My latest organizer interview is with Janet Ireland of Space For Change in North Bay, Ontario, Canada. Janet is a Trained Professional Organizer, member of Professional Organizers in Canada (POC), and Certified Supply Chain Management Professional through the Supply Chain Management Association of Canada (SCMA).

Note: Janet closed her business in 2022 for personal reasons, but I’ve kept the interview in place as her story may be of value to other new organizers.

Janet, what made you decide to start an organizing business?

As I was preparing to retire from a 34-year career in health care as the Manager of Materiel Management at our local hospital, I knew I wanted to continue to keep busy and do something fun – something that would be more physical than my previous career and that had some flexibility – so I started to research professional organizing, which was always something I did well in my personal life. I found the Professional Organizers in Canada website, and the rest is history!

How did your training and experience prepare you to become an organizer?

Working in materiel management included logistics, a hospital relocation project, and managing the constant moving of supplies and equipment, and obtaining some Lean training certainly was a great foundation. I was able to take those skills along with my training through POC and the experience I continue to gain through every organizing job or task to become an organizer. I love this job!

How did you come up with your business name?

It took me several months to come up with “Space For Change” as I was trying to find a name that was broad enough that it didn’t restrict me to only providing services in decluttering or other areas.

The word space had a few meanings:

• the actual physical space that we are working on
• the space in your head taken up by the anxiety of having a cluttered space or life
• what I learned through my training – Sort Purge Assign Containerize Equalize – which stuck in my head

What is your specialty?

I enjoy working with seniors and assisting them with the transition to a new home. I’m still new to this business and find it very satisfying to see progress and the stress melt away from people when they see results, whether it be purging surplus goods or organizing a space. It’s a good feeling!

What other services or products do you offer?

I remove surplus goods and supplies and take them to donation or consignment shops at no charge. I arrange moves from start to finish, including obtaining quotes for the owners, packing, unpacking and setting up.

I have a lending library that I’m happy to share with people on a wide range of topics such as Marie Kondo’s Japanese Art of Tidying Up and The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, as well as books dedicated to seniors downsizing. I also have a moving kit available for rent to assist with small moves from tools to moving blankets.

How did you find your first client?

I found my first organizing job through a mutual friend.

How do you approach a new organizing project?

When I first started, I was quite regimented with my list of questions which I think put people off; I wasn’t using my instincts. I now try and take a more casual approach in the sense that I tour the area and really try to capture the clients’ goals with respect to the services they are looking for. I then follow up with an email that highlights what I think their requirements are to meet their goal and go from there. I try and provide a few suggestions along the way.

How are you marketing your business?

I use rack cards and mailouts, try and network as much as I can, and have begun to do talks at local organizations and write articles for a local paper.

I was very lucky to obtain a funding grant through a small business program in Ontario that allowed me to build a website through Janet Barclay Web Design.

Before we continue, let me say a bit about that project!

As a new business owner, Janet needed a website to help her establish a presence in her local community and attract potential clients. One of her colleagues in the POC Cyber Chapter told her about my extensive experience creating websites for professional organizers, so we connected and hit it off immediately.

She had engaged a local firm to design her logo, but they were unable to capture her vision. I introduced her to my graphic designer, who came up with a beautiful logo that became the foundation for the design of Janet’s website.

I’m really pleased with the outcome and, more importantly, so is Janet!

What’s your favorite organizing product?

I’m not sure – it could differ depending on what I am working on.

Personally, I still use a paper calendar in my office on the bulletin board right above my computer. I find it helps me plan when I can visually see the entire month, everything from birthdays to appointments to upcoming trips. I also use the scheduler available through Google to add appointments and prompt me when something is coming up.

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

I really enjoy the work. Although we get paid, I think we are providing a great service to people, hopefully by providing them with visible changes to their spaces and relieving some of their anxiety or frustration.

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

Managing family members with differing opinions is sometimes quite interesting.

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

I love to go for walks and hikes and have begin to golf again after a five-year absence. I also like to cook and hang out with my husband Dave, my dear friends, and my two felines, Maggie and Paisley.

Thanks for sharing, Janet!

Who’s next?

If you’d like to be interviewed for Your Organizing Business, simply fill out the questionnaire.