Fall into Organizing to Boost Your Business

September 24
The Chronically Disorganized Client

How do you handle clients who hoard, shop excessively and in general have difficulty letting go? The most frequently requested meeting topic is for help in dealing with the chronically disorganized. Our featured speaker for September, Karron Maidment, RN, LMFT, is both a registered nurse and a marriage and family therapist. She works as a behavior therapist and is program coordinator for the UCLA Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Intensive Treatment Program, which treats people with severe and disabling OCD including compulsive hoarding.

For the past 15 years until just recently, Karron was the research associate for the UCLA OCD Research Program. She was involved in research focusing on functional brain imaging and treatment of OCD. In recent years this research was increasingly focused on the problem of compulsive hoarding. Karron is author/co-author of 30+ OCD and hoarding-related publications. She frequently consults on OCD and hoarding documentaries.

More recently Karron branched out into private practice and works with a number of patients who have problems with compulsive hoarding.

Be sure to attend the September meeting and take advantage of this exceptional opportunity to learn from an expert in this field.

October 22
LA Organizing Expo

In place of our regular monthly meeting, please join us at our third annual LA Organizing Expo. This event will be open to the public for the first time! Get inspired with fresh resources, potential new alliances, educational opportunities and more networking time with your colleagues. Vendor applications and ticket purchase forms can be found on our website. napola.org

NOTE: See related article by Jodi Watson.

Thanks to Dr. Cal Caswell of the Small Business Development Center at Loyola Marymount U. for being our featured speaker in July. We now know that his department provides a FREE service to small business owners who are in need of assistance in running a successful business. Marketing advice, writing a business plan and applying for a loan are some of the services the SBDC provides at no charge.

And a huge merci, gracias, danke to the Golden Circle Panel members Robin Davi, Sheila McCurdy, Kristine Oller, Jean Furuya and Tanya Whitford, moderator. In the spirit of cooperation, they all agreed to move their panel discussion, "Dealing with Difficult Clients," to August instead of September as originally scheduled. We really appreciate their flexibility. Thank you for sharing so much wisdom and insight. You illuminated an area not often addressed but so very important.

Another exciting event is almost here. Yes, The 3rd Annual Los Angeles Organizing Expo will take place in just a few weeks.

Renew Your
Membership Now

*Renewals will be available online only via the napola.org website through September 30*

2007-08 Dues Levels for Regular Members:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Level 1 Membership ($100)

Included:

• Annual Dues
• "Find an Organzier" listing on NAPO-LA website

2007-08 Dues Levels for Associate Members

We are proud to introduce new incentives and benefits for NAPO-LA Associate Members this coming year.

Branch Associate Member ($150) - Operates as a local branch or regional office of a Corporate Associate Member.

Local Associate Member ($275) - A locally-based, self-operating retailer, supplier, designer, or independent sales representative primarily in the manufacture, distribution, and/or sales of organizational equipment, supplies, or organizing industry services.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOTE: Late payment fee of $25 applies for renewals received after September 30. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once again, thank you for supporting the founding chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers. We look forward to another year of continuing education, publicity, leadership training, professional credibility, and networking with colleagues and friends.

Please email Nadine Levy or Chantale Bordonaro for more information.

Click here to renew

One Day Conference on October 27

The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of NAPO will hold its 19th Annual Regional Conference on Saturday, October 27, at the San Ramon Marriott Hotel in San Ramon, California, an East Bay suburb of San Francisco. The theme of this year's conference is "Balance Realized."

This popular one-day event features: a dynamic keynote speaker; 18 information-filled workshops covering a wide range of issues and topics geared to professional organizers; networking with 200 colleagues; and an organizing expo with vendors featuring their newest products.

For more information, click here www.napo-sfba.org

Craig's Karma

By Sara Getzkin
Hands On! Organizing Services

Question: What do car parts, moving boxes, old magazines, fresh lemons, a roll of insulation and Dodger Baseball tickets have in common?
Answer: You can find them all on Craig's List.

