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

Dr. Julia, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear how you think where to draw the line in terms of asking friends and family to support your business – what’s okay and what’s over the line?

Friends and family have been paramount to the success of my business. When I first started in January 2021, I reached out to friends, family, and neighbors to see who would be interested in allowing me to organize a space in their home for free in exchange for photos and word-of-mouth. It’s been absolutely incredible to see how a handful of people I know could be so instrumental in spreading the word about my small business.

Dr. Julia, 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?

I started Golden West Organizing in January 2021, under the name Organizing by Julia. I rebranded to Golden West Organizing in 2022 as a tribute to my late grandfather, Jerry Golden. He was a successful entrepreneur who owned Golden West Homes, a mobile home company.

Golden West Organizing is a professional home organizing and unpacking company in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. We take a decluttering-centered approach, which means we help our clients make decisions on what to keep and let go of before we implement organizational systems. I have a Ph.D. in Communication and have been teaching at the college-level for more than 10 years. I bring my background as an educator and expertise in interpersonal communication to my philosophy on home organizing. We work with clients who feel overwhelmed and ashamed by clutter, but are unable to start. We take a warm and compassionate approach to understanding each client’s needs, and empower them with the skills to declutter and organize for years to come.

I am incredibly proud of my tenacity and my business’ growth since we started. We have been featured in major media publications such as CNBC and Business Insider, and on The Minimalists Podcast. In 2023, we became In-Home Organizing Partners of The Container Store. I am so grateful for our clients and their willingness to allow us into their homes and lives. We’ve worked with celebrities, professional athletes, and so many moms all over southern California.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I bootstrapped my business. I am a firm believer in this approach as I tend to be financially risk averse. Unlike some other industries, there were very few initial start-up costs to my business. Other than some basic supplies which were under $100. There were no required certifications and I did not need to purchase tons of product. When I decided to become an LLC, there were costs involved, but I was able to pay for this entirely with the income I had generated as a sole proprietorship.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

As an expert in interpersonal communication, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of continual communication with past clients (and potential clients) to foster brand loyalty. In addition to email outreach, I regularly communicate with clients over social media and via text. I am known for my love of the color yellow, and on an almost daily basis a client will send me a photo of something yellow that made them think of me. Conversely, when I am reminded of a client I will 100% reach out to them to let them know. The way you make people feel is so important. I pride myself in making our clients feel heard, understood, and supported.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.goldenwestorganizing.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldenwestorganizing/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goldenwestorganizing
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/golden-west-organizing/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/gworganizing
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@goldenwestorganizing

Image Credits
Photo of Julia in kitchen: Heather Leven Photography All other photos: Golden West Organizing