Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendra Littlejohn.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In 2017, I was laid off from my employer for 18 years. I’d planned to take a few months off and get back to work, but 16 months later, I was still unemployed, although I had submitted over 450 job applications.
During a conversation with a dear friend, she suggested that I turn my passion into profit and start an organizing business. Although I had dabbled in this industry before, the thought of rebooting had not occurred to me. So when she offered her space as the test subject and promised to share the progress on social media to help me gain business, I jumped on the opportunity!
We started her project immediately, and midway through, others who saw the progress she had shared on social media were interested in my services. By the end of the week, Organized by Kendra was birthed! I also became employed again during this time, so OK was only operating part-time. After a few months on my new job, I knew that I couldn’t stay, so I devised a plan to leave after 12-months. Well, that job sent me home on my 11th month anniversary. It was at that very moment that Organized by Kendra became full-time.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In life, the smooth roads are far and few. Starting a business is no different, but because I love this work so much, and building my business has been a beautiful experience, I hardly see any of it as a struggle.
Sure, there are challenges… single-handedly running a business while attempting to maintain time management and work\life balance as a single mother; the late nights spent developing systems, contracts, and forms that are still ever-changing; juggling administrative tasks with limited administrative hours; marketing and social media management; and more.
And then there’s the pandemic that has presented a set of challenges all on its own, but the health and safety of my clients will always take priority in the services we provide.
Every bump in the road has been a very necessary experience that has helped propel me forward. It’s been worth the journey.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Organized by Kendra is a full-service professional organization and styling company dedicated to helping our clients create solutions that help them reclaim their space (and sometimes their sanity) and live life at ease.
We service clients who seek to cancel out clutter, create sustainable systems, and cultivate an environment that allows them to enjoy life. We do this by working with each client to design systems that cater to their unique lifestyles and personality. Our unique approach to making each client feel like a friend, without judgment or shame, is what our clients love about us.
Our services include a wide range of spaces which include kitchens and pantries, bedrooms and closets, bathrooms, kid spaces, common spaces, offices, and garages. We also help small businesses create efficiency and increase productivity.
We are very proud of our 5-star rating on Facebook and Google.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Believe it or not, the Professional Organizing industry is about 40+ years old but has just become a phenomenon in the past 10 years. Since the pandemic, the industry has gotten more notice as families were forced to spend more time at home, had the time to purge and declutter, and took interest in learning how to live simpler lives.
Additionally, more and more people recognize organization as a form of self-care and realize that it is a pathway to reducing stress and anxiety, which makes this industry on the rise. I foresee big shifts and trends will happen in the next 5-10 years that will get even more people on board.
As for Organized by Kendra, we have big things in store. Stay tuned as we build what we hope to be the Mid-South’s favorite organization company.
Contact Info:
- Email: hi@organizedbykendra.com
- Website: www.organizedbykendra.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/organizedbykendra
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/organizedbykendra
Image Credits
Demarcus Bowser and Brian Manning
