We were lucky to catch up with Lyndsey Morgan recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lyndsey , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us about an important lesson you learned while working at a prior job?
Before Neat Method, I worked in many different industries trying to figure out where I belonged. Overall, the one thing they had in common was managing people. People of all kinds and all walks of life. Much like parenting, I learned how to work with different personalities. What works to inspire one person, might be boring to someone else. One person might be a bookworm while the other needs hands-on training. Everyone is different. I believe if you step back, observe and listen, each individual will show you what they need to thrive in their roll. This one lesson will no doubt lead to successful management and team morale.
Lyndsey , 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?
How did I become a NEAT Method franchise owner? Well, by total ACCIDENT! I, like many others, lost my job due to Covid. This was a first for me. With the world in shambles, I had no idea what I would do next. Application after application submitted and subsequently ignored. I was at a loss. When a friend of mine (the founder of NEAT Dallas-Frisco) heard I was available, she called and offered me a job on the spot. “Come organize for me while you look for something else!” I was skeptical but she assured me that my incredibly type-A personality would thrive as an organizer.
Unlike many other industries at the time, the organizing industry was booming during Covid. For the first time ever, people were stuck at home and unable to ignore the messy, cluttered spaces they had let go due to the daily grind. They were suddenly working from home in makeshift offices that used to function as guest bedrooms or dining rooms. The kitchen table became the classroom and the garage became the gym. This unique situation meant that we were tasked with creating beautiful, functional systems tailored to our client’s
specific needs and lifestyle. Luckily, that is NEAT Method’s specialty.
NEAT Method is a lifestyle service committed to providing a more luxurious and smartly appointed living space. Although we’ d love to solve all the world’s problems, our goal is to educate and inspire change one space at a time. The function of a home should be the foundation of how one lives. We believe that once your home
is NEAT and well-arranged, you will feel the positive impact in all areas of your life.
Turns out, my friend was right. I excelled in this environment. The instant gratification of turning a space from chaotic to clutter-free in a day was incredibly satisfying. I quickly rose through the ranks from organizer to lead organizer, to fully running projects on my own. During this time, my friend was going through some life changes of her own. Owning a business is great but it’s also hard work. She wanted to spend more time at home with her daughter and NEAT offered her a dream job with our corporate team. She decided to take the position and approached me about buying Neat Dallas-Frisco. I was in shock. I’m not ready for this. Me? Own my own business? Can I do this? I’ve only been organizing for a month! Admittedly, owning a business had always been a bit of a pipe dream for me. I had no idea what kind of business I wanted but it was always a thought in the back of my mind. Could I really do this? A million questions later…I decided I would take the leap.
I’m writing this 3 years into ownership. It somehow feels like forever ago and also like it just happened yesterday. I could not have made a better decision. The work/life balance I am able to provide for myself is priceless and the peace of mind that we provide our clients is incredibly fulfilling. I have wonderful employees that have been with me for years. I actually look forward to being around them everyday. Unheard of right? Business ownership certainly comes with its own set of challenges but for me, the benefits far outweigh the difficulties.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
The majority of my clients come from 3 main sources. As I own a franchise, brand recognition is a big one. With over 100 markets across the U.S., Neat Method is a well-known brand in the organizing industry. Next would be social media. We post before & after photos, how-to videos and fun behind the scenes content. We try to engage with our audience in a way that shows the incredible change that can occur in a space in just one day! Not only does this help educate, it also highlights what we can do and how beautiful we could make their space too. Lastly, and probably most importantly, client referrals. As silly as it might sound, there is a high level of trust between clients and organizers. They trust us in their homes, around their children and pets. They trust that we will handle their most personal and valuable belongings as if they are our own. When your clients trust you, they will no doubt, hire you in the future but they will also sing your praises to everyone they know. Like with any service, if you go above and beyond, people will remember and it will help set you apart from the competition.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
The client/organizer relationship is a personal one. To understand how we can best help our clients, we have to know how their day to day routines and how their household functions. I use that knowledge to predict what my clients will want before they even know they want it. People remember these kinds of things. We try to create such a good experience and provide such a high level service that they won’t want to go anywhere else. In addition, after every project, we always send thank you goodies in the form of cookies, flowers or gifts for the kids. Again, we base this on how well we know the client and what will make the biggest impression on them.
In an age where everything is automated, I believe people like working with small businesses because we’re accessible. Have a question? Call me! I try and stay as involved as possible so our clients feel like they can go directly to the source with all of their needs.
Stay in touch! I personally, reach out to my clients either 6 months or one year post-project. I offer refresh services or recommend additional spaces in their home that we think could use our help. I have found that people are more likely to respond to a personal email than an automated or generic one.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.neatmethod.com
- Instagram: @FriscoNeat