Has COVID Killed the Organising Industry?

 

Has COVID Killed the Organising Industry? I often hear this question asked in various ways:

• “Is now a good time to be starting an organising business?”
• “Do people still have money to employ an organiser?”
• “Has the pandemic impacted organising businesses?”

Take it from me, COVID has not killed the organising industry. In fact, if anything, professional organisers are more in demand than ever.

But you don’t have to just take my word for it. Let’s look at the evidence. People have been spending more time inside their homes during lockdowns and restrictions. Dining tables have become impromptu school desks and working from home desks. Garages have been converted into gyms and craft workshops. Suddenly clutter became more visible and more problematic than ever.

Early in the pandemic, decluttering was all the rage. Many people happily unloaded years of accumulated clutter. But many others tried and failed. Their desire to declutter is strong, but they lack the skills and strategies to overcome their chronic disorganisation. Those people are now turning to professional help to make that happen.

Those with hoarding tendencies and the anxieties that go along with hoarding disorder have been hit hard by the pandemic, resulting in a further accumulation of extreme clutter. Support agencies are seeking referrals to professional organisers more frequently than ever. We at Hoarding Home Solutions have seen a steep rise in referrals, but there are not enough service providers to meet the high demand.

The NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) has made a big difference to the organising industry. People with disabilities now have access to ongoing support to overcome organisation challenges. That access to support has not diminished during the pandemic.

Even during the harshest lockdowns, organisers were able to offer services virtually. Now that teleconferencing has been normalised, virtual organising services have become accepted and are a welcome additional revenue stream.

If you still need convincing, I’ll point you towards the organisers I have personally trained and mentored this past year, who have started their organising business and who are now receiving a healthy number of bookings. They all say they wish they’d taken the leap sooner.

So, no. COVID has not killed the organising industry.

If you are ready to take the leap into an organising career of your own, take a look at my online training.