Interview with Professional Organizer Mariela Chagas
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I’m excited to share my latest organizer interview, with Mariela Chagas of Organized Living Concept in South Florida.
Mariela specializes in home and office organization, and also offers moving management, move-in organization, travel preparation and errand services.
Mariela, what made you decide to start an organizing business?
I’ve been doing this work informally on and off for over 10 years for friends and finally had the courage to open my business and perhaps be able to do this and make it grow!
How did your training and experience prepare you to become an organizer?
My Aunt who raised me was obsessed with Feng-Shui and interior design. Always watching her, I became obsessed with organizing my closet. I started helping friends with it, just “playing around” and it became “a thing!”!
How did you come up with your business name?
My husband owns his exercise physiology business, Healthy Living Concept, and I thought it would be a great idea to complement our business ideas with “Concept” related names, like Organized Living Concept!
How did you find your first client?
A friend heard I was going to do this as a business and said she needed help getting her home ready and organized for her baby that is due in 2 months.
How are you marketing your business?
Mostly word of mouth and social media. Mainly Instagram and Facebook.
How do you approach a new organizing project?
I like to interview the client to see what their wants and needs are and how willing they are about learning organizational methods and keeping up with the work I will do.
I offer “maintenance” plans, so for those who don’t want to do the upkeep themselves or don’t have the time, it’s the best option.
What’s your favorite organizing product? Why?
It’s more a favorite material. I love wood! You can do so much in a home/office with wood. Especially if you know how to manage the tools and cuts!
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve discovered about running an organizing business?
How picky people are about their mess! 😆
What is the biggest challenge you currently face in your business?
Getting my name out there and working on my social media channels.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I love staying at home with my husband and our two pets!
What else should we know about you?
I am currently working on getting Feng-Shui certified and there are so many more services I want to offer. So anxious to get to a point of being able to offer these services at a high quality level.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Mariela!
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Always a pleasure to “meet” another organizer. Interesting that wood is a favorite material – I think perhaps this is the first time I’ve heard this response. Hope our paths will cross someday:)
Thanks Seana! Let’s be in touch!
And yes! I love wood! So many possibilities!
I completely agree with your comment that clients are very picky about their mess. It can be completely surprising when you see how much dust is on it and you think it must not be important to them and then it is really important. It is nice to hear your story. Looking forward to seeing you share your blog posts in the future.
It’s fun to hear about other PO’s business. It’s so inspiring.
I’s love to learn more Feng Shui. I don’t know much about it, but it meshes with organizing so well.
What a great interview series, Janet! I always enjoy learning about other organizers. I can understand Mariela’s interest in Feng Shui. I know several organizers that added that to their services and it compliments the organizing work so beautifully. After attending a Feng Shui workshop at this year’s NERCPO conference, I made a few changes in my home to get that chi flowing better.
It’s always great when you can try something out for yourself as a way to see if you’d like to add it to your skillset and service offerings!