With 2011 drawing to a close, it’s time for something that’s become an annual tradition here at Your Organizing Business. For my final post of the year, I’d like to acknowledge the many professional organizers and other supporters who have shared their time and expertise with my readers in some way.

The following individuals contributed as guest bloggers or participated in a blog interview this year. Simply click on their names to read their posts.

• Linda Samuels
• Kerry Rego
• Michelle O’Sullivan
• Lelah Baker-Rabe
• Janice Russell
• Ellen Delap
• Julie Stobbe
• Lisa Montanaro
• Margot McClelland

The Professional Organizers Blog Carnival has continued to grow in popularity, with a total of 191 posts submitted by 61 professional organizers, including seven new Professional Organizers Blog Carnival Star Bloggers. A big thanks to:

• Ellen Delap
• Audrey Cupo
• Linda Samuels
• Ramona Creel
• Deb Lee
• Elaine Shannon
• Clare Kumar
• Jane Veldhoven
• Lisa Montanaro
• Tracy Hoth
• Jeri Dansky
• Julie Bestry
• Nancy Borg
• Geralin Thomas
• Janine Adams
• Lauren Giammarco
• Lelah Baker-Rabe
• Master Cruz
• Natalie Conrad
• Pauline Wiles
• Rivka Caroline
• Sue West
• Angela Esnouf
• Barbara Tako
• Jane Woolsey
• Janice Russell
• Jonda Beattie
• Leslie Josel
• Michelle Panzlaff
• Stephanie LH Calahan
• Debbie Pendell
• Hazel Thornton
• Heather Burke
• Hellen Buttigieg
• Jacquie Ross
• Janet Baker
• Laura Wittmann
• Paul H. Burton
• Shelley Molitor
• Alys Milner
• Ann Acquaviva
• Anne Blumer
• Deanne Kelleher
• Debbie Stanley
• Jacki Hollywood Brown
• Jennifer Crutchfield
• Jodi Granok
• Kate Brown
• Kimberly Eagles
• Krista Colvin
• Kristin Lindstrom
• Laura Lawrence
• Linda Vanderkolk
• Linda Williams
• Lurlene Anderson
• Margaret Lukens
• Margarita Ibbott
• MaryJo Monroe
• Michelle O’Sullivan
• Oksana Bellas
• Sheri Bruneau

With such a wealth of information and industry contacts at your fingertips, I hope you’ll spend a little time reading or re-reading their posts, leaving some comments, and expanding your online network.

I know that many of you support this blog by leaving comments and/or sharing your favorite posts by email or social media, and your efforts are appreciated as well.

As you prepare your Blogging Plan for 2012, you may find the following resources helpful for generating content ideas:

• 2012 Blogging Calendar & Planner (free download)
• Professional Organizers Blog Carnival monthly topics for 2012

And if you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to Your Organizing Business by RSS or email for lots of ideas for your blog and other aspects of your business!

Have a happy and prosperous new year!

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on A Shout-out to Our 2011 Supporters.

My special guest today is Michelle O’Sullivan, owner of Saving Spaces, in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. When I met Michelle last year, I was interested to learn that she had run a successful cleaning business for ten years before becoming a professional organizer, and I invited her to share her story with my readers.

Michelle, why did you become a professional organizer?

Having had the cleaning business, I found that I was doing a lot of organizing for my clients – they loved it and were getting it as part of my cleaning service.

They had referred me to their friends, and after a few jobs I realized that I enjoyed it more than the cleaning. It was less methodical and more rewarding on a personal level, and my clients were more appreciative of the organizing service than the cleaning service.

How did you make the transition from cleaning to organizing?

There really was no transition as I still have the cleaning business. I decided to change the name of the cleaning business from Emerald Household Services to Saving Spaces and added organizing and decluttering as another service.

I told my clients, and they were all very supportive. I have a small cleaning clientele of 30, and I have had half of them for over eight years, so we know each other well. Their main concern was that they were going to lose me.

I never had to advertise for my cleaning service – all were referrals – so I knew I had to market and promote myself to be recognized as a professional organizer.

I did my research and checked out all the other organizers in the area, and what services they offered, I joined POC and started taking courses with them, I read lots of books, I got business cards and a website, I joined network groups, and started to market myself to a different target.

How did your experience in the cleaning industry benefit you as you launched your organizing business?

It was of great benefit to me as I was already doing the job for lots of my clients but not getting the recognition for it. It also helped as I wasn’t nervous as some are when they go to their first client.  Over the years I have learned to read people by their homes and the way they live so I have a good idea what is going to work for them.

Are there differences in the way you run your business now?

I have had to hire help for the cleaning business, which gives me time to focus on marketing myself as a professional organizer.

I am more money conscious and invest more in my business.  The cleaning business was just a job to earn money. Now I have found my passion and it is my career.

What do you like most about your business?

I love what I do! I get to meet great people and the knowledge that I am able to help them with their organizing and cleaning needs, and their gratitude to me for my service, is the greatest reward.

I have also got to meet great people in the industry of Organizing, Marketing and Networking, and I get to meet new people all the time that can help me and I them.

What is your greatest challenge?

It has to be online marketing: first building my website, getting to know and navigate my way around Facebook and Twitter, and now I am starting to blog – there is so much to learn. It has taken me a year to become familiar with it all. Of course my typing was not the best either so that was another challenge!

My personal motto is

Stay focused and take one day at a time.

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on From Cleaner to Professional Organizer.

As I go through the process of planning my blogging schedule for 2011, I can’t stop thinking that “Your Organizing Business” would be no more than random thoughts passing through my mind if it weren’t for my faithful readers. This final post of 2010 is therefore dedicated to all of you.

I would especially like to thank the individuals who contributed as guest bloggers or took part in a blog interview this year. Please click on their names below to read the posts that you missed or that you’d like to enjoy again:

• Candita Clayton
• Deanna Koller
• Deb Lee
• Jane Veldhoven
• Judi Suraci
• Julie Bestry
• Karen Shinn and Gail Shields
• Katie and Kelly McMenamin
• Lynette Chandler
• Porter Knight
• Randi Hutton

The Professional Organizers Blog Carnival continues to be a popular feature, with 45 bloggers submitting a total of 151 posts, and 7 qualifying to be named Professional Organizers Blog Carnival Star Bloggers.

• Ellen Delap
• Elaine Shannon
• Jeri Dansky
• Angela Esnouf
• Audrey Cupo
• Ramona Creel
• Geralin Thomas
• Julie Bestry
• Lelah Baker-Rabe
• Debbie Pendell
• Jacki Hollywood Brown
• Joan Kosmachuk
• Stephanie LH Calahan
• Barbara Tako
• Clare Kumar
• Deb Lee
• Lisa Montanaro
• Margarita Ibbott
• Anne Blumer
• Christine Simiriglia
• Jane Veldhoven
• Janet Baker
• Michelle Deo
• Hellen Buttigieg
• Jennifer Crutchfield
• Jodi Granok
• Kimberly Eagles
• Master Cruz
• Michelle Panzlaff
• Tina Blazer
• Angie Weid
• Beverly Coggins
• Cari Pemberton
• Carmen Coker
• Eva Wallace
• Heather Burke
• Jacquie Ross
• Janet Nusbaum
• Janice Russell
• Krista Colvin
• Margaret Lukens
• Paul H. Burton
• Sarah Kimmel
• Sarah Welch
• Terry

As you make your own plans for 2011, I hope you’ll keep the monthly Professional Organizers Blog Carnival topics in mind. It’s a great way to share your expertise with other organizers and to generate traffic back to your blog!

I also encourage you to download your free 2011 Blogging Calendar, if you haven’t already. It includes a full page for every week with enough space to plan your blog topic ideas and other related activities.

