It’s been a while since I posted an organizer interview, so I’m very pleased to be featuring Robyn Reynolds of Organize2Harmonize in sunny California.

Robyn launched her business in 2008, offering residential organization, moves, and custom closet design in Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, Palm Desert, Palm Springs and surrounding communities. Read on to learn more about Robyn and her business journey.

Robyn, welcome to Your Organizing Business! How did you come up with your business name?

It is based on my philosophy that if you are organized, there will be harmony.

How has your business changed since you first started out?

I started as a solopreneur, and I now have employees. I also outsource a lot of the work I used to do myself.

What are some examples of the type of work you outsource? Was it difficult for you to hand over these tasks to someone else?

The things that I now outsource are social media management, accounting, and admin tasks. It wasn’t really difficult to hand these tasks over to someone else because I didn’t like doing them anyway. The challenge came moreso in finding the right person that I felt understood my needs and that I trusted.

How do you approach a new organizing project?

For each of the services I offer, the approach is different.

For moves, I do an assessment to determine how many days it will take and how many people will be needed.

For custom closets, I discuss with the client their needs, take measurements, and talk about the aesthetics of the closet. I then send the design I come up with to my cabinet maker, he creates the schematic and I present it to the client.

For residential organization, I consult with the client about what their challenges are, how they would like to use the space and then we start the process of purging and organizing.

What other services or products do you offer?

I’m in the process of creating ebooks, printables and courses. Some should be available in the next few weeks (hopefully by the time this goes to print).

Do you offer any products or services for other organizers?

I’m also in the process of creating a course for how to become a professional organizer.

What professional associations or other organizations do you belong to?

I belong to NAPO and NABPO and am the new President of the BCPO (Board of Certification for Professional Organizers).

I’m not familiar with NABPO. Can you tell me more about the organization and how it benefits you and your business?

NABPO is the National Association of Black Professional Organizers. Not only do they have meetings with educational speakers, but they have a database of their organizers and potential clients use that to find organizers. I have gotten many referrals/clients as a result.

At what moment did you consider yourself successful?

When it became the only thing I did to support my family.

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

I would invest in some marketing courses and make sure I had a bigger nest egg to help during lean times.

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

Running a business is very different than just being an organizer in business. There are different skill sets for each part of the actual business. Some tasks are things I can do, and others are ones I don’t like doing or aren’t equipped to handle.

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

Wanting to scale to where I am doing less of the physical hands-on work.

What’s your favorite organizing product? Why?

Plastic shoe boxes – They are extremely versatile. I love using them in closets to organize shoes with pictures on the outside as well as craft supplies, basic tools, kids’ toys, makeup, nail polish, etc.

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

I love to travel, go thrifting, work out, go to the movies, and spend time with my teen daughter.

What else should we know about you?

I am branding as the DIVA organizer. That acronym stands for dynamic, inspiring, vivacious, authentic. Originally from New York, LA is now my home. In a perfect world, I would like to build an online organizing business and travel the world.

Robyn, thank you very much for telling us about your organizing business!

Who’s next?

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