Meet Lara Anderson of Leave it to Lara!

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lara Anderson.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In the midst of a cross-country move, and while empathizing with people experiencing a major life change, I knew I wanted to help others navigating change. During my own transition after college, I moved from California to Atlanta in 2003 to be closer to my sister and my newborn baby nephew.

I began talking to my sister and her mom friends about the life changes they were experiencing, shifting from being independent working women to stressed, overwhelmed moms buried in kid toys, paperwork and endless to-do lists for work, home and school.

I realized that I could combine my past work experience of organizing and planning events with my love for inventive, productive ideas and systems and organization methods for busy families by starting a career in professional organizing. I started my company shortly thereafter in my sister’s Virginia Highlands neighborhood and initially split my time between residential organizing, event production and acting as a personal assistant to busy families and professionals.

Over time, I chose to focus more on organizing and residential moves. I was born with an entrepreneurial spirit that stems from my parents and grandparents, who all ran their own businesses that focused on their natural abilities. I feel lucky to do what I love while also making a real difference for people who are often in the midst of a life-changing transition.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I started my company as a young, single woman new to the South, which meant I lacked networking opportunities. Most of the Professional Organizers I met built their business in the carpool line, from school directories and through their spouses’ networks. While this was an obstacle for me, I was creative and ambitious.

Over the first year, through word of mouth, donating to numerous charity events and schools in the Atlanta area, and repeat customers, I built an incredible clientele to whom I am extremely grateful for helping grow my business. I increased my confidence and knowledge by joining and volunteering with NAPO (National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals) and meeting hundreds of people just like me.

To be coming up on my 14th year in business is incredible and I am so proud of how far Leave it to Lara! has come.

Please tell us about Leave it to Lara!.
I love what I do! I walk into my clients’ homes and provide fresh, new solutions to their organizational problems, from designing and installing a new closet system, to purging and organizing a space that has never functioned to its full capacity. Because I started as a one-woman team, I come to any project with the confidence and knowledge that I can tackle it.

My father taught high school wood shop and was a general contractor, so I am not afraid to pick up a drill and add a shelf to maximize space in my client’s closet. This saves time and money not having to hire and schedule a handyman. I do all of the research and shopping for my clients since I know what works in various spaces throughout the house. I can be in and out of a supply store in 15 minutes with everything needed to organize their space.

My favorite projects are two things most people hate: paper and moving. I love purging paper, setting up household files and feeling complete when everything in the “To File” section is put away where it belongs and is easy for anyone to find. Moving is stressful, so my company takes the hard work out of client’s hands. My team takes a house in its current state and we purge, pack up, move, unpack and organize it in-and-out of cardboard boxes in one week.

We transform any house into a home quickly and efficiently. My passion is helping busy families through transitions, from setting up a nursery for your baby girl, to making room in the garage for her new car, and then turning her bedroom into your craft room when she heads off to college. I have been with some of my clients for 13 years and have walked through each of these life changes with them.

I am sensitive to my clients’ emotions, I offer a non-judgmental point of view, I am trustworthy and realistic. I am not here to get rid of all of your belongings or turn your house into a show home. My incredible supportive husband and I are raising two boys 17-months-apart and know the angst of Legos and Nerf bullets. My goal is to honor whatever stage of life my clients are in, while supporting their vision of a cleaner, brighter, better-organized life.

I am proud to have brought many new faces to the organizing industry and to be a mentor for new business owners. I am grateful for my supportive clientele who book me months in advance each year. I am excited to be part of an industry that is rapidly growing and shows no slowing down.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I could go back to 2005, I would add team members sooner. Working in a team not only energizes me, but it also adds multiple points of view and quadruples the results! We can divide and conquer more spaces in less time.

In 2011, I wanted to take maternity leave with the birth of my first son and I didn’t want to leave my regular clients without support. A new organizer, Michelle, joined me to help out and I wish she had been with me since day one. She has become an amazing lead organizer who works with our clients every week and provides incredible results.

We enlist the help of up to ten other subcontractors when needed for larger projects and client moves. For the first six years, I did this all on my own and I am grateful to now have incredible subcontractors on my team.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.leaveittolara.com
• Phone: 4045566790
• Email: lara@leaveittolara.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/leaveittolara
• Twitter: @LeaveItToLara

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