If you’re interested in being a guest blogger, please let me know, even if you don’t have a specific topic in mind.

Here’s to your success in 2011!

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Reviewing 2010 and Looking Forward to 2011.

I’ve been a fan of Blog Energizer for quite a while now, so I was thrilled when their team leader, Lynette Chandler, offered to answer a few questions for Your Organizing Business. If you find Lynette’s answers to be as helpful as I did, please vote for me at the link you’ll find at the end of this post, so I can win an awesome prize – thanks!

How often should a professional organizer (or other service provider) blog to effectively promote his or her services?

You’ll probably not get the same response for every person you ask and I’ve also heard recommendations all across the board. Here’s what my personal choice is. If the blog is brand new, it can really benefit from more regular updates like 4 – 7 posts a week. As it matures and you start building steady traffic, you might get away with a more relaxed schedule. I aim for 2-3 a week though some weeks there’s only 1-2 which to me is bare minimum. But remember, substance is more important than quantity.

Also, cultivate the habit of batching and take advantage of scheduling features. 4-7 or even 2-3 a week sounds like so much content but when you do them all at once, and schedule them over the month, it really is a lot easier and doesn’t seem like you’re having to write every other day and that can get old really fast.

Is blogging a good way for professional organizers to generate passive income?

To me, a blog is no different than any other website. It is just easier to maintain. So that would really depend what you set the blog up for. If your goal is to build business for your services then use a large portion of your blog to do that. Yes, there is a place for passive income definitely. Like me, I write reviews and put up recommendations that do bring me passive income but that has been happening even before I put a blog on the site. It is a good way to supplement your income and it plays a role in your marketing mix, certainly not the only avenue. I like to view my blog as just one piece of the big marketing puzzle.

Is Blog Energizer suitable for business bloggers, or is it more geared towards “mommy” bloggers?

We try to accommodate bloggers in a variety of niches. If you are a free member, some weeks it seems like all we ever find is only relevant to mommy bloggers. That’s just how things play out. I guess due to the size and number of mommy blogs there are, many offers and resources are geared toward that market. However, we are always on the lookout for things business bloggers can share too. If you look in our archives there’s plenty of goodies for business bloggers.

Premium members also enjoy 30 blog prompts a month that is focused on business.

But here’s the thing I really want to bring up.

1. It depends what you mean by business bloggers – if you are in the business of blogging to make money then the topic doesn’t always have to be business related.
2. We always encourage people to think laterally. When we suggest an item you can put on your blog, that’s a suggestion. You can always put your spin on it to make it relevant. For example, August 10th was Smores Day. Hardly something ‘business’ like right? But maybe you can use ‘smores’ in your blog title about something else, maybe “XYZ software as good as smores’ or maybe you can write about good old fashioned values and product matching that go together like graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate.

Is it possible to have too many guest bloggers?

I don’t think so. If you look at many of the large blogs, they are written by a slew of different people. Especially if you are in this for a business, more people make a blog very interesting. Plus, if the owner itself is not so prominent, it makes it easier to exit that business if the owner chooses to in the future. A lot of people tell us that people buy from those they like, and because we are used to being individuals, we think people have to like us the person, but I think if you are running a serious business, you should be working on getting people to like your brand. Your blog is either the brand or an extension of the brand. When you are working on the brand itself, it really doesn’t matter if others are writing for the brand.

As long as the guest bloggers put forth quality and relevant content for the brand, I don’t see that as a problem at all. It might be a good idea to put pictures of authors on the post though so there is no confusion.

What are your thoughts on using a ghost blogger?

Everybody has their comfort level with this. I think a good ghost blogger who can copy your voice, your tone and style is very hard to find and if you do find him/her, you should hang on to them. I’ve hired bloggers before but have requested that they write or sign off under their own name or a pen name, not mine. So yeah, they were not ghost bloggers. It is not so much the control thing but there’s always something I would have chosen to word differently. Of course. They aren’t me and I’m not them.

I do not want to be caught in a situation where something was written, and be used to nitpick against me when they weren’t my words to begin with. The only exception to that is when I ask someone to write very factual posts that leave very little or no room for grey areas like a tutorial or posting up a deal/special offer.

Has this interview given you some great information? Then vote for it at http://blogenergizer.com/teip-vote. I’m sure Janet will appreciate your support.

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Blogging Tips: An Interview with Lynette Chandler.

Based on this month’s Professional Organizers Blog Carnival on green organizing, it’s clear that many organizing consultants are aware of environmental issues and employ eco-friendly practices with their clients. I recently interviewed “The Eco-Organizer” Candita Clayton, and if you’re committed to learning even more about this important subject, I’m sure you’ll be interested in what she has to say.

Candita, how long have you been a professional organizer, and why did you decide to focus on green organizing?

I have been an organizer since 2001. I learned so much in my early years as an organizer through working with young families. Time after time I would find myself in homes with toxic cleaning products, furniture, toys, etc… I was upset and frustrated by this, which led me to write my book Clean Your Home Healthy, Green Cleaning Made Easy (April 2008, Morgan James Publishing).  Green living has become my passion and I share my knowledge with anyone who asks.

What is your 5 Steps to Green Program?

The 5 Steps to Green Program was developed to aid Professional Organizers as well as other service professionals in adding green services to their organizing or service businesses.  Presented as a series of Tele-Seminars, the program is a comprehensive approach to educating organizers about healthy living, sustainability and solutions to everyday issues they would find in their clients’ homes. I am always looking for ways to use my knowledge to help other organizers improve their income.

Is your program suitable for new organizers or established organizers?

The program is suitable for both experienced and new organizers and can help any organizer establish a niche in the area of green living.

These days, it’s more important than ever to establish a niche for your business, so if you’re interested in learning more about this unique opportunity, be sure to visit Candita’s 5 Steps to Green website.

Happy Earth Day!

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Use the Power of Green to Grow Your Organizing Business.

Webinars, teleclasses, chapter meetings, conferences, and live workshops are all excellent ways to connect with and learn from your colleagues in the organizing industry, but I’ve recently learned about yet another option, and I’ve invited Jane Veldhoven of Get Organized! Professional Services to tell you all about it today.

Jane, I read in your blog about your recent Professional Organizer Retreat, and I’m sure my readers would love to know what it involved, and how they can do something similar.

Can you tell us what happens at a Professional Organizer Retreat?

The main objective is for us to get together to create our strategic plan for the new year.

Was it all about work, or did you get a chance for some R&R?

Oh yes, this year we started what will definitely become a part of our annual planning – we went to a fabulous spa for 7 hours where we did yoga, soaked in hot baths and steam rooms, and had a massage the day before our work.  It was truly amazing.

How much advance planning was required?

It was a team effort for sure but didn’t require a whole lot of advance planning – about 6 weeks.  We investigated the spa back in early December and the two of us who were flying booked our flights by mid-December so we could arrange the actual days we were together.

How many people attended?

We have five professional organizers in our group.

How did you find other organizers to team up with for the retreat?

We all attended a Strategic Planning Bootcamp for Organizers in January 2008.

It sounds like a lot of your focus was on planning for the coming months. Do you have a system in place to stay connected and follow up on each others’ plans?

Yes, we do.  We ‘meet’ by phone quarterly to review where we are and where we are going, hold each accountable for our plan and motivate one another as well.

Will you do it again in the future? With the same group?

Absolutely – January 2011 is on.  Plus we have planned a relax day together at a spa in Montreal following the POC conference.  Obviously we need a lot of relaxing in order to be strategic – ha!

Do you think a retreat is appropriate for new organizers, established organizers, or both?

