Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Candace Hora. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Candace thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

This amazing thing happened a few years ago. We have always had a loyal client base, but were struggling to see ways to grow a team and expand our services. That’s when Susie, one of our long-time clients, approached us with an incredible offer. She believed in our work so much and wanted to see us grow, so much so that she wanted to pay in advance for her services to help us grow.

We were blown away by Susie’s generosity and belief in our company. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for us. We knew that the money she was giving us would allow us to invest in training & hiring additional staff, and expand our outreach to more clients. We were so thrilled at the opportunity to take our business to the next level, and we were beyond grateful for Susie’s support.

Over the course of the next year, we worked to create a training program to improve our services and grow our team. We used a portion of the money Susie provided to join EOA, an awesome Entrepreneur group that helps businesses maximize their growing potential. By joining this group we have been more profitable than ever before.

We continually stay in close contact with Susie, updating her on our progress and thanking her for her support. She is always sending us new clients in Chicago and it is clear that her investment in our business has been a good one. In the end, Susie’s belief in our company had a profound impact on us. Her generosity gave us the boost we needed to take our business to the next level, and her loyalty and appreciation for our work remind us of why we started this business in the first place. We will always be grateful for Susie’s support, and we hope to continue to exceed her expectations for years to come.

Candace, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Yes absolutely!  HORAstudios is a high-end professional organizing studio offering specialized organizing, packing & unpacking services. Our packing and unpacking services are curated to dramatically reduce the anxiety commonly associated with moving. And sometimes that means traveling the country to unpack, set-up and style our clients’ new homes. We also work with sellers and agents to prepare listings for the market quickly by completing punch list items, style consulting, staging, editing, and open house preparations.

Our approach to professional organizing is unique because we deeply understand how a client’s home functions, using what we can of what they already own. We believe that not everyone’s lifestyle has to be Instagram-worthy, so we work with our clients to develop solutions that work for their individual needs.

We are dedicated to helping people simplify their lives and create spaces that are both beautiful and functional. Putting your home in order is proven to boost productivity, increase happiness, and positively impact all other aspects of life, like work and family. That’s why It’s so important to have a trained skilled specialist in position to help evaluate the function and aesthetics of your space; and that’s where HORAstudios come in! The smart, fun, efficient, roll up our sleeves, side-by-side guidance for all that STUFF!

We are proud to be in business for over 13 years building a reputation for ourselves through word-of-mouth. We have helped countless individuals and companies achieve their organizational style and we look forward to improving people’s lives for years to come.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

At the time I started working as a professional organizer, 17 years ago, professional organizing was still a relatively new industry, and many organizers didn’t have the same level of experience as I did. I noticed a huge gap in the market and saw an opportunity to differentiate myself by using my design education in my work as a professional organizer.

After making the pivot from Interior Design to PO I quickly built a reputation for myself and began attracting more and more clients. As workplace trends moved toward performance solutions and strategic actions to improve employee experience, I began advising individuals & businesses with 25+ employees on the importance of a well planned/organized space and its use and function. The knowledge I gained in interior design has been instrumental in setting  my PO business apart, as it taught me how to develop and cultivate relationships with clients and  to be extremely detail-oriented.

Now, 13 years later , we have developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by individuals, families and companies looking to improve their performance in some way. Our attention to detail & passion for highly functional spaces has helped build our reputation along with our unique combination of skills and ability to engage authentically with our clients. We are known to become a fixture in families, a resource for move companies, Realtors, Buyers and Sellers. Our ability to cultivate relationships and truly care about our clients, knowing we have provided the best solution, has been key to our healthy reputation.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Well the most important time in my life I had to pivot  runs parallel to the story of how I started my own business. If you recall the 2008 financial crisis, you’ll remember that it brought about significant changes in the job market. At the time, I was building my career in the design industry, with big dreams of working for top-notch design firms.  However, when the market crashed in 2008, the design firm I was working for had to restructure due to clients pulling out of projects and halting operations. Unfortunately, like many of my colleagues, I lost my design position and there was little hope for the next few years. As fate would have it, I had already been working part-time organizing nights and weekends. With design clients pulling out of projects, someone had to be there to help with all their belongings that were in storage while their home was under construction. And that someone was me. I began helping clients figure out how to integrate their belongings back into their homes or pack items to be put into storage units. This is when I realized I needed to pivot from the design industry to become a professional organizer.

It was not an easy decision, However, the financial crisis left me with no choice but to adapt to the market changes. I embraced the challenge and leaned into my unique set of skills.

Eventually, hard work paid off and I built a successful professional organizing bussines.
Looking back, I realized that my pivot was not just a career change, but it was also an opportunity for personal growth. It taught me the value of adaptability, resilience, and the importance of being open to new opportunities. It was a humbling experience that transformed me both professionally and personally. Today, I am grateful for the pivot that led me to building a successful career as a business owner

Contact Info:

• Website: www.horastudios.com
• Instagram: horastudios_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HORAstudios
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candacehora/