De-clutter your space and organize your life with this novel service from a trained industrial engineer.
By Ridheema Lal
PHOTOS COURTESY OF EDITS INC.
Do you spend money buying storage space, install shelves and cupboards, but find that the compartments end up underutilized because the things you want to store do not fit inside, or there is a lot of wasted space in between each compartment or level of shelving?
Do you copy those gorgeous closet designs from decor magazines but realize, a bit too late, that those designs are not practical for all the clothing or accessories that you want to store?
About 80 percent of clutter in our homes is the result of poor organization, not lack of space.
According to Haw San Au Yong Deborah, “Principal Chaos Therapist” at Edits Inc., good organization of space is the combination of ergonomics, workflow and design principles.
The enterprising Singaporean is the founder of the professional organization provider Edits Inc., one of the only three companies in Singapore that help people organize their space, be it the home or workspace.
Set up in Nov 2012, the idea for Edits Inc. was inspired by programs such as American TV shows Clean House and Extreme Home Makeover. Au Yong’s mission: to help people get organized, “reclaim” their lives from clutter, be more productive and in the long run, live more fulfilling lives.
Prior to founding Edits Inc., the trained industrial engineer with three masters’ degrees under her belt enjoyed a successful career helping multi-national companies optimize their logistics operations as well as design and operate warehouses.
“I basically look for more efficient ways to do things because of my training as an industrial engineer; we have to learn how to achieve certain outputs which minimizing the resources used or the costs,” explains Au Yong.
Edits Inc. was therefore a natural progression for the self-confessed “efficiency freak”, who frequently receives feedback from family members and friends about her natural talent to see structure in everything and her innate skill at organization.
Au Yong applies warehouse design principles in organizing physical spaces, creating work and living areas that are space-efficient while maintaining aesthetics. In essence, the value her company’s service offers is encapsulated in this mantra: combining form with function.
How it works: firstly, a connection is made with potential clients through a complimentary one-hour site survey to understand his or her organizing needs and lifestyle, after which a quotation detailing work scope, time estimates and suggested storage equipment is sent to the client.
Once the client has confirmed the service, the work starts—with the sorting and grouping of the belongings at the site. Then comes the aptly named “The Purge”, where Au Yong advises the client on items to toss, donate or keep.
This is typically the most arduous part of the whole process, as some clients are just not ready to part with things they are emotionally attached to. When this happens, not only is much time and effort expended on Au Yong’s part to persuade the client, sometimes the makeover is “aborted” when the client is unable to commit to making changes in his or her life. The smiles on the faces of satisfied clients, on the other hand, more than make up for the less successful ones.
After “The Purge” is completed, the real work of re-organizing begins. On “Reveal Day,” Au Yong walks the clients through the space and gives them an easy 5-to-10-minute routine to maintain its clutter-free state—complete with before/after photos for commemoration and motivation.
Prices can range from as low as less than S$100 to more than S$1,000, depending on the client’s budget as well as the amount and complexity of work to be done.
Novel an idea as Edits is, there were many difficulties when she first started out. She had to learn how to market her business, write marketing copy, build strong networks and generate business. “It was scary putting myself out there but I believe that despite my failings, God was always holding on to me,” says Au Yong.
Despite her hectic schedule, the single girl—also an active member of City Harvest Dialect Church—makes time to serve in the JAMs (Jesus for All Minds) ministry, which ministers to the intellectually challenged members in the community.
Log on to www.edits-inc.com for more information.