I would say you need to be in business for three years before this process would be beneficial.  New organizers, though, should definitely sign up for some type of basic business planning workshops in their hometown.

Is it better for the group to be at the same stage in their business, or at different stages?

We have all been in business for at least five years and that seems to work well.  However, our vision for each business and our personal goals are very different which also works.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

Since I started this process in 2008 I have been able to grow my business significantly. I would have to say that the time spent planning and creating a strategy has been a key component, but having a support group of other organizers has been the most amazing experience.

Readers, I don’t know about you, but to me this sounds like a wonderful way to work on your business and get a little R&R at the same time! What do you think?

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on A Retreat for Professional Organizers.

I know how important it is for professional organizers and other service-based small business owners to generate earnings over and above their professional fees, so when I learned that my client Judi Suraci of Organized Homes had become a consultant for Tomboy Tools, I invited her to share some information about the company.

Judi, how long have you been a Consultant for Tomboy Tools?

I joined Tomboy Tools in November 2009 as a consultant following my attendance at our Professional Organizers Conference in Calgary. After reviewing the products and literature, I knew it was a perfect fit for me.

What do you do as a Consultant for Tomboy Tools?

I like to think I empower women to take home maintenance into their own hands. At a tool party, women are able to handle and try out a tool in a supportive setting. I also will host small hands-on sessions for women who are familiar with tools and want a bit of practice with something new – like using dry wall tools to patch holes.

How do you make money as a Consultant for Tomboy Tools?

A consultant makes a commission on all sales from home parties. If anyone joins under me, I get a percentage of their sales, as well as being their mentor.

Does it cost a lot to sign up?

You have a choice of two different kits to start your business. They start at $100.00 and up. You can add to your demo tools at any time.

How does this tie in with what you do as a professional organizer?

As a professional organizer, I assist people with getting their house in order. In some cases it requires building shelves or fixing holes in drywall. Many women are interested in doing some of the repairs themselves; they just need to be shown how. The same goes for organizing. Once they have systems in place, it is easy to maintain them.

I also think this is a great opportunity for other organizers to add to their business.

In which countries are Tomboy Tools and consultant opportunities available?

We have consultants in Canada, United States and United Kingdom

Can products be purchased online, or only through a home party?

Yes, products can be ordered online.

What happens at a tool party?

Depending on the comfort level of the women attending the party, a tool party is an opportunity to handle and try out tools. You will learn the names or what they are used for. The tools were designed by women for women, so part of the demonstration is to show how easily they fit into your hand. For a more advanced group, I would host a hands-on session where the attendees could try out a drywall kit, or the paint brushes or paint rollers. There are many products available, from gardening tools to safety equipment.

A portion of the sales from certain items is directed to Willow Breast Cancer Support.

If any of my readers would like to host a tool party or become a Consultant for Tomboy Tools, what should they do?

Please contact me for further information. I can be reached at judisuraci@tomboytoolscanada.com or visit my website at www.tomboytoolscanada.com/judisuraci.

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Add to Your Toolkit – or Your Income – with Tomboy Tools.

This past fall, I had the opportunity to reconnect with Karen Shinn, whom I met at the 2002 POC Conference, when we were both starting out, and got to know quite well when we served on the National Board together. When I heard about Karen’s latest venture with her business partner, Gail Shields, I just had to share it with my readers, so I asked them to answer a few questions.

Over the last few years, I’ve seen Downsizing Diva grow from a one-woman operation, to a partnership, and now a franchise company! What made you decide to franchise your business?

When we started our business, our mission was to help seniors and their families cope with the often-overwhelming challenges of moving from a family home to a condo, retirement residence or care community.

Our client base – Seniors (and their families) – is increasing very rapidly. Some clients have family members who could help them with their move, but they choose to remain independent and take care of the details by themselves – with our help. Other clients do not have family members to help and rely on Downsizing Diva to make their move as stress-free as possible. We also have family members who hire us to work with their parents because they live too far away or are just unable to tackle this daunting task.

