Today we’d like to introduce you to Amélie Saint-Jacques.
Hi Amélie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always loved organizing, even before I really knew what it was called. When I was ready to go back to work after having kids, I realized that this career was perfect for me – I get to do something I love, and I can be home with my kids after school. I was already reading books about organizing and watching HGTV, so I took some classes and became a professional NAPO member. A few years later, I trained and became a Certified KonMari® Consultant; this specialization with Marie Kondo allows me to help clients who are tackling more than just a single area in their home. We really change their life in addition to organizing their stuff!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The main struggle for me was the pandemic, which started shortly after I opened my business. Being in lockdown meant that I couldn’t work in person anymore, and many clients don’t realize that virtual organizing is an option! Things are better now, thankfully, though with the cost of living rising, people are sometimes reluctant to invest in themselves. The way I see it is that having an organized home really helps us feel calmer and more at peace every day, so it’s absolutely worth the investment.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a professional organizer, so in a nutshell, I help people declutter, organize their belongings in a functional way, and teach them ways to maintain the system. I love helping other moms! Some of my clients moved here months or even years ago and still have unpacked boxes in the way, or their stuff had been stored in ways that really aren’t working for them. I help them get their house looking – and feeling – the way they want!
One of the things that set me apart from what people usually have in mind when they picture an organizer is that I am not the dynamic, outgoing ball of energy we see portrayed by organizers on television. I’m more the quiet type, and it turns out that this energy really helps people make their own decisions regarding which items to keep and which to donate. I am here to listen and to give advice, never to force people to get rid of their stuff!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think we will see a lot more virtual organizing, especially now that people are used to meeting on Zoom or similar platforms. Overall, though, I think that organizers are here to stay. As much as people love to buy organizing supplies, it takes a lot more than that to actually be organized! Professionals help you without any judgment. I also think it’s become even more important to everyone to feel completely at home in their environment, so if you feel like it’s too cluttered, or if you can never find what you want, you’re more likely to decide to do something about it.
Pricing:
- $180 per 3-hour session
- Virtual sessions start at $90 for 1.5 hours
- I offer discounted packages for KonMari tidying festivals
- I have a new service for $50: send me photos of your space, and I’ll give you some ideas to organize it!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amelieorganizes.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amelieorganizes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliesaintjacquesprofessionalorganizer
