Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheryl Russo.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started my business in 2016 in Massachusetts.
I had been working at a state agency for almost 13 years, and I was looking for a creative outlet. I always wanted to own my own business. I’ve always been an organized person so it was just logical that I started an organizing business helping people to declutter and downsize.
It was a big leap for me to leave a job that I had had for so long to pursue my own business. I did a lot of research beforehand and even asked some friends early on if I could organize their homes for them as a way to test out what I wanted to do.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has been smooth mostly, but during 2020, it was difficult. In December of 2019, I moved to Savannah Georgia, and I brought my business with me. I got off to a good start by meeting people and joining business groups.
I did a lot of networking to get the word out about my business. I had a lot of clients, and I felt good about everything, and then three months later, in March 2020, everything shut down.
I didn’t work for three to four months. I took out a business loan and tried to do some virtual organizing. That was probably the most challenging part of owning a business. Plus, I was still very new in Savannah at the time.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What I love most about organizing is the creative aspect and working one on one with clients. Overall, I help my clients to create efficient and beautiful spaces.
This could mean setting up a house or helping a client to downsize or just helping a client clean out an overstuffed closet. I offer tips and suggest changes that could make the space more efficient and comfortable.
There’s a design element to my work as well.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I love the idea of a mentor. I have had them in the past and I’ve been one. And I think networking is really important when it comes to building a business.
It’s pretty amazing when I think back to the places and times where I have found clients. Sometimes, I am out with friends at a restaurant, and someone nearby overhears me talking about my work, and they will ask me for a business card. There are a lot of word-of-mouth referrals as well.
My advice to someone starting a business is to always carry your business cards with you. You never know who could be a potential client.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Organizingbycheryl.com
- Instagram: @organizingbycheryl
- Facebook: @organizingbycheryl
Image Credits
Willow Baby Studio
