Black Celebrates 30 Clutter-Free Years of Organization Plus

It's been thirty years since Nancy Black launched her home-based business Organization Plus, in Beverly, but she said it's not uncommon to still receive the question 'what exactly does an organizer do?'

Back in 1983, Black was asking herself the same question.

It was then that Black, helped a financial planner organize her office before she knew that there was such a profession. 

"[The client] invited me to my first networking event and I met someone who told me she was an organizer," Black said. "It evolved from there."

Now, with Black's extensive knowledge of organizing, she's helped customers to transform their spaces from clutter to clean. Over the years clients have ranged from CEOs of large offices, cellar dwellers, to moms who need help organizing the kitchen, or the kids' playroom.  

In an initial three-hour meeting, Black meets with clients to learn about their lifestyles, and develops a system that's compatible to their learning style. "By working together to create the system, it's much easier for them to maintain it," Black said, calling the three-hour session the Three Hour Transformation. 

"Within that three hours we may not get the whole office cleaned, but it's important for them to see what can be accomplished in just a few hours," she said, noting that most clients say they feel overwhelmed or often tell her they 'don't know where to start'.

Black said an ideal client is someone who suffers from the "Terrible Toos": Too much to do, too little time to do it in.

The biggest game-changer over the thirty years that Organization Plus has been in operation, Black said has been the changes in technology.

"When I started, people complained about time management," she said. "Now the number one issue is dealing with all of their emails."

Adapting with the technology, now Black has expanded her business to include not just the Northeast, but "virtual organizating," available to clients no matter where they are. 

After 30 years in business, Black said she's most proud of the fact that she has taught people to appreciate the value of having a more organized lifestyle. 

"Helping people feel more in control of their life, instead of feeling that life is controlling them, is what Organization Plus is all about."