Meet Laura Gutowski | Professional Organizer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Gutowski and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
Organizing as an industry really began in the 1980s, but it has only become well known in the past decade, with the likes of Marie Kondo and The Home Edit popularizing the profession. Because of the relative newness of the industry, there is a lot that people don’t know, first and foremost the four different levels of organizers. To start with there are people who love organizing and decide to help others with it, and we simply call them organizers. Once you begin pursuing training and working towards qualifications, you become a Provisional Organizer. And after you complete all the courses, pass all the tests, work for over one year in the business, and agree to a code of ethics and standards, you become a Professional Organizer. Unfortunately there are many people out there who call themselves Professional Organizers without having done all this, so it’s important to check www.napo.net to make sure they are legitimate before you hire anyone! The highest level is Certified Professional Organizer, where a board verifies that you have completed over 1,500 hours of organizing and passed an incredibly difficult exam that people spend months, if not years, studying for – think of it as our equivalent of the bar!

What should our readers know about your business?
Everything In Its Space started out helping people declutter and organize their closets, kitchens and other spaces in the home. Our clients were often overwhelmed and didn’t know where to start, but with our advice, encouragement and guidance, we were able to help them organize their spaces in the way that worked best for them, one that could be easily maintained and enjoyed. Our clients felt like they had less stress, more time and more control. And nothing made us happier than seeing that weight lifted off their shoulders!

But over time we realized that the most stressful times for our clients were when big changes happened, whether that was having a baby, moving in with a new partner, getting divorced, becoming empty nesters, upsizing and downsizing, or losing a loved one. Our home organizing service already covered some of that, but we felt that there were two big gaps where people could use more specialized support – moving and bereavement. So like many organizing companies, we began to offer move management, to make the experience as smooth as possible for our clients. But more uniquely, we also started to offer bereavement support services. Our goal is to provide a shoulder to lean on during this difficult time, and to help navigate the process of sorting and organizing the deceased’s belongings with as little stress as possible. While these are often very draining projects, they are also the most fulfilling, and the work that we are most proud of.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love this question! And I do usually have a bit of a routine for out of town guests. We start with dinner at sunset at Ellis Creek Fish Camp, so they can experience the marsh and some of Charleston’s best seafood.

The next morning my dog Beaux and I take them for a walk on Sullivan’s Island, stopping at Holey City Bagels on the way to pick up a picnic breakfast. It’s so peaceful on the beach, but at the end of the island you can also point out the various landmarks around Charleston, which really helps people understand the layout of the city. Then we spend the day walking around downtown. I was a history major, so I combine a little historical walking tour with stops at my favorite galleries, like Reinert’s, and shops on King Street. Then dinner at Chubby Fish, my favorite place downtown.

I live on the water, so the next morning I like to take people out kayaking. Then off to Folly, where we walk along the pier and grab lunch at Jack of Cups, the most flavorful restaurant in town. In the afternoon, we either work on our tans or head to Firefly Distillery, where everyone loves the tasting room!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to give a shoutout to my accountability group. It’s made up of six organizers from across the country who all started their businesses around the same time, about five years ago. We meet in person once a year and virtually once a month for advice, support and encouragement, and I am so grateful to each of them!

Website: https://everythinginitsspace.com/

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwaiXm_4Uxyr1HQd6fLkXsg