Meet Leslie Lainer | Professional Organizer

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

Hi Leslie, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
In early 2020 my organizational tendencies were inspired when I started following the Instagram account of The Home Edit and reading “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” by Marie Kondo. I’ve always loved organizing and I spent time making sure my home was clutter-free but I never thought about helping others in their homes. During the pandemic, after enjoying an outdoor meal at a friend’s house, I walked into her large pantry and it was in chaos. There were no systems in place, items were piled onto shelves and there was just no order. For a family of four, I knew this meant both wasted time and wasted money. I offered to transform my friend’s pantry and over this two day task (which included emptying the pantry, sorting items by type, discarding items, placing organizing products, and refilling the pantry with new functional systems), I thought to myself, “I could totally do this as a business.” It was that simple. I knew that there was a lot to learn but I jumped right in and started Organize with Leslie, a professional organizing company. It’s brought me so much joy and satisfaction and I am so glad I took the risk two years ago.

What should our readers know about your business?
As a professional organizer, I go into people’s homes and help them declutter and organize their spaces. The process can be very personal and emotional for people so I always go into my job with sensitivity and compassion. I do encourage the removal of items that are not loved, needed, and used, but I do not force it on anyone. Sometimes just letting go of a few things or making some simple changes in a space makes a world of difference to a client. Being organized doesn’t only mean having a pretty pantry, but it is really about knowing what you have and having a place for everything. Clutter causes stress and anxiety, and no one should feel that way in their home.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Luckily, LA is a great food town so of course food will be a focus! I love Tar and Roses, the Tower Bar, Violet, and Bavel. I would definitely plan a taco crawl and a Sunday visit to Smorgasburg. And there are too many sushi places to name! I would take a friend to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl and a UCLA basketball game. I love Malibu and would spend time at the beach and we’d go to Thorne Family Farm and Varsity Bakers on a Saturday morning.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Sometimes asking for help is hard, but to be successful, you need to recognize when you need help and feel okay about asking for it. At an online conference, I was lucky to connect with a group of organizers from across North America and in the age of Zoom, we created a small cohort of professional organizers who meet periodically to discuss our businesses and support each other. My shoutout goes to them – @theintentionaledit, @simplifybysheeba, @poppedclosetorganizing, @organizedbylex, @norganizedlife

Website: www.organizewithleslie.com

Instagram: @organizewithleslie

Facebook: @organizewithlesliela