he asked for the kid's passports and shot records and she knew exactly where they were. 22. As a professional organizer, do you have a funny story to share? While I was home visiting my parents a few years ago, I decided to organize my mom's office. Even though they desperately needed it, in their eyes it was an evil 'purge fest'. I stopped in the middle of the project because I kept getting blamed for throwing out those oh- so-important papers like old outdated maps and church bulletins. As it turned out, I caved to the pressure needlessly because after I left to travel back home they found everything they thought I had tossed! I learned that you just can't force people to get organized - especially family! 23. As an organizer, what professional organizing information or tools are you always on the lookout for? Effective ways of organizing magazines for medical and technical professionals. 24. Looking ahead, what do you see as your greatest challenge? Having the confidence in myself to take my business as far as it will let me. 25. What is your best tip for people interested in becoming professional organizers? Stick to your guns and follow your instincts. 
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