Barbara Berman of BB’s Clutter Solutions is yet another amiable business friend whom I’ve known since my early days as a South Jersey solopreneur. Whenever I see Barb out and about on the local networking scene, I always marvel at the psychological and people skills she must call upon when working with her clients.
That’s right: Barbara is a professional organizer. She has seen it all when helping people eliminate the physical and mental burdens of living with clutter. It wouldn’t surprise me to find out that some of you might need her help this very moment…
By All Writes LLC: Why did you decide to start BB’s Clutter solutions? When did you found/start it?
Barbara Berman: I read something about the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) many years before I started my business full-time. The concept of helping people organize was very intriguing to me–I’ve always been an organized person. I know how much better I feel when I am not surrounded by clutter.
I tried to start a business while I was working full-time in the corporate world, but there was so little time for establishing the company that I abandoned the idea. Fast-forward a few years: After a 10-year odyssey, I was laid off from a mortgage/title and escrow company during the housing crisis (and accompanying recession).
Having given all my employers plenty of blood, sweat, and tears for most of my adult life, I decided to put my heart and head into finally starting a professional organizing business (at last). After all, I was 55 years old; I knew no one was really going to hire me at that age. I founded my company in 2007, and here I am, almost seven years later. My motto is: if Bill Gates could start a company during a recession, so could Barbara Berman!
BAW: What (home and small business) de-cluttering and organizing services do you offer your current and potential clients?
BB: Whether my residential clients need assistance with one closet, one room or an entire home, I help them make the best use of their space by developing simple techniques they can immediately use for keeping up with life’s daily demands. This includes:
- Basements, garages, sheds, and attics
- Dining, living, and family rooms
- Kitchens and laundry rooms
- Bedrooms and bathrooms
- Closets and cabinets
- Home offices (paper management and filing systems)
Productivity and efficiency are two of the most important ingredients for running a successful business. I help small-business clients develop and implement workflows and process improvements. They can then do what they do best: increase company profits and provide excellent customer service. These services include:
- Filing systems (paper and digital)
- Policies and procedures documentation
- Time management and self-management
- Project management
Many of my clients, myself included, are experiencing stressful life transitions: divorce, the death of a loved one, downsizing, adult children moving out (or back in), combining of households. I help these clients create and maintain new systems so they can master any life-change with less worry and more composure. My services here include packing/unpacking as well as space-usage planning.
BAW: Who makes a good client for you?
BB: I enjoy working with people who are committed to learning and understanding how the organizing process will help them be more productive, more efficient, and less overwhelmed. They will finally be able to do more of the things they love. My clients reclaim their time by not having to look for things they know they already own. They also save money by not having to buy those items over and over again!
BAW: What is your ultimate “happy moment” when working with your clients?
BB: That magic moment is when a client finally understands how being organized can help him or her in every aspect of life. By putting simple solutions into place, it’s that much easier to adjust them when life careens out of control. Reinventing your daily habits (or worse, doing nothing) each time chaos occurs shouldn’t be your “Plan A.”
BAW: If you could relocate BB’s Clutter Solutions to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
BB: This is an interesting question–I’ve done a lot of traveling. The places I love best are those offering me both a variety of cultural events to attend AND outdoor (hiking, biking, and skiing) activities. Possible domestic relocation options include Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; and maybe even Denver, Colorado. To transform BB’s Clutter Solutions into a global business, I would gladly set up shop in Amsterdam, Paris, or Florence!
BAW: What are your favorite books (or who are your favorite authors) to read and why? Please share generously!
BB: Most of the books I read relate to my line of work. I have many books that I use as reference sources when assisting my clients. Some of my absolute favorites include:
- Inbox Detox and the Habit of E-Mail Excellence (by Marsha Egan)
- Buried in Treasures (by David Tolin, Randy Frost, and Gail Steketee)
- Conquering Chronic Disorganization (by Judith Kolberg)
- Shed Your Stuff, Change Your Life (by Julie Morgenstern)
- Confidence: Now Is Your Time (by Elizabeth Hagen–my business coach!)
Do you harbor a guilty secret regarding clutter in your home or office? For how much longer will you ignore the piles of floor-stored newspapers, magazines, boxes, bills/mail, and other material messes growing taller and wider each day? Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness; it means you’re ready to take control of your environment!
For an initial (and confidential) conversation with Barbara Berman, please call her at 856-912-0077. If you prefer online communication, send Barb an email or reach out to her via her company website. You’ll also find Barbara on LinkedIn. For organizing tips and more, please visit the BB’s Clutter Solutions Facebook page or follow Barbara Berman on Twitter.
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