Letter From Our President

     As those of you who attended the September chapter meeting know, I had the privilege of attending the annual conference of the Australasian Association of Professional Organisers in Brisbane, Australia, on September 3 and 4. I gave a presentation on using the internet to work with clients worldwide.

     AAPO, whose members live in Australia and New Zealand, is a young organization; it was founded four years ago. The organizing industry there is in its infancy, compared with the U.S. The 75 organisers (yes, they spell it with an “s” in that part of the world) who attended the conference were relatively new to organizing, very enthusiastic, and eager to learn. And like at a NAPO conference, there was a huge spirit of cooperation, not competition.

     I was really impressed that 75 people attended out of a membership of only 175. Of those, four were from outside Australasia (three from the U.S., one from Japan). The fact that such a high proportion of the membership was willing to travel to attend this conference shows the value of in-person contact and learning opportunities.

     It made me very grateful for our chapter. We drive less than an hour to a chapter meeting where we interact with our colleagues, also in a spirit of cooperation. We get to know one another so that we can refer easily to other organizers. We share ideas, strategies, and provide support in difficult times. And, of course, we learn. In the September meeting, the presentation on search engine optimization was full of really valuable information.

     And as I say over and over in this space, the more you put into the chapter, the more you get out of it. If you’ve hesitated to attend a chapter meeting or social event, I urge you to take the plunge and make that in-person connection with your colleagues. You’ll also get to know our tremendous associate members who provide support and resources to our chapter. If you do attend chapter events regularly, I urge you to take it to the next level and volunteer. If you’re already volunteering, consider running for the board in next year’s election.

     Thanks for making the chapter great!

                    Janine Adams, CPO®
                    NAPO St. Louis president

Say Hello To...

Shannon Zipoy, An Organized Life

     Shannon was born and raised in St. Louis. She grew up in the St. Peter's area and attended Francis Howell North High School. Shannon has always been an organized person. She would clean out her closets and drawers as a child, for fun. And she would freak out when her friends did not put her Barbies and all their accessories away just so. Her best firiend's mom would even call her over to help her get her friend's room clean so that her friend would be allowed to come out and play! After high school she attended MIZZOU where she studied education and then received a Masters in Education from Webster University. Shannon is a former high school Social Studies and Special Education teacher, having taught for Special School, Parkway and Francis Howell School Districts. She left her teaching career at the end of the 2007-2008 school year to start her business.

     An Organized Life LLC  provides clients with organizing and relocation services. Although her organizing passion is working with seniors, Shannon is also finding that she loves helping families downsize their belongings and create simpler lives, whether they are relocating or just want to reduce the amount of stuff within their homes, and the committments that are ruling their lives. She is currently working to develop a new service in which she, and a team of organizers, will unpack newly moved clients homes in 3 Days or Less! She has also partnered with a local moving company to be their go to person for organizing their clients before and after their moves.

     Shannon is the current Marketing Director for the NAPO St Louis Chapter, a Certified Freedom Filer Consultant, and a Certified Relocation and Transition Specialist. She is also a member of the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization and National Association of Senior Move Managers. Although Shannon has been dating her boyfiriend, Bill, for the past 9 years, they are very happy and content not to be married.  Like so many small business owners, Shannon is in the process of learning to relax and spend her free time on hobbies so she can be "happy, healthy and sane"!

Associates Corner

Premier Garage

     Experts are comparing the garage enhancement industry to the closet organization boom of the 1990’s, and predict this type of business will reach in excess of $4 billion by the year 2010. And will double that over the course of the next 5 years.

     PremierGarage is unique in that the entire design process is performed at the customer’s home. The initial step in the consultation is to discuss the homeowner's needs. A 3-dimensional drawing of the cabinet configuration, along with a quotation for the project, is given to the homeowner. This results in a very efficient process that minimizes the time impact on the busy homeowner. PremierGarage offers three areas of products; floor coating system, custom cabinetry and organizers.

     The organizers are what we feel would make your life easier as Professional Organizers. Gridwalls, hooks and overhead storage will maximize your client’s storage space and make it easier for them to find the items when they need them. Best of all, these products make it possible for them to stay organized. The accessories that we sell are baskets, hooks, shelves, racks for golf bags, tennis rackets, skating and bike gear, hand-tool racks and garden racks.

     PremierGarage cabinetry is custom designed to meet all your client’s storage needs. Available in various modular styles, configurations, and sizes, our storage systems are tailored exclusively for your client’s needs. We will create a custom system specifically for them, choosing from various sizes of tall storage, base, overhead and upper cabinets.The simple, yet sleek solution to an unsightly concrete floor is the PremierOne Floor Coating System. This revolutionary new technology can be applied in two days and have you back in your garage within 48 hours following the installation; providing a stain resistant, easy to clean surface that looks marvelous.A complete package; floor coating system, custom cabinetry and organizers, the total average cost for a two-car garage ranges from $4,000 to $5,300.

Building Your Business

     Being certified in your area of expertise is an excellent way to build your business. When you are certified, you are showing potential clients and the public that you care enough about what you do to go the extra mile and educate yourself - which in turn will help them.

     There are dozens and dozens of certifications in the professional organizing industry. Chose the one(s) to pursue based on what you specialize in. One of the most common certifications among organizers is the Certified Professional Organizer®  (CPO®), issued by the Board of Certification of Professional Organizers, a certifying body affiliated with NAPO. I believe the certification has helped build my business.

     Here are some suggestions if you plan to sit for the exam:

• Review everything on the CPO® website.
• Take the course course (PO-405T) offered by NAPO National to help you prepare for the exam.
• Start seriously studying and reading the material at least 6 months before the exam.
• Take one week off before the exam to study everyday.
• Spend the night before in the city where you plan to take the exam. This will relax you.

     Remember, this is just one certification of many. So know what you specialize in and become certified in something. It will be good for your self-esteem, self-image and good for your clients.

-- Tiffany Engler, CPO®, Your Life Organized

Book Review

Mommy Millionare - How I Turned My Kitchen Table Idea into a Million Dollars and How You Can Too
Author: Kim Lavine

     This book is great for anybody who is just starting out in their business, in the first years of business or a seasoned business veteran who wants to get a product they have created out into the world. And, the best part about the book is that you don't have to be a mommy for it to be helpful.

     Kim Lavine, the CEO and President of Green Daisy Products tells you the story of how she got her business off the ground, the pitfalls she faced, mistakes she made and how she persevered through each new crisis. She gives you tremendous practical advice and resources to use, and her insights of how to make the best use of the resources from the perspective of someone who has made her idea and company succeed beyond her wildest dreams. 

     The book is both informative and an exciting read. In addition to learning what to do, and not to do, in starting a business, I also found that I couldn't put the book down because I was so anxious to know how her story turned out!

-- Shannon Zipoy, An Organized Life

Trade Secrets

Besides contact info, what are the top 3 questions you ask a potential client during your intake call?

Tiffany Engler, CPO® Your Life Organized: 1. Tell me a little bit about your organizing needs. 2. How long has 'this' been bothering you? 3. Is your family supportive of you calling me for help?

Julie Hough, The Ordered Home: 1. How does your spouse/partner feel about hiring a Professional Organizer? (if applicable) 2. How can I help you the most? Do you need ideas to implement yourself, or do you need hands-on help? 3. How did you hear about me?

Jodi Granok, Organizing Magic: 1. Have you used a PO before? (Followup question: If yes, how did that work for you?) 2. What is working for you in the space / what isn't? 3. Do you have any pets? (If yes, I ask how many. This is a screening question for me, because if the person has more than 4 large pets, it's usually a red flag for me.)

Sharon Johnson, Fixed Assets: 1. How did you learn about professional organizing and my company? 2. What is motivating you to work on an organizing project at this time? 3. What area in your home or office would you like to work on first?

Sue Anderson, Simplified Living Solutions Inc: 1. How did you hear about us? 2. Do you have any trouble letting go of things? 3. What do you hope to achieve by working together?

Janine Adams, CPO® Peace of Mind Organizing: 1. Have you tried to get organized in the past? What's happened? 2. What prompted you to place the call now? 3. Have you worked with a professional organizer before? How'd that work out?

Carolyn Conboy, Discover Organizing: 1. What is your biggest organizing “pain”? 2. What is your vision for this room/your house? 3. When would you like to start?

Denise Lee, Clear Spaces: 1. What precipitated their contact with me? 2. Describe their goals and the time line they have in mind. 3. Tell me about their past organizing efforts - what worked and what didn't work.

Shannon Zipoy, An Organized Life:  1. What is motivating you at this time? 2. What do you want to be able to do in your home/space/life that you can not do now? 3. Do you feel you are emotionally ready to make changes in your life and organizing systems?

Headliners

Denise Lee of Clear Spaces has had articles featured all over the place the last couple of months, including Parents.com, the Java Journal  and the August issue of Spirit Seeker (no longer available online). Congratulations Denise!

Sue Anderson of Simplified Living Solutions, Inc was featured in two online articles as well. Check them out - SheKnows.com and SocialYell.com.

Jodi Granok of Organizing Magic had one of her blog posts republished in Janet Barclay's September issue of the Professional Organizers Blog Carnival.

Janine Adams, CPO® of Peace of Mind Organizing has been appointed to the NAPO national nominating committee, which will select the nominees for the next NAPO president and two board positions. She keeps moving on up...

Training Opportunities

     There are alot of great free educational resources out there for small business owners. For instance, the Small Business Administration (SBA) offers free online training courses for starting a business and surviving in a down economy. These courses are all self-paced and normally last about 30 minutes each.

     Business guidance and support is crucial to increasing your odds of long-term success. Find counseling, training and business development specialists providing free and low-cost services in your area through the SBA. They also have a DIY small business planner that helps you manage your business from start to finish.

-- Sue Anderson, Simplified Living Solutions, Inc.