Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Ewert and Lauren Rock
Hi Allison and Lauren, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Believe it or not, Pokémon cards are actually where our passion for organizing began. As millennial sisters, we spent hours in the basement of our Mattawan home categorizing and sorting the cards into their little plastic sleeves and three-ring binders. If we weren’t with our family, friends, or playing sports, we were those kids who re-arranged the furniture in our bedroom- just for fun. We liked the ‘change of scenery’ and the impact that it had on the feel and functionality of our bedrooms. Many years later, we each own our own home and it is safe to say that we fully appreciate the importance of maintaining organized spaces. In 2023 we decided to combine this enthusiasm for organizing with our passion of helping others. Simply Sorted was born!
Try to imagine a hectic morning with young kids. You are scrambling to get everyone fed, dressed, and ready for their day before the school drop off line gets too long. You are packing the kid’s lunches, trying to find that paperwork your daughter swears she gave to you yesterday and your other kids are fighting over the cereal box toy. You are also mentally preparing yourself for your own day at work, getting yourself dressed, packing your own lunch and making the coffee, all while planning out your dinner in your head because your husband will be home late and won’t be able to help with the kids.
Toys, clothes, paperwork, dishes, dirty laundry, the dogs; stuff is everywhere. You can’t find what you are looking for and end up snapping at the kids while trying not to spill your coffee to get to work on time. Relatable; Stressful; Disorganized.
Now. . . imagine waking up every morning and the lunches are already packed, clothes are set out for the day, backpacks are ready to grab and go, and the coffee maker is prepped. Organization is not just about pretty acrylic containers, and labels. We implement systems that support those daily routines within your home. We organize pantries so that you don’t dread prepping the lunches, or the chaotic weekday mornings.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Home organization as a business is a lesser known service, so getting our name out into the community to tell people that we exist and explain what we do has definitely been our biggest challenge. We have made an effort to meet other small business owners in the area to learn from their experiences and to collaborate with them, which we have really enjoyed. We have gotten the opportunity to be involved in some really fun and impactful events in the community like non-profit fundraisers, holiday events, and more.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are professional organizers, which means we help transform small spaces or entire homes into more functional, beautiful, organized spaces. Living an organized lifestyle is not just for looks. Organization has a significant impact on how a person or a family functions in their home on a day to day basis. An environment has a direct impact on someone’s mental health. It’s no secret that a cluttered or disorganized home can worsen symptoms of anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns. People with ADHD or other neurodivergent needs can greatly impact from organized spaces that are designed for that individual person.
We are proud to work side-by-side as sisters who are local to Kalamazoo. We grew up in this community and love meeting new people, hearing their stories, assessing their needs, and providing them with the tools that they need to continue living in an organized manner. Lauren has formal education and experience in early childhood education and Allie is a mental health professional with experience in healthcare. Together, we make a dynamic team ready to address areas of concern in pantries, entryways, home offices, play rooms, kid’s bedrooms, nurseries, closets, bathrooms, etc. We get to know you and your family and offer custom solutions with long term benefits.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
We are empathetic, patient, energetic, motivated, and (obviously) kind of nerdy when it comes to organizing. We will be the first to admit that we have not always worked well as a team. (Sharing a bathroom with only one sink in middle school is not for the faint of heart!) Luckily, we have grown as individuals and as a team. When we are on the job, we sometimes finish each others sentences. We have a similar mindset and we understand what needs to be done which allows us to work seamlessly and efficiently, together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://simplysortedmi.com
- Instagram: @simply.sorted.mi
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/SimplySortedHomeOrganizing
