Today we’d like to introduce you to Amélie Saint-Jacques.
Hi Amélie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always loved organizing (I’m from the Clean Sweep generation), and The Container Store is my happy place. I did my tidying festival with Marie Kondo’s book in 2018 and loved it so much that I decided I wanted to help others with their tidying. I took some classes with NAPO and became a professional member in 2019; I am now also a Board Member of my local chapter. I finally became a Certified KonMari® Consultant in 2021. In late May 2024, I went on a trip to Japan with other KonMari® Consultants to learn more about the cultural foundations of the KonMari® Method, and I met Marie Kondo herself during a seminar. I even won a game of rock-paper-scissors against her! It was a life-changing opportunity, and I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned with my clients.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some things could be improved when starting any business, both in marketing and admin. I was most surprised to find out that so many members of the general public had not heard of Marie Kondo or even professional organizing! For some people, there is still a stigma to hiring a home organizer, possibly because they think it’s something they should be able to handle by themselves. But not everyone can organize easily! It helps to have a second opinion or a professional to help guide and motivate you. Think of it this way: you wouldn’t feel embarrassed about having a hairdresser, an interior designer, or a personal trainer, right? Same for organizing!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I founded my LLC in 2022. I specialize in home organizing, also called residential organizing – I help my clients, virtually and in person, organize their belongings in their homes (other professionals might help commercial organizations or focus on productivity). I am one of only a handful of people in the country who have combined expertise from NAPO (the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals) and KonMari® International (the company founded by Marie Kondo to help spread her particular method of organizing). Continuing education is essential, so I try to take classes, or attend seminars or talks monthly. I want to continue offering the best possible services to my clients!
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.
You are capable of more than you think; conversely, you should know your limits. For example, I looked around before settling on Squarespace to build my website. I’m glad I did it myself instead of hiring someone because I now have control over my website and can easily change something on a whim. However, graphic design is not my forte, so when I started my business, I hired a professional to design my logo and business cards. It looks so much better than anything I could have done myself!
Pricing:
- $210 for a 3-hour session
- $1,000 for 15 hours (5% off)
- $1,890 for 30 hours (10% off)
- $105 for a 90-minute virtual session
- Printables starting at $0.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amelieorganizes.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amelieorganizes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliesaintjacquesprofessionalorganizer
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/am%C3%A9lie-saint-jacques-70258b18/
Image Credits
Amélie Saint-Jacques