Almost 10 years ago, Gail and I identified the need for downsizing and move organizing services for seniors. Last year we realized that our small team can only do so much. It was time to take our systems and create a business model that will help others do what we do – help seniors downsize and move. Gail calls it…“doing well, while doing good”.

We have connected with three fabulous business partners who are helping us take our move organizing concept to the next level by creating Downsizing Diva – The Franchise! We have identified territories and are finalizing training programs to help interested franchisees become Divas in their own communities. These are exciting times for all of us!

Why would a professional organizer want to buy a franchise rather than start a business from scratch?

This is a tricky question. Every good professional organizer will not necessarily make a good move organizer, but many certainly will. Some skills are transferrable, but the Downsizing Diva skill set also requires a passion for connecting and working with Seniors. We can teach people downsizing and move organizing skills, but the ability to connect with seniors – that’s something you either have or don’t have!

What type of person is suited to becoming a franchisee?

As Downsizing Diva franchisors, we are looking for people who are interested in following a proven move organizing system and duplicating it in their own communities. The most important consideration in awarding a franchise is the knowledge that the franchisee will work within the established framework to provide a high level of care, compassion and service to all clients.

A franchise system is all about the system, the brand and the team. It is a fabulous fit for someone who can visualize the end result and will follow a specific road map to get there.

Downsizing Divas across the country will understand and buy into our unique Mission and Vision Statements and will be committed to serving their clients to the best of their ability. A move organizing experience in Halifax will be identical to a move organizing experience in Toronto and in Vancouver. When everything is under control… it’s a Downsizing Diva move!

What kind of support do you provide your franchisees?

Janet, you know us! Our goal is to help Downsizing Diva franchisees in any way we can to create a successful senior move organizing business in their community. We are all about teaching, sharing and mentoring and have developed a comprehensive training and support system. As experts in the move organizing field, we will cover theory aspects of the training in the classroom and practical aspects with on-the-job experience. In addition to an extensive training program, our Business Model, Brand, proven methodology, ongoing support and a client base developing in their community – franchisees will have almost everything they need to be a successful Downsizing Diva. All they will have to add is passion and commitment!

What are your plans for the future?

Our plan is to make Downsizing Diva the most trusted and recognized brand in North America in the area of Senior Move Organizing.

Where can interested parties obtain more information about your franchise opportunity?

We are working closely with three business partners who know all about franchising and have “been there and done that”. We know the ins and outs of downsizing, organizing and moving – and John Ferracuti knows everything about the franchise business. He’s the go-to guy for Downsizing Diva and he can be reached at (905) 823-8550 x 225.

John is easy to talk to and is the best person to contact to find out more about working with us as a Downsizing Diva!

Anything else you would like to add?

At Downsizing Diva, we love what we do and it shows! We do one thing really, really well… we help Seniors downsize and move. We have found our passion and know we are making a difference in the lives of the people we come in contact with, each and every day!

I’d like to thank Karen and Gail for taking the time to stop by and tell us about the Downsizing Diva. If you enjoy working with seniors and would like to benefit from Karen and Gail’s proven methodology, training, and ongoing support, this may be something for you to consider.

For general information about buying a franchise, check out How to Research and Buy a Franchise at Entrepreneur.com and Should You Buy A Franchise? at About.com.

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Is a Franchise Right for You?.

I don’t think I’m the only person this week who is looking back at the year 2009 and wondering how it has passed so quickly. On the other hand, so much has happened that I didn’t foresee a year ago, including the creation of this blog and its rapid popularity. It seems only fitting that I close off the year by thanking the many people who have contributed to its success.

