Please allow me to introduce you to Kirrilee Lehman and Taryn Maybury, from Queens of Clutter in Perth, Western Australia. These sisters have a team of 18 ladies who work all over the Perth and Mandurah Metro Area. They agreed to an interview and to share their insights.
Tell me, Kirrilee and Taryn, who do you work with? Who’s your ideal client?
We specialise in Overwhelm. Our clients range from busy mums and professionals through to clients with hoarding challenges.
What drew you to the organising industry and how long have you been in it?
We started organising our own homes after hearing about Marie Kondo, then the homes of our friends and families. We didn’t initially intend for it to become a business. This was over six years ago. We started the business four and a half years ago.
What was the pivotal moment for you starting out as organisers?
K: Years before I became an organiser, we had a family member who was living in squalor. Once it was discovered, we pulled together to sort out the clutter and repair the damage to the home. I remember thinking, how would he have done this if he didn’t have the family to help. Starting as an organiser means that sometimes we get to be that person when the client doesn’t have outside support they can rely on.
T: It also was seeing how much difference decluttering made in our own lives, we wanted to share that with others who might be overwhelmed.
What’s your favourite thing about organising?
K & T: Our favourite thing would have to be the client’s reactions when they see what they have achieved.
To what do you attribute your success as organisers?
Our success has come from having the two of us working on the business together and supporting each other. Secondly, having our incredible team gives us the ability to help so many clients and give so many women a job they love. We genuinely care about our clients and our staff, and that shines through.
What is one habit that helps your life run smoothly?
K: Lists and calendars are my friend, I have multiple lists for different areas of my life and I send myself email reminders for everything.
T: Allocating a chunk of time each week to sit down and sort out life admin. The same way you would do for work. Make appointments, respond to emails, read all the notices from school.
Is there any area of your lives or homes where you’re not organised?
We’re pretty relaxed when it comes to our own homes. We have two young kids each so sanity is a lot more important than perfection. Also, we don’t have loads of stuff, so it never gets too out of control.
What’s a guilty pleasure for you?
We do love a glass of wine at the end of the day, or lunchtime if it’s the weekend!
What is one thing people may not know about you?
K: Before we were professional organisers I was a pharmacist.
T: And I was a forensic police officer. Also, people are sometimes surprised to find out we are sisters.
And what would you say to someone just starting out as an organiser?
Our advice for everyone in general is just to give things a try. Do lots of practice jobs for family and friends. Work it out as you go along. Network with as many people as possible and ask lots of questions. What have you got to lose? We don’t get it perfect all the time, but we are always trying.
What’s in store for you this year?
This year is all about consolidating the team and our processes, so we have a really well trained, consistent experience for our clients and team members.
Thanks so much, Kirrilee and Taryn! Your Queens of Clutter team are lucky to have you as leaders.
Want to read more Showcase interviews? Here they are.