You've heard of it but you've never been there. Your neighbor used it once for something or other. You've been meaning to visit the website but you just haven't had the time. Take two minutes and go to www.craigslist.org right now - well, OK, after you've read this article. If you haven't bookmarked it yet, you will.

What is it? Craig's List is one of the best FREE resources we as professional organizers have. It's a global and local community online. Think of an endless classified section of the newspaper but without all the small print and smudges. It's an online "place" to sell, trade, and give-away stuff, find professional services, discover social activities and share all sorts of information. It all started in San Francisco by a guy named Craig, and now there are over 300 sites in all 50 states and more than 50 countries. Sound too overwhelming and too big? Just use the "Los Angeles" link and it becomes a lot more manageable.

Why should I use it? It's free and it can help you clear your clients' clutter! More than 15 million people use Craig's List each month and there are over 12 million new classified ads published monthly as well! It's quick and simple to use, and clients are always impressed when they see a Craig's List transaction in progress. I had a client who was reluctant to part with her duplicate arts & craft supplies. When I told her I had found a school in the area (via Craig's List) that was looking for donations, she was very happy to contribute.

My two favorite sections are "Free" and "Wanted".

As indicated, everything in the "Free" section is totally FREE! Over the years, I have found tons of free moving boxes for my clients. I love passing along the savings AND recycling at the same time.

In the "Wanted" section, people are looking for things like computers, furniture and collections to buy. After searching this section, I found a buyer for a client's antique horseracing memorabilia. She was quite happy!

If you have specific questions regarding Craig's List,
Email: sara@ handsonorganizing.com

NOTE: "Organized Karma" is an occasional column focusing on donation and recycling resources.

In the afternoon, our own Chris Reiter will teach us all about a subject with which she has had great experience. This class on time management will cover both personal and business issues, as well as how you can help your clients improve their own time management skills.

The sessions will be offered on Saturday, October 13.

For further details, contact Jean Furuya
Email: jean@theofficejeanie.com
Phone: 310-316-1753

It can happen in the blink of an eye. You are talking with a client about items they need to buy to continue the organizing project. You know exactly what they need, you know exactly where to get it, and you absolutely don't trust that they will follow through before your next session. Maybe you suspect that they will buy cheaper, less effective versions - or get the wrong size - or skimp on quantity. Suddenly you blurt out, "I can pick those things up for you." Whoa, now you've either volunteered for a few hours of unpaid work or initiated a conversation regarding additional compensation for that activity.

Organizers vary widely in their approaches to shopping for clients. Some only do so if they are paid (at full or reduced rates). Others offer shopping as a complimentary perk to favored clients. There are organizers who flat out won't shop and there are those who limit shopping to online only (shipping the items directly to the clients' homes).

Over the years, depending on the client and the circumstances, I've done all of the above. And, regrettably, I know I've given away far too much of my valuable time in this manner. But that doesn't have to happen to you.

If I were starting my business over again, one of the first changes I would make would be to educate clients about the value of my shopping services and declare my rate for them. Posting such info on your website and/or presenting it to new clients prior to (or at) the first session will save you time and make you money. When you tell a client "I'll pick that up for you," naturally, they are grateful to have one less errand to do. Beyond that though, the full value of what you are offering will probably not cross their minds, which is why some folks resist the notion of paying extra for this "favor."

It is your responsibility to educate your clients that you will:

• drive to/from stores
• measure/evaluate items with skilled eyes
• select multiple options
• purchase items
• store items in your car/home
• return unneeded items to stores

Educating your clients specifically and persuasively about the value and benefits of each service you offer lowers their resistance to your rates. Writing down such information eliminates any need for you to uncomfortably converse, negotiate or compromise. Plus, by formalizing your shopping (or any other ancillary service) in this way, whenever you do decide to offer the service as a bonus or include it in a "package deal", the client, now comprehending its full value, will acknowledge and appreciate the gift that it is.

