We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Katie Clingman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Katie below.

Katie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar your business earns is always special and we’d love to hear how your brand made its first dollar of revenue.

My first client found me through social media. She was about to move to Austin for a new job and was expecting a child in a few weeks. She had a lot going on and was understandably looking for help to make the transition smoother!

Being from out-of-state myself, I sent her some tips on things I wish I had known before moving to Austin. Among these suggestions, I mentioned that if she needed help unpacking and organizing her new home, I’d be happy to help. Grateful to have things taken off her plate, she reached back out to set up a consultation. We ended up unpacking and organizing several spaces in her new house. Months later she was still raving about the experience! Knowing that we had such a positive impact during a turbulent time in her life made me super happy.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Sure! I’m Katie Clingman, a professional organizer and the owner of Settled In Soundly. I first moved to Austin to attend UT to study architecture and architectural engineering. After spending several years as a building façade engineer, I decided to make a career change and started a professional home organizing business. My company is named Settled In Soundly because that’s how we believe everyone should feel in their home.

We help busy professionals and families unpack and organize their houses to set them up for success from day one. We handle all the details, from figuring out the optimal spot for the silverware drawer to which baskets will work best for their pantry shelving. Our service includes onsite measurements, personalized product research, and complimentary shopping and returns. It’s specifically designed for busy professionals and parents who are looking for a team of experts to find solutions tailored to their needs so they can feel settled in their new home quickly. All our clients have to do is say yes!

I have a deep belief that the quality of our spaces impacts the quality of our lives, and we have the power to transform both. With my unique background in design, I also have a rare technical skillset that includes 3D modeling and space optimization, which I use to help clients visualize the transformation of their home. Having lived in a few different places myself, from Manhattan Beach to Cambridge, I love working with families who are moving here from out-of-state and helping them feel settled in Texas.

I am most proud of the dramatic and lasting transformations our clients achieve. When clients tell me things like “I’ve never lived like this! I know where everything is and it’s so easy to put things away,” I feel grateful to be a professional organizer.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective way I’ve found to grow our clientele is by providing services that exceed client expectations. Happy clients love to show off our work! Their excitement has led to more and more referrals as the business has grown. Many referrals come from past clients who rave about our work, as well as friends and family members who are excited about what we’re doing. In addition, realtors and interior designers have played a significant role in our growth by referring their clients who express interest in our services. We are so grateful for the ongoing support and trust placed in us!

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

Yes! While our primary focus is on unpacking and organizing homes, every now and then, an unconventional project comes our way. One such opportunity unfolded when I received an email from a local business owner looking for help to organize her company’s warehouse production space. She was looking for someone with commercial experience in organizing and space planning. Though I was initially hesitant due to my lack of direct experience in business organizing, I decided to respond.

I mentioned our specialization in home organizing and highlighted my background in design and robust technical skillset that I believed could be beneficial to her company. To my surprise, she expressed interest and asked to schedule a consultation.

As we were weaving our way through cardboard boxes in the warehouse, I was reminded of a concept from my architecture school days – “back of house” spaces – those essential yet often overlooked spaces supporting a business.

During the consultation, I proposed a reorganization strategy that involved separating crucial but less glamorous areas (the “back of house” ones) from the central focus of the room. The client loved the idea! After submitting a formal proposal, we held a kickoff meeting a few weeks later. During our conversation, she revealed that although she had received proposals from other companies with specific business organizing experience, she had chosen us because of my architectural background.

Taking on this project was a leap outside of my comfort zone, but the decision proved to be immensely rewarding. It was very satisfying to apply design principles in a new way, and a great reminder to seize unexpected opportunities!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.settledinsoundly.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/settledinsoundly/

Image Credits
Elyse Marie Photography