My first interview for 2020 is with Gayle Goddard of The Clutter Fairy, LLC, who offers residential organizing services to middle-aged women going through a transition in their lives throughout the Greater Houston, Texas area and virtually.

Hi, Gayle! Thanks for joining us today.

How did you come up with your business name?

I had a previous business called Treasures of the Faerie Queene, and I stuck with the theme!

What did you do in your earlier business?

This was my side hustle while I was working as an accountant. I needed something creative as a stress reliever, and I turned my hobby of making beaded jewelry into a side business. I taught beading classes and sold finished beaded jewelry. It wasn’t a huge money maker, but I loved hanging out with a creative group of people and spending time doing something 180 degrees away from accounting – it fed my soul!

When and why did you start the Houston Clutter Coaching Meetup Group? Has it helped you to connect with potential clients?

The Meetup group was conceived as a way to share my ideas about getting organized to those who couldn’t afford the services of a professional organizer. I wanted to give back to my community in some way, and help more people than I could reach with my clients.

We started in June of 2009 and after a few years we started recording the meetings and posting them on YouTube. YouTube has extended the reach of The Clutter Fairy and has given me an even bigger platform to offer help to others. We reach audience all over the world now!

All this affects potential clients because the active social media presence keeps my SEO for the website very good, and I get clients because of that – in a roundabout kind of way!

What professional associations do you belong to?

NAPO & NAPO Houston Chapter

I understand that you’ve served as NAPO’s national membership committee chair. What did that involve? 

I was the committee chair from 2016 to 2017. The Membership Committee handles membership benefits and issues, including member-only free training. I managed the committee and reported to the NAPO National Board of Directors.

How do you approach a new organizing project?

Meet the client, walk the job site, ask all kinds of questions about what’s going on for them right now.

How has your business changed since you first started out?

I have gotten much closer to my ideal client over time. And I’ve got a lot of good relationships with lots of long term clients. That’s amazing to me! Also, I’ve been around long enough to find myself answering the questions I used to ask when I started.

At what moment did you consider yourself successful?

When my weekly work calendar became fully booked several weeks in advance, and it stayed that way.

What would you do differently if you were starting your business today?

Gotten heavier on social media right out of the gate. Booked speaking gigs right away, too.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve discovered about running an organizing business?

How much there is for an owner/organizer to do that is NOT organizing! Lol

What is the biggest challenge you currently face in your business?

Building virtual organizing clients.

What’s your favorite organizing product? Why?

I love anything that sorts out drawers. Subdividing a drawer with containers so the stuff doesn’t become a soup in there is awesome.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

I’m a beader. I make beaded jewelry using beadweaving techniques – needle and thread and seed beads.

What else should we know about you?

I love my job! I am so grateful to have this second career because it’s exactly what I’m supposed to do. I’m good at the emotional parts of organizing. I understand the emotional struggle of decluttering and how life’s chaos is reflected in the stuff. I can support my clients in a unique way and I get great satisfaction helping them along the way.

Would you like to be interviewed for Your Organizing Business?

Simply fill out the questionnaire!