We were lucky to catch up with Annie Schmidt recently and have shared our conversation below.
Annie , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?
The name of my business is SOS- Schmidt Organizational Systems. It encompasses my last name and what we do, but it also conveys that help is needed right away – and we are here to help design organizational systems to help you live in peace!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I have always been interested in entrepreneurship and working for myself. I spent 13 years in the corporate world working for a large manufacturing company. I loved the people, but wasn’t always passionate about the industry. When Covid hit, I started organizing my home and friend’s homes to ease my anxiety. I found that I loved the combination of function and design, and it gave me an outlet to be creative and stay busy. My organizing business allows me to balance my life as a mom, but also do something for myself to stay active. I love to meet new people, and my passion has become helping moms and families find peace in their homes in these crazy times!
I find that the key to successful organization is a combination of function and beauty. I like to create systems for my clients that are functional, easy to maintain, and make sense for the family–but that also look beautiful. I have favorite products to use in each job, but I love to customize my projects to each specific client based on what they need and love. My specialty is busy families, because I truly believe that if you can have an organized system in your home, you will ultimately have more time to spend on the things that really matter.
I start each job with an in person consult to discuss goals, time estimate, budget and asesthetic. I keep a clear communication with the client throughout the process. My sales and business background helps me communicate clearly with the client to eliminate any surprises and deliver exactly what they need for each specific project. I strive for 100% satisfaction with every client. I do have a team and project managers helping at each job, but I am very involved and am a part of each project. This allows me to guarantee our quality and bring a more personal approach – and my clients feel like trusted friends are helping them!
We have now been in business for over 2 years and we have had countless projects around Dallas and beyond. I have learned a TON about business, management, and refining our craft, and we are proud of our growth!
We couldn’t do what we’re doing without referrals and followers, and I am so grateful for each and every friend and client that has supported SOS! It is the greatest compliment when we get asked back for a second project with a client, or they share our services with their friends!
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
The best source of new clients are referrals from satisfied past clients. We are also very active on Instagram and love to post our projects, tips, and before and afters!
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
I started this business as a hobby and a way to have a creative outlet while my kids were at school. Through word of mouth, I began to get more inquiries and larger projects. I started doing a pantry here or there, and it quickly grew into whole homes. This job is physical and even though I am efficient, I needed help! I scaled up by hiring project managers and organizational assistants to help me at jobs. I also hired someone to help me manage and intake my inventory, a bookkeeper, and a scheduler. Having the ability to delegate to trusted employees has helped me grow as a business and also balance my lifestyle!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.soshomeorg.com
- Instagram: @soshomeorganization
Image Credits
Heather Zak Designs Special K Moments Photography