Meet Birdie Brennan | Professional Organizer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Birdie Brennan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Birdie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was working for someone else in a different industry, but I always found myself organizing something! I organized the physical space, the timeline, and the work flow. When I was looking for something to do on my own, I made lists of what I was good at and “being organized” was always at the top of my lists. It was something I have always enjoyed, and I knew people could benefit from my help. In 2000, I found there was an association, NAPO, (The National Association of Professional Organizers). I scheduled to go to their national conference in the spring of 2001. At the conference, I realized I was where I should be and then after the conference, I started my business.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
It’s a cliché but it is true~ a place for everything and everything in its place. This is my mantra. I have lived by it, started a business with it, and trained a team with it. The team believes that being organized simply means being able to find what you want when you want it. We are not judgmental or the decision makers with our clients. We also know that every client is different. We work with our clients to make the process work for them. We know that being organized can look different to different people. We take the time with our clients to know their goals and then help them reach them. What sets us apart from other organizers is our great customer service and attention to detail. I am very proud of the work we do. We can see relief in our clients when they gain control over their space and time. I remember working with one woman every week for a year and a half. Her house looked like a hoarder’s house, but she wasn’t a hoarder. She had ADHD and so many interests. She would start project after project and leave all the parts and pieces everywhere in the house. When we started, she didn’t socialize. Midway through the process, I could see her energy level increase. One day, I was at her house and she talked about making a friend in the neighborhood. At the end, she was auditing classes at OSU, she was volunteering at an elementary school and socializing with neighbors. We see clients grow and regain their lives; that is the best feeling! It wasn’t easy. My business grew slowly. When I started, people in the Midwest didn’t really know what a professional organizer was. It was an uphill battle. The cable shows about organization started, and my phone started ringing. In the beginning, there were no websites, just a business phone number and a listing in the yellow pages. It’s different now with social media, etc.
Our work is very personal, and we create a great relationships with our clients. It is from those relationships that the business grew to other services. They trust us to have their best interest in mind. One service that naturally grew out of the organizing business is designing and installing custom storage solutions/closets for our clients. We love this part of the business, so we made a concentrated effort to grow it. With that, my husband joined the team and later my nephew to make it a real family business. I think what sets us apart from the other closet companies is looking at spaces with the “eyes of a professional organizer”.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love Columbus. It is a great, vital, growing city! It has something for everyone, great restaurants, arts, sports, and green space. We live in the Arena District and love the way we can walk to most everything. We would have a great time exploring! I would take my friend to Easton for the day. We would shop, stop for a snack, and then shop until we had dinner at the Ocean Club. The sad part is I already know that I want the Blackened Snapper and the Peanut Butter Pie for dessert.
Depending on the time of year, we would go to at least one sporting event. Columbus is lucky to have the Blue Jackets hockey team, the Columbus Clippers baseball team, the Columbus Crew soccer team, and of course the OSU Buckeyes.
If the weather is good, the Columbus Zoo is a must.
During their visit, we would walk from our condo to the North Market by way of the arch at McFerson Commons and then on to the Short North. We will have a plethora of choices of snacks and boutiques. We will shop until after 4pm and then stop for dinner at the Pearl.
We would leisurely walk along the Scioto Mile to get a taste of downtown. Hopefully, there will be a play to take in.
We would want to use our creativity, so we would do glass blowing at Glass Axis to make something to remember our get together.
Last but not least, I would take her to The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. It is always beautiful, powerful, and with ever changing exhibits.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my parents. I believe that I’m an organized person inherently, but it was cultivated by them. They led by example and gave me the space to let my creativity soar. In the summer, I would organize different areas of the house in the evening well past them going to sleep. My efforts were always celebrated in the morning. I remember my grandparents going on vacation when I was young. I convinced my mom to take me to their house to surprise them with an organized house upon their return. It was gutsy of them to trust me to “organize” for someone else while they were gone. Even when I was young, I knew being organized was an important quality to have. I also must acknowledge my husband who encouraged me to start my business when I really had no idea of where it would lead.

Website: https://www.getorganizedcolumbus.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdiebrennancloset_org/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/birdiebrennan/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/birdiebrennan

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BirdieBrennanCustomClosets

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=4uM2QOslq6MmVTZB9yJf8A

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/BirdieBrennan

Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ8EllvF8LI