What is your business name?
Organizing Wonders

When did you start your business?
1999

Where do you do business?
Los Angeles and surrounding areas

How did you get into organizing as a profession?
Back in 1999, while bartending at the Burbank Airport and working on my acting career, I felt like I was wasting away. I wanted to pursue acting, but do something more challenging as well. I decided to start a business and narrowed it down to a pet sitting service or doing all the stuff people hate to do but I loved to do: clean out garages and organize papers! At the time, I didn't even know there was such a thing as a professional organizer.

How did you come to join NAPO and/or NAPO-LA?
I had an organizing book and at the back it mentioned something called NAPO. This was before NAPO or NAPO-LA had websites. I checked the Los Angeles hot-line number and found out there was a meeting and decided to attend. Jean Furuya and then President Amy Siu were kind enough to welcome me and I was hooked. I decided that this was going to be the business I started. Even though I felt like such a small fish in a big pond at that meeting, I was so happy to finally meet a lot of people just like me!

What has been your experience volunteering in NAPO-LA, the benefits of volunteering?
At my third meeting, I volunteered to be the newsletter editor and publisher. I had no experience, but something made me raise my hand and volunteer. I soon realized that the best way to learn to do something was to volunteer first, get trained by NAPO-LA, and then add the skill to my own business. I repeated that tactic when I became the website webmaster which I did for five years. Had I not volunteered to do something I had no idea how to do, I wouldn't be able to maintain my own website now. I also served on the Board of Directors for several years as Secretary, Communications Director, President and Past President. It was an amazing experience and really shaped who I am as a person and an organizer. I have held probably 20 different chapter and national volunteer positions over the last eight years and I treasure each of those experiences. I cannot imagine being in NAPO without being involved somehow.

What are your main organizing interests and areas of organizing?
I love working with families and dealing with paper! Because of my background in the entertainment business, I do a lot of work with creative types. I am also an ADD Specialist and a CD Specialist through NSGCD. I really enjoy having a variety of clients and projects to keep things interesting.

Tell us something about the personal side of Tanya Whitford.
I graduated from Northwestern University with a theatre degree after which I spent a few years doing odd jobs while pursuing an acting career. My biggest accomplishment was working hard and putting myself through college. That taught me discipline and helped me perfect the art of budgeting. While some of the bit parts I have had on TV are still repeating after all these years, acting has taken a backseat to organizing. I like to travel and use my passport at least once a year to go somewhere I have never been before. I was married last year to a comedian who is the perfect balance in my life. We are expecting our first child in January and looking forward to this next phase of life!

NOTE: Have you volunteered yet to help out NAPO-LA in some way? Then you, too, could be voted "Volunteer of the Month" or even "Volunteer of the Year." And when you are, it will be your turn to answer these questions so that all of us in NAPO-LA will get to know you just a little bit better!

To find out about volunteer opportunities, contact Abbey Keusch
Email: abbeyclaire@sbcglobal.net
Phone: 323-461-9555

Create a Binder to Show Clients

Create a three-ring binder with sheet protectors and dividers for your favorite organizing pictures to show clients your ideas and possible solutions to their situations.

A Shelving Unit Can Help

For clients who are used to putting things to be decided upon in a junk room, help them scale down by designating one deep shelving unit with shelves labeled - to sell - to repair - to return - to store, etc.

About the TIPS Program:
NAPO-LA's TIPS Program is managed by the chapter's Golden Circle members. Ann Gambrell is the chair and invites all chapter members to submit their organizing tips via email or on index cards that will be available at the monthly chapter meetings for deposit into the "Organizing Tips" box.

TIPS are requested in two categories:

The NAPO in the Schools elementary program, which began in NAPO-LA, is finally ready to be launched nationwide!

At our June chapter meeting I presented a mini introduction of the elementary program commencing this fall. NAPO-LA members had the pleasure of meeting "Drake," our disorganized student who learns about the benefits of being organized. NAPO-LA members were also given a glimpse of the organizing exercise that teaches the students the basic principals of sorting. NAPO in the Schools is an excellent opportunity to volunteer, get involved with your chapter and connect with your local community.

NAPO in the Schools is a community outreach program that brings professional organizers into the classroom to do a forty-minute interactive presentation. Training is required of all NAPO members wanting to become trained facilitators for the elementary program. The first nationwide training calls will be scheduled for the last week of September. Sign-up will be posted on the NAPO in the Schools web page, expected to be ready by mid- September.

As taskforce chair and NAPO-LA liaison, I will be conducting a training class on Saturday, October 20, from 10 am - 1 pm, in Community Room A at the Westside Pavilion, 10800 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. All NAPO-LA members are invited!

Questions and to sign-up for the NAPO-LA training session,
Email: deborah@creativeorganizer.com
Phone: 323-656-9665

Michelle Cloney
i-organize
Los Angeles

Camera Shy!

Kimberly Morganella
Woodland Hills

Eva Brown Botnitck
Los Angeles

Marc Levey
Digital Footprints
Encino

Teine Kenney
Organizethis, Inc.
Newbury Park

Susan Marshall
Rancho Palos Verdes

NOTE: "Warm Welcome" is a new feature of The Los Angeles Organizer. If you just joined NAPO-LA, be sure to get your photo taken at the next chapter meeting! Or email your photo to the Editor along with your name, your business name, where you live, and the date you joined.Send to cflannery@napola.org

If you are a member of NAPO-LA working consistently and on an ongoing basis with chronically disorganized clients, you are invited to participate in an informal support group. Our topic of discussion will be "Resources: How We Can Help Indigent Hoarders." Please bring resources to share. Also, time will be spent sharing individual issues.

This meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 9, from 6 - 8:30 pm. Limited to 10 attendees.

A simple potluck is planned.

To RSVP or for more information, contact Jean Furuya
Email: jean@theofficejeanie.com
Phone: 310-316-1753

By Gus Gousas
Associate Member, OrganizIT!

Are you tired of tripping over the mess in your garage because things are all over the floor? OrganizIT! can help by leveraging the wall space you already have with a great new product -SLATWALL!

OrganizIT!'s slatwall is actually paneling that you attach to your garage walls, which then allows you to hang everything on the walls. Slatwall attaches to either your exposed beam walls or to your existing drywall. The beauty of slatwall is that it turns your garage walls into a flexible, modular organizational system and the best part is that slatwall is not permanent. Simply slide standard slatwall accessories (hooks, racks, shelves, cabinets) into the slatwall grooves on the wall. If you need to make a change, slide the slatwall accessory off the wall and move it elsewhere. You will never have to put another hole in a garage wall again.

Specifically designed for the rugged, moist environment of the garage, OrganizIT!'s slatwall is different from the particle-board slatwall used in many retail stores. Made from cellular PVC, our slatwall is fire retardant, waterproof, bug proof and can hold approximately 50 pounds per hook. Particle-board slatwall can't. Our slatwall is available in multiple colors with a wood-grain option. And when you want to clean it, you just squirt it down with a hose. It's just that simple.

So the next time you trip over something in the garage, don't get mad, get slatwall.

Donna MacMillan of McMillan & Company Professional Organizing was featured in the Spring 2007 edition of Beyond Open, an American Express publication. The topic focused on personal identity security and the importance of using a shredder regularly.

The Educational Development Committee (formerly the Mentoring, Education and Training Committee) has provided a listing of organizing consultants in NAPO-LA who are available to provide guidance, advice and support to potential, new, and existing professional organizers.

If you are interested, contact the consultants directly for information and fees. NAPO-LA provides the listings only and has no involvement with the consultant and/or the organizer or client. Click below for details:

Mentors and Coaches Directory