Professional organizers target a very specific market: people who are overwhelmed and need help getting their lives in order.
This can include anyone from busy executives who need help staying organized and on top of their work, to parents who are struggling to keep up with the demands of raising children and managing a household, not to mention their careers.
The target market for professional organizers, however, isn’t limited to these two market segments but instead is much broader.
And so, if you are a professional organizer or are planning to become one, you will need to be very clear about who your target market is and who isn’t. This will be especially important if you specialize in a certain type of organizing because you’ll want to make sure that you are marketing your services to the people who actually need your expertise!
In this article, we will take a look at who the target market for professional organizers is and understand what they look for in a professional organizer.
Who needs Professional Organizers?
Professional Organizers can help their customers in a variety of different ways including home and office organization, closet organization, decluttering, time management, space management, downsizing and much more.
Even companies hire professional business organizers to help manage office changes, downsizing, mergers of different offices, and improvements in time management and employee efficiency.
Here are some of the kinds of people who need Professional Organizers:
- People who are going through a major life transition
- People with chronic disorganization
- People with ADHD
- People with OCD
- People who are hoarders
- People who want to declutter their homes
- People who want to get organized for a specific event or project
- Busy professionals
- Busy parents
- Companies that are downsizing
- People who have suffered a loss
As you can see, the target market for professional organizers is actually quite broad! Each of the above segments has slightly different needs than the others. And some people fall into more than one segment.
If you’re thinking of becoming a professional organizer, it’s important that you have a good understanding of the different types of people who could need your services so that you can develop marketing campaigns and communication messages that resonate with your target audience.
Now that you have a better understanding of who constitutes the target market for professional organizers, let’s take a look at what they look for when they hire a professional organizer.
What do clients want from Professional Organizers?
When someone looks for a Professional Organizer they look for a combination of skills and characteristics including organization skills, empathy, experience, etc.
In this section, we will separate out the individual characteristics that are most valued by people looking for a Professional Organizer, so that you can determine which of these characteristics you already have and which ones you will need to develop.
The following are some of the traits that clients expect in Professional Organizers:
- Patience and understanding
- Non judgmental
- Creativity
- Organization skills (of course!)
- Efficiency
- Lots of energy
- Flexibility
- A sense of humor
Let’s look at each of these traits a bit more.
1. Patience and understanding
Customers expect Professional Organizers to be patient and understanding. Professional Organizers often work with people who are going through a tough time in their lives.
For example, someone who is going through a divorce or the death of a loved one will need an organizer who can be patient with them and understand what they are going through.
Patience and understanding also help Professional Organizers work with people who have a lot of clutter and are resistant to getting rid of things.
2. Non-judgmental
People whose lives are a mess and need organizing dread one thing most of all: being judged.
They are often embarrassed about their level of disorganization. This is why it’s so important for Professional Organizers to be non-judgmental.
No one wants to hire an organizer who is going to judge them for the state of their home or office!
Being non-judgmental is also a sign of respect and understanding. Customers need to feel like their organizer respects them in order for the relationship to work well.
3. Creativity
Organizing is often about coming up with creative solutions to problems. For example, if a customer has a lot of clothes but not enough space in their closet, the organizer will have to be creative in order to come up with a solution that works for the customer.
Other times, customers may have a specific event or project that they need help with and will need an organizer who can be creative in coming up with a plan to get them organized for that event.
4. Organization skills
This one goes without saying! Customers expect Professional Organizers to have excellent organization skills.
Organization skills are not only about being able to put things in order, but also about being able to think ahead and anticipate the customer’s needs.
For example, a good organizer will know that a customer who is downsizing their home will need help not only with the physical act of packing and moving but also with the emotional side of things.
An excellent organizer will be able to provide resources and support to help the customer through this tough time.
5. Efficiency
Customers want Professional Organizers to be efficient in their work. This means being able to work quickly and effectively to get the job done in a timely manner.
It also means being able to work well under pressure and being able to handle last-minute changes.
Professional Organizers are expected to balance being efficient with the emotional needs of the customer. This means knowing when to move forward quickly and knowing when to slow down to allow the customer to process their emotions.
6. Lots of energy
While customers may not be able to judge in advance how much energy a Professional Organizer has, there is no way to succeed without tons of energy!
Organizing can be a lot of work – physical and mental – and customers need their organizer to be a cheerleader and motivator.
An organizer with lots of energy can help to keep the customer-focused and on track.
7. Flexibility
Being flexible is an essential trait of a successful Professional Organizer and customers have every right to expect it from the person they hire.
Being flexible means being able to work around the customer’s schedule and being able to accommodate last-minute changes and requests.
It also means being willing to work in different environments, whether that be a home, an office, or even a storage unit.
8. A sense of humor
Lastly, customers will prefer a Professional Organizer with a sense of humor! Organizing can be stressful and depressing in the best of times and it is the organizer’s job to lighten the mood.
A good sense of humor can help to keep the customer relaxed and comfortable and move the project along more smoothly.
Summary
The target market for professional organizers is fairly broad and includes pretty much anyone who needs help getting organized! This includes people who want to declutter their homes, those going through major life transitions, those who have suffered a loss of a loved one, busy executives with no time to manage their homes, and busy parents juggling careers, children and the household.
Customers expect Professional Organizers to be patient, understanding, non-judgmental, creative, efficient, energetic and flexible. And of course, they need to have excellent organization skills. It also helps if they also have a sense of humor as this can help lighten the entire experience.
If you’re planning to become a professional organizer, be sure to focus on the segments of the market where your skills and expertise will have the greatest impact. Your success will depend greatly on matching your customer’s needs and expectations with the value that you are able to bring to the table.
