We recently connected with Betsy Fein and have shared our conversation below.

Betsy, appreciate you joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?

Before starting Clutterbusters!! in 2002 my background was in Recruiting and worked for several staffing companies. In 1995 I was then recruited to do in-house staffing for a large communications company which included staffing a 500 person call center. While at this communications company I must have interviewed thousands of candidates thru the years and then were also given the responsibility to help with payroll, HR issues and facilities management. Learning all these skills have come in handy while running my business. In corporate positions I always hated that every decision had to go thru red tape and hoops to be resolved. I heard often “that’s the rule and we can’t do anything about it”. I felt if I ever owned my own company, it will not be that way and that is exactly one of my mottos–nothing is set in stone. If I want to give free hours away, I do. If I want to start a marketing campaign, I do—no red tape!! I was a great employee but feel my strengths really shined being an entrepreneur.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

Clutterbusters!! is a Women Owned business, has done more than 60,000 hours of organizing since 2002!! and has also worked on TLC’s popular show HOARDING: BURIED ALIVE! Dr. Phil, Redbook magazine and many other media outlets.

Clutterbusters!! Offers hands-on organizing and has performed more than 60,000 hours of organizing for our clients. One of our organizers can come out and help you decide what to keep, donate, trash, etc. and then help you organize and put things back so you can maintain a system. During the first visit, the client shows the organizer around, but you start right now. The organizer will physically help you with your decluttering and organization, whether working side by side with you or independently. Working as a team with us will help make the experience more enjoyable and ensure that you maintain the organization’s systems. Our approach is based on sensitivity to your needs, discretion to maintain your privacy, and respect for your possessions. Your outcome will be an organized and clutter-free space. You will receive guidance and motivation until your project is complete. Our highly talented team of Clutterbusters!! Organizers is ready, willing, and able to tackle any size job, from routine to extreme, including hoarding assignments! In fact, the tougher the clutter challenge, the more excited we get when we see it disappear (just imagine how you will feel!).

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I loved the communications company I worked for 6 years with but when the company was sold in 2001 and myself and the 500 people, I hired were all laid off, I was given a $5000 severance package. I started my company with that $5,000, and told myself, when it is gone, there goes the business. I came close to throwing in the towel a few times but never reached that zero balance in my bank account so kept moving forward and today 20 years later still going strong.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

I have done almost every type of marking you can imagine –pay per click, articles, door tags, flyers, speaking engagements, networking groups, social media, table at fairs, donate to silent auctions, website, blogs, TV appearances. My best advice is do as much as you can to get the word out there—you never know what may work.

For me, my best marketing has always been with google pay per click.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.clutterbusters.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/clutterbusters
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcWkXil8-jJlVVi5GCrrLzg