Planetkeeping Enterprises
Helping others get clutter under control
is, it would appear, an opportunity whose time has come. The
motivations for leading a less cluttered life are varied. Some
people hope that more order will lead to increased serenity and
efficiency; the environmentally conscious are motivated by reducing
human wastefulness; for others, a life transition means a change of
priorities and reassessment of their material wants and needs.
Whatever the reason, living a less
clutter life may require the services of others to bring about the
order and balance that we crave.
If organizing is a strong point of yours,
or you share concerns about a crowded planet, creating a business
that helps make a dent in the problem may be a natural for you. A
good starting point for uncovering ideas is the rallying cry of
Planetkeepers everywhere: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Reduce.
Forty years ago, efficiency experts were all the rage. The new
version of that occupation is the professional organizer. Although
most organizers develop a specialty, their aims are similar: to
bring order out of chaos, to help their clients work and live more
efficiently, and to reduce clutter once and for all.
How does one get started as a
professional organizer? Michele Hockersmith says she began offering
this service because it came naturally to her and it also fit in
with the other services her business offered to homebased startups.
Eventually, she developed a very intentional science to help clients
systemize both the tangible and intangible aspects of their
business.
Whether it’s a business or a home that’s
being organized, being a professional organizer involves a twofold
approach. Initially, the organizer’s work may be hands on—sorting,
purging, filing. Then the client needs to be involved in the process
and educated about keeping order once the consultant has gone.
To learn more visit
http://NAPO.net.
Reuse.
Reselling unwanted or unused items is an increasingly popular
enterprise. Clothing, books and antiques have long been the staples
of consignment sellers. As we become a Reuse It culture, the idea of
reselling items has taken on a wider scope. Toys, computers, records
and compacts discs, as well as sporting good and a wide array of
household items are showing up in stores devoted to selling
previously owned goods. Of course, many sellers are using services
like eBay and Craigslist to sell directly.
Another variation of this type of
business are those which specialize in organizing and holding estate
and/or household sales. The key to success in this kind of business
seems to be having a tight focus, both in merchandise and market.
Although eclectic antique and junk stores are still popular,
reselling merchandise with a newer history seems to work best when
the product line is narrow and clearly defined—such as baby goods or
exercise equipment.
Recycle.
While most of us think of recycling as being environmentally
responsible, businesses devoted to recycling the throwaway clutter
of our lives are also enjoying renewed popularity.
I recall a story on the evening news that
feature two college-aged brothers who started a business recycling
newspapers after their community program was abolished. Using rental
trucks to pick up the papers and hiring college friends to staff the
business, the brothers were earning thousands of dollars weekly. At
the same time, their business filled a necessary void in community
service.
The new interest in environmentally
conscious businesses just keeps growing. A poll found that a third
of all Americans said they would buy recycled products if they had
the option. As more people rethink their buying habits and
experiment with simpler ways of living, the market for used and
recycled goods continues to expand.
There’s also a growing opportunity for
inventors and entrepreneurs to apply principles of sound
environmental management and saner technologies to their work. This,
too, opens the door to numerous new business possibilities.
Whether you’re a committed
environmentalist or a person who wants to relieve the stress caused
by clutter, finding your business niche should be easy—and keep you
busy until we have the entire planet cleaned up and running
smoothly.
There's
more where this came from.
Order Winning Ways now!
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