I am very grateful for each and every one of my readers, especially those who have left comments or been involved in some other way. I’m sorry that I can’t thank you all personally, but I’d like to offer a special mention to a few special people. First, the professional organizers who have shared their experience and time as Guest Bloggers:

• Angela Esnouf & Roz Howland
• Elaine Shannon
• Jacki Hollywood Brown
• Jan McWilliams
• Janine Adams
• Liz Jenkins
• Sue West

Next, the organizing consultants who have participated in a Blog Interview:

• Geralin Thomas
• Kathi Burns
• Patricia John

And everyone who has taken part in the Professional Organizers Blog Carnival:

• Angela Esnouf
• Lelah Baker-Rabe
• Geralin Thomas
• Alex Fayle
• Jacki Hollywood Brown
• Jodi Granok
• Julie Bestry
• Lisa Montanaro
• Margaret Lukens
• Anne Blumer
• Janet Baker
• Janine Adams
• Jeri Dansky
• Deb Lee
• Hellen Buttigieg
• Krista Colvin
• Lauren Halagarda
• Tammy Burke
• Amy Tokos
• Angie Weid
• Christine Simiriglia
• Claire Tompkins
• Dave Gary
• Debbie Jordan Kravitz
• Elaine Shannon
• Jane Veldhoven
• Janice Russell
• Joan Kosmachuk
• Michelle Deo
• Ramona Creel
• Sarah Welch
• Terry
• Wendy Davie

I’d also like to say a big thank-you to those of you who supported me while I was getting this project off the ground (I think you know who you are!) and to Scott, my partner in business and in life, who carefully proofreads and formats every one of my posts.

I sincerely hope that 2010 will be a successful year for your organizing business! If there are any topics you’d like me to cover in order to help you achieve your business goals for the new year, please feel free to Ask a Question. Please contact me as well if you’re interested in being interviewed on the blog or submitting a guest post.

Happy New Year!

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Saying Goodbye to 2009.

I am not the most fashion-conscious person around and, as a professional organizer, I found it especially challenging to figure out the appropriate outfit to wear for various business activities. When I learned that professional organizer Kathi Burns is also an image consultant, I asked if she would answer a few questions in order to help others with similar decisions to make.

One time I wore a khaki skirt and a blazer to a residential organizing consultation, and the prospective client asked if that was how I was going to dress when I came to organize her house. How can an organizer show that she is prepared to sit on the floor and get her hands dirty, yet still look professional?

That is a great question. It is all about the jacket! Jackets will help you make a solid first impression. I do think that a skirt is probably inappropriate to wear to a client’s first interview or assessment appointment. The client is assessing you as much as you are assessing them. A skirt might leave the impression that you are not necessarily ready and willing to solve their problems if it involves getting down and dirty.

A nice jacket, not necessarily a suit coat, will set you apart and signify that you work in a professional capacity.. When you wear a nice tailored jacket at the beginning of each appointment, you will automatically appear more put-together, professional and confident.

Make sure that your jacket fits you well and is not out-dated, frumpy or wrinkled. Your jacket should be tailored to skim your body and preferably cut from a material other than cotton. Cotton wrinkles easily is typically appears very casual.

When you go back to do the actual organizing, there’s a good chance you’re going to be working in some pretty dusty areas, especially if you’re organizing a basement or garage. Would it be okay in those cases to wear jeans or track pants, as you’d probably wear if you were working in your own house?

I frequently wear a nice jacket over dress jeans or slacks and a casual top. When it is time to get down to work, I simply take off my jacket and am ready to get dirty.

The  jeans that I consider dress jeans are dark washed without fading or holes so they look very professional. If my client is over 70, I will wear dark machine washable dress slacks that I won’t mind getting dirty. Sometimes older clients still feel that jeans are a bit too casual and every little bit of authority you can gain with these types of clients is helpful as they are often stuck in their old habits.

I’ve seen some organizers who wear business casual attire, and put an apron over top to protect their clothes while they’re working. What do you think of that?

As an image consultant, I feel that an apron puts a PO in the position of a hired hand or maid as opposed to a professional offering high caliber services. This is simply my chosen business model and personal opinion. I do everything possible to set myself apart from assistants and housekeepers because I feel my job is more on the level of a coach than a housekeeper.

I suppose that if you have to wear an apron, it should be embroidered with a logo, but again, I do not consider myself to be in that level of business.

A nice golf shirt with your business logo and casual pants seems to make a good “uniform” for residential organizers that’s suitable for both consultations and hands-on work. Is this type of uniform appropriate for corporate office organizing, or is it necessary to wear something more professional?

A golf shirt and casual pants might be okay for residential, but definitely not for corporate work, unless you want to appear to be in the same league as their weekly plant maintenance company. Problems that I see arising from golf shirts is that women often default into men’s cuts because this is what is most widely available from the embroidering companies. Men’s cuts do not always provide a put-together impression. A better tactic, if you really want to wear a logo on your chest, would be to buy your own women’s polo or more structured blouses in advance and take them in to be embroidered with your logo.

Regarding corporate organizing jobs, you should always dress corporately when working in a corporate setting and, at minimum, wear a nice jacket. There have been instances when I actually wore a suit every day to a corporate organizing job because that was the dress code. When I began to actually organize, I removed my suit coat and got to work. When on break, I put my jacket back on as I came and went. The thing about the corporate job is you never know who you might meet in the hallway or break room; it could be the CEO. As the CEO of your own PO agency, wouldn’t you want to appear to be in the same league?

Ideally you can plan your appointments so that you schedule meetings for certain days, and organizing jobs on other days. But what if you’re asked to do a business organizing consultation, and the time they’d like you to go is at the end of a day when you’ve been organizing someone’s garage? Is it necessary to bring a complete change of clothing, or is there something else you can suggest?

I would definitely bring more casual slacks and shirt to the home job but always wear a jacket into the home at the beginning of each day. When transitioning to the corporate meeting, I would change into business attire slacks and shoes.

This leads me to a big issue that I see in the dress codes of professional organizers. Their shoes are often terribly dirty, frumpy and out of style. In order to accommodate their foot problems, many organizers (and people in general)  default into really unflattering shoes. It does take a bit of searching to find shoes that will be comfortable while working a full day on your feet but it is very important that you try. Nice shoes for work are usually not cheap but well worth the investment. I wear Paul Green shoes throughout the winter months when socks are required and nice ballet flats with flexible rubber soles during the warm weather months.  It is also very important that shoes are maintained so they are not dirty, faded, ragged or torn.

Orthopedic sandals and running shoes are, in my opinion.  simply not professional enough for everyday wear in this industry. If you have a garage job, and you already have made the good first impression with the client, than feel free to wear athletic shoes that day. There are more professional alternatives to athletic shoes if you know what to look for. Otherwise, wear something more put-together until a high level of professionalism and strong rapport with your client is established.

Professional organizers are often asked to give presentations or workshops about organizing. What is the best thing for a speaker to wear that will look great but not be distracting for the audience?

I would always wear something that was at least on par with the audience. For instance, if it’s a women’s business networking organization, I would probably wear a suit. If I was presenting a workshop for college students, I would probably wear dress jeans and a jacket. When in doubt, a suit is always a safe choice. After all, you are the authority and this is why you are giving the presentation!

In my new book, How to Master Your Muck I have included a chapter on creating a masterful image and another about the fields of Professional Organizing and image Consulting. You can also read more questions and answers about image and first impressions on my addSpace To Your Life! website.

Thank you for asking these questions. If you have any personal or specific questions, feel free to leave a comment under any article on my website and I will be happy to help.

I feel that our industry needs to kick it up a notch and wear more professional clothes even when they are up to their knees in dust and dirt. And we are, after all, Professional Organizers!

Kathi, I know you’ve been really busy with your book launch, so I really appreciate your making time for this interview. I’m sure your tips will be very useful to my readers!

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Answers to the Perennial Question "What Should I Wear?" in an Interview with Image Consultant Kathi Burns.