Interview with Professional Organizer Traci Miller

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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Traci Miller, Professional Organizer

In my latest interview, I’m pleased to introduce Traci Miller of SOS Professional Organizing in Katy, Texas, a suburb of Houston.

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

We are here to help. SOS means you need help in my mind. It also is for Stylish. Organized. Solutions.

What is your specialty?

Creating a calm environment while making sure as much of my donations go to the local public in my area.

What other services or products do you offer?

I try to be as involved as I can be in the community. I work with many charities so we can help our community.

How do you approach a new organizing project?

I try to cultivate a friendship. Trust is very important in this business. We walk the space together, decide the biggest pain point, and decide a plan and budget together. Always listening to my client taking notes of likes and dislikes. What I like may not be what they like. That’s ok – I’m here to make their space functional.

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

That people want you the same day they call you. 😉 I’ve run a business for 30 years so not much surprised me anymore with people or business.

What type of business did you run before?

I’ve been a hairdresser for 35 years.

How has that experience helped you with your current venture?

Owning that business has taught me how to truly listen to people’s needs. How to understand their life struggles and hope I can help make it better at least for a short while. One thing running your own business teaches you is how to not take everything personally. If you don’t get a job it shouldn’t be looked at as rejection. You’re just one more closer to a yes!!  Not everyone is our ideal client. Once you accept that you’ll pull your energy to the right clients and vice versa.

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

Keeping up with the networking, blogging, social media. I do have a person for this but it’s all about timing.

Did you hire someone to help with your marketing right from the start, or when it got to be too much for you to do yourself?

I hired a social media and Google specialist from the very start. I did this because I knew I didn’t have the time to build any kind of presence. I think many people believe they will start a social media page and should get customers. I believe social media is just to validate we are a real company. I don’t rely on it for clients.

How did you find someone?

I found my people through networking. I’m a huge believer in networking and creating meaningful relationships. This takes time but pays off big in the end.

What professional associations or other organizations do you belong to?

Katy Christian Chamber of Commerce – the only Christian chamber in the state if Texas.

What’s your favorite organizing product? Why?

The proper canned good shelf. So many don’t hold the cans properly. My favorite is the XL mega at The Container Store. Which is half the price of Amazon. Score!!!

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

I’m rarely not working. But I must say tv and reading is my downfall. I love tv.

I like to vacation as often as possible as well. The beach is my happy place. Sometimes I need to put my feet in the sand and breath in the salt air. Feel the breeze across my skin and blowing my hair. So freeing.

I love TV and reading too! What are some of your favorites?

I’m sad but I love shows like Alone and Naked and Afraid. Guts all these people have!! I also love the Food Network. I’m a binge watcher on Netflix too. Good wholesome things like Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias.

I host a book club every six weeks at my house. We always have a good time talking about the last book. It’s a very eclectic group of women.

What else should we know about you?

My passion in my business is to help people but not just organizing a home or office. I’m passionate about helping my community. From the homeless to the pregnancy help center and anything in between. There are so many areas we as organizers can help others.

I’m hosting a clothing swap in July prior to school starting for families that need school clothes, shoes and backpacks. This is our first big event. I can’t wait.

Would you like to be interviewed for Your Organizing Business?

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"!! Not everyone is our ideal client. Once you accept that you'll pull your energy to the right clients and vice versa." Excerpt from an interview with Traci Miller, Professional Organizer, on Your Organizing Business

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7 Comments

  1. Avatar Seana Turner on July 6, 2023 at 5:09 pm

    Great interview with Traci. I love the comment about cultivating friendship – I bet that really creates strong client relationships.

    I need a link for the proper canned good shelf LOL!

    • Avatar Janet Barclay on July 17, 2023 at 1:55 pm

      I’ve asked Traci about this – hopefully she can answer your question.

  2. Julie Bestry Julie Bestry on July 7, 2023 at 2:30 am

    Lovely to meet Traci. I especially like the accent on how the working in the organizing field allows you to help the larger community through donations to non-profits. I think that one aspect of the magic of what we do, that decluttering one space brings benefits to other spaces.

    • Avatar Janet Barclay on July 7, 2023 at 9:39 am

      Absolutely! I think it’s much harder for individuals to let go of certain items when they know they’re going to benefit someone else.

  3. Avatar Diane Quintana on July 24, 2023 at 8:40 am

    Thank you for sharing this interview. I’m really happy to meet Traci. I’m also a TV and book junkie. I love to have the television on in the background when I’m cooking or needlepointing. I also love what she said about helping the community.

    • Avatar Janet Barclay on July 24, 2023 at 9:44 am

      I used to have the TV on in the background too, but now it’s only on when watching it is what I’m doing (I may knit, or do scratch tickets, or other things at the same time).

  4. Avatar Janet Schiesl on July 26, 2023 at 12:45 pm

    Great interview, thanks for sharing!

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