On the 6th of August 2006 I worked with my first client!
Celebrating 18 Years of LessMess
This makes me the longest serving Personal Organiser in greater Sydney!
There is a LOT to celebrate aproching two decades in this industry. I am proud to have such a diverse range of clients at LessMess.
Oh, all the places we have been to...
In homes and workplaces I have worked with:
- whole families
- young mums
- teenagers
- retirees
- down-sizers
- world travelers
- expats
- business (women)
- deceased estates
Decluttering, downsising and organising has taken place in spaces small and large, in the heart of homes or its hidden rooms. We have worked with our clients in:
- kitchens
- sheds
- bedrooms – lots of them
- garages
- storage facilities
- a garden
- kids playrooms
- kids bedrooms
- offices
- living rooms
- corridors
- attics - mostly in the middle of summer
- spare rooms
- and sometimes not in the house at all!
I coached clients through the decluttering process remotely (the COVID pandemic made us resilient and creative and very productive like that). I produce a newsletter (although less and less so). I have had a Facebook presence since September 2010 and am on the fifht iteration of this website.
Spreading the Word about LessMess and Decluttering Tips
Presenting at the "Happiness & It's Causes Conference"
Since 2014 I have had 8336 people listen to my Sustainable Living Workshops – a highlight being a main stage speaker in front of 1500 delegates at the Sydney Happiness and it's Causes Conference in 2018 and again in 2023
I have been on radio relatively regularly – and loved it, including an ABC produced podcast.
I have been on TV a couple of times and not enjoyed that as much.
You can find interviews in print media and I have written countless articles myself!
I have delivered decluttering and organising services, talks and workshops for:
- private
- corporate
- councils
- not-for-profits
- educators and
- conference facilitators.
Decluttering can be done responsibly
Yes, many of my clients have to declutter AND organise, but often we all just have simply too much.
I don't believe storage products is always a solution, there is much more to it. But when needed I shop for my clients at
- Ikea
- Howards Storage
- K- Mart
- Big W
- local 2$ shops
- Kennards storage
- Bunnings
- Spotlight…
However, a responsible and sustainable way to deal with unwanted and excess items is important to me. I help clients donate stuff they do not need any more to
- the Salvation Army
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Save the Children
- and also did a market stall for Havannah House
If things are not suitable for donations, LessMess recycles through
- Clothing Cleanup
- Recycle Smart
- local Community Recycling Centers (CRC),
- organised bulk pickups through councils
- the tip (and sometimes the tip shop)
And in the spirit of Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, I listed unwanted items for sale or free for my clients on
- eBay
- Gumtree
- Freecycle
- or Facebook marketplace.
I also worked on the board of the industry association Australasian Association of Professional Organisers (AAPO, now defunct), and am a founding board member of the Institute of Professional Organisers (IOPO)
(Slightly) more than 2000 Homes are more Organised
I had 2113 client visits to be precise... and counting.
I still work with some clients from 15 years ago; fine-tuning and amending as their lives change and so does the content of their homes and offices. I have seen their kids moving from primary school through high school and then out of the parental home.
I have moved people from A to B to C to D. I have decluttered family homes into retirement villages into higher care and attended funerals as the final resting place.
Most of my clients have been female – to start with. Sometimes I work with whole families – or every member of the family separately. Some have recommended to friends, families and co-workers.
Some find me through the website, the IOPO Find Your Organiser directory, or get to know me through my Sustainable Living workshops or a keynote.
I do work with those with a hoarding disorder (I had one client with the surname Hoarder!) OCD, ADHD, Autism, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Alzheimer's...
I have also helped breastfeeding mothers, the elderly, people with broken bones and mobility issues.
It's Team Work
Over time as projects got bigger, I started working with teams of
- Professional Organiser Assistants
- Cleaners
- Removalists
- Handymen
- Laborers
- Rubbish Removalists
I started working with NDIS funded client soon after its inception in 2016 – and had the odd home care package funding.
As a Qualified Interior Architect I have designed
- beautiful kitchen fit-outs
- practical laundries
- home offices
- integrated working and storage solutions for teenagers
- and my favorites: working garages and productive sheds!
As you can see it has been a mighty ride, and I am proud of where LessMess has taken me to from the humble beginnings.
Here's to the next 18 years!
