Meet Katie Oswald: founder of Dallas Closets – your go-to organizing goddess who will help turn your oh-so-drab spaces into oh-so-FAB! As a fellow SMU grad, I have witnessed Katie’s organizing skills grow from a helpful hobby to a successful business over the years. During her years at SMU, Katie would often help friends and family organize their spaces. After seeing how much everyone enjoyed the helping hand, her skills were requested from friends of friends all over, leading to the launch of Dallas Closets! Dallas Closets provides clients with stylish, customized spaces tailored to their unique lifestyles and organizing needs. Whether you are looking for a full closet renovation or just a quick organizing touch-up, Katie has you covered. I recently spoke with Katie to hear her ins and outs of the business. Here’s what I learned:
What is the first thing you do with your clients when you meet with them to help organize their space?
The first step is always a consultation, which typically lasts about an hour and is free of charge. I come to the client’s home, observe the room/space needing help as well as the client’s interior design/style, take pictures, talk about what has and hasn’t worked in the room in the past, and discuss a budget for the project.
Who is your typical client?
I work mostly with moms who want a system in place that allows the whole family to stay organized. Not just closets, but kitchens, playrooms, kids rooms, garages. A big part of what I do is implementing systems to stay organized into the existing interior design of a home.
I also work for clients who don’t need a complete organizing makeover, but rather “organizing touchups,” or just a few hours of Dallas Closets’ organizing service opposed to a multi-day booking. With the holidays approaching, a lot of clients want to get their house organized before friends and family arrive. This past week I organized a playroom in under 4 hours for a family who was hosting a party at their house the next day.
How long does a closet take?
Anywhere from 6-10 hours. Once I observe the space to be organized during consultations, I tell clients how many hours it will take and we set up a budget around that number.
Do you have any tips you can share with our readers?
The time to clean out your closet is not the end of a season when you can see what you did and didn’t wear. Rather, you want to align with consignment store schedules and selectively get rid of items before the season starts. For example, Clotheshorse Anonymous on Preston Road (one of my favorite places to consign) will start accepting Spring items as early as January.
We heard you sell on eBay as well, is that true?
Yes. For clothes I advise consignment, but for designer handbags (and sometimes shoes) I do sell on eBay for clients. I can set a higher price on eBay then what they would sell it for at a consignment store, and I retain a smaller percentage than what a consignment store keeps. Between those two factors, my clients are always finding purses and shoes for me to sell on eBay… if not only so that they can justify going shopping!
To schedule a consultation with Dallas Closets:
Website: Dallas Closets
Email: dallasclosets@gmail.com
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