The process of home organization is considered a chore by many, but for Stephanie Radman, it has become a nationwide business.
A serial entrepreneur, Radman