Interview with Professional Organizer Olivia Parks

Olivia Parks
Janet Barclay

Janet Barclay

A former professional organizer, I now eliminate stress for my clients by hosting, monitoring, and maintaining their WordPress sites so they don't have to worry about security, downtime or performance issues. When I'm away from my desk, I enjoy reading, photography, watching movies, and cooking.

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Olivia Parks is a successful organizer who has been featured here in 6 Must-Read Blogs for Professional Organizers and as the author of How to Generate More Home Organization Leads Online.  I’m pleased to welcome her back today in my latest interview.

Hi Olivia! To get started, please tell us a bit about your business, Professional Organizer New Orleans.

My team and I provide decluttering and organizing services for any area – whether it be closets, pantries, toy rooms, garages, storage units, sheds, businesses…you name it! We also offer packing and unpacking services.

We are a full-service and very hands-on home-organizing company. We take all of our client’s donations and trash and also provide packing supplies when needed. We try to make everything as easy and seamless as possible for our clients.

We service a wide range of clients. Clients with ADHD, depression, anxiety, those who have just lost a loved one, busy moms, busy professionals, or just normal people who don’t have the time or energy to declutter and organize their homes.

What areas do you serve?

New Orleans, LA, and the surrounding areas. We are also starting a Dallas location.

What is your specialty?

I would definitely say our specialty is decluttering. 🙂 It is my favorite thing to do with my clients.

How did you come up with your business name?

We kept it simple and location-specific. We also wanted to make it very clear what we do so that when potential clients search for home organizing services, they can easily find our company.

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

I have always been a fairly organized person. I was also raised in a fairly organized household. So, to be honest, organizing has always come naturally to me.

My love for working with families and being in their homes started when I began babysitting at 12 years old. Once the children were down to sleep, instead of watching tv, I would find myself cleaning up and organizing the children’s toys, cleaning up the kitchen, and organizing their pantries. I just loved it.

I babysit all throughout college, which then led me to become a household assistant to several families. I would help them with laundry, light organizing, and cleaning, grocery shopping, etc. I even helped manage a few of my family’s Airbnb properties.

I knew I was destined for something greater and truly wanted to control my financial destiny. This then led me to start my professional organizing business.

How are you marketing your business?

We use Google Ads, Facebook, Instagram, and Find My Organizer. The majority of our leads come from our website through Google. We also get several clients through posting in local Facebook groups. Thumbtack is our best friend as well 🙂 Love it!

Do you offer any products or services for other organizers?

Yes. My partner and I do virtual coaching for those interested in building a professional organizing business. We also offer a free 45-point checklist to start your professional organizing business

How do you approach a new organizing project?

The majority of my projects are sold on the phone. Once I see my client’s project from photos, I can easily and instantly know what to do and create a game plan. Of course, I also ask each client specific questions about their project, making sure I get all questions answered before my team and I start.

If I am not able to get a good idea of the project through photos, I will do an in-person consultation.

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

I am addicted to it! There is such a huge need for it. I truly believe it is such a valuable service that will always be needed.

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

Hiring. Finding Great help. Getting new contractors that we can trust and truly want to be with us for the long haul.

What’s your favorite organizing product? Why?

A lazy susan! It’s fun, pretty, and makes sense!

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

LOL. I am always working, whether I am on a job or not. Owning your business is a full-time job.

But I enjoy playing with my puppy and going to pilates.

What else should we know about you?

I am 26 years old and in my first business of owning my home organizing business, my partner and I hit 6 figures!

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7 Comments

  1. Seana Turner on February 1, 2024 at 1:43 pm

    What a successful business she has. So fun to learn more about Olivia, her business, and how she markets herself. I love that young people are making a career right from the start in organizing. This field has so much potential, and it pleases me to see that it is now being considered a viable alternative for someone at the beginning of their professional life.

    I hope to meet face-to-face someday!

  2. Julie Bestry Julie Bestry on February 1, 2024 at 8:54 pm

    Olivia has achieved so much at only 26, the age at which most of us (veteran organizers) were just starting out in our first (pre-organizing) careers, when the industry was much less known. It’s definitely exhilarating to see how the next generation of professional organizers are starting out with this as their first career! How exciting for Olivia, and for us to learn about her and how she’s even expanding to Dallas. Janet, thank you for sharing Olivia with us.

  3. Janet Barclay on February 2, 2024 at 11:14 am

    I agree with you both – it’s a very different industry in so many ways, and it’s exciting to see where the next generation will take it!

  4. Sabrina Quairoli on February 5, 2024 at 11:20 am

    I enjoy reading about successful small business owners, especially those who are passionate about decluttering. Thanks for sharing!

    • Janet Barclay on February 5, 2024 at 1:19 pm

      I’m glad you enjoyed the interview! Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

  5. Linda Samuels Linda Samuels on February 5, 2024 at 5:39 pm

    Olivia’s energy and love of organizing come through so clearly in this interview! It’s always fun to read about our fellow organizers and how they help their clients…and, in Olivia’s case, other organizers, too. Here’s to her continued success and joy in organizing!

    • Janet Barclay on February 6, 2024 at 11:41 am

      I love that every single story is different. It amazes me to read about the varied backgrounds of the organizing pros I know!

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