We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tina Herrmann. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tina below.
Tina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Folks often look at a successful business and imagine it was an overnight success, but from what we’ve seen this is often far from the truth. We’d love to hear your scaling up story – walk us through how you grew over time – what were some of the big things you had to do to grow and what was that scaling up journey like?
When I started Watermark Organizing 5 years ago, my goal was to make enough money to pay for one of my daughters to go to college. I was ecstatic when it happened the first year! After that first year, I focused on building my client base and getting our name out in order to build up word of mouth marketing. It took 3 years to see that come to fruition.
In year 4, I began to think about expanding into more territories and aspects of organizing. It took some research, but I found many options. I really just threw out a few options to see what would get people’s attention. I wish I could say it clicked right away, but it did not. I first began interviewing potential employees who could train with me for an extended period of time and then be able to go out and organizing on their own under Watermark Organizing. However, I ran into some issues. People who were using me as a way to figure out how to have their own organizing business, others who would call out and I would have to drive to cover the client. It just became too much.
Then I cast the net to provide Virtual Assistance. I went back to advertising with marketing companies to receive leads. It wasn’t long before I picked up the first virtual assistant job! I was helping a property manager fill vacancies in her units. It took about a week to learn the system she was using and its potential. I found I was able to streamline her screening process, access more capabilities from her app and found a tenant.
Now, the Virtual Assistant side of Watermark is taking off. We currently have a full time construction company in Seattle, a few Financial Organizing (bookkeeping) jobs in Atlanta and a tree service company in Atlanta that we are working with. The ability to continue helping people and businesses with the gifts God has given me brings me such joy. Especially knowing how much I am helping the client and relieving their stress.
We are continuing to take on new clients and can not wait to see what the future holds.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
In 1995, I graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in Human Resources. I spent 7 years in the corporate world as a Human Resource Director. And in 1999, our first child was born. Our lives changed drastically, including me leaving work to stay at home with our precious little one. After adjusting to my new role, I began to get a little overwhelmed with life.
Today many people are so busy, they tend to look for the fast and convenient things in life. As a working mom, I found that the day to day things tend to add stress. I felt as though I was running in circles chasing my tail like a dog, doing the same things repeatedly. So, I began organizing my day-to-day life in order to relieve some of the stress.
I started with the easy things, like organizing the drawer for all of our keys and miscellaneous stuff. The areas that tend to get cluttered every day. Then I moved on to scheduling a weekly meal plan, including a shopping list. I began to notice that my life was more structured and less stressful. I also realized that I enjoy organizing and am pretty good at it (although looking back, I’ve been a type A obsessively organized person forever). So I moved on to bigger projects. I removed wire shelving from the pantry and built my own wooden shelves to cover not only the back wall of the pantry but both side walls as well. Once the shelves were done, I started shopping for glass containers to house all our dry goods. I absolutely loved the result. And so did friends and family. I was constantly getting compliments.
Today, I have clients who ask for help getting organized while their houses are being built. Boy, do I wish I could rewind time and do this with the houses I have lived in. My closets, laundry room, pantry, kitchen, and bathroom would have been totally different and organized from the beginning.
It wasn’t long until I was helping friends with their homes. Then one day, I had a former boss call me to ask if I could help him start his business. What? A paying job to do what I love? I was beyond excited and scared.
Well, I am happy to report that it was a success! I put my Human Resources education along with my organizing skills to use and established the companies policies and procedures along with many other procedural forms and processes.
I began getting phone calls from friends of friends to help them get organized. Thirteen years later, I still enjoy organizing and helping other’s lives become less stressful by helping them get organized, in many facets of their daily lives.
The greatest reward is the smile on someone’s face when I have helped lessen the stress in their lives. Allowing business owners or parents more time to focus on other, more important things in their lives.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I think with many other people and businesses, COVID made me slow down and rethink my business and how to pivot to adapt to the circumstances. This is when I began to think about other areas I could expand my business into. It took a lot of research, phone calls and just plain time sitting and thinking through the ideas. COVID allowed me to do this, because NO ONE was allowing me into their homes. And as odd as it may sound, I am grateful for that time.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I think sticking to what you know how to do and doing it with all your abilities as well as helping the client not feel judged. So many people are afraid to ask for help because we all think we should be able to do everything. That’s simply not true. We all have gifts and talents that allow us to help others in many different ways. There is no way one person can be good at everything. There is nothing wrong with asking for help.
As my business has grown the number one thing my clients tell me is how comfortable they are with me. And the fact they do not feel judged. They are extremely appreciative and then begin to tell others. It’s not long before your reputation will either build or destroy your business. Be the person that builds your reputation. Just do the right thing all the time and you will find yourself blessed.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.watermarkorganizing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/watermarkorganizing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watermarkorganizing
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-herrmann-0683705/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HerrmannTina
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/watermark-organizing-roswell-2
Suggest a Story: CanvasRebel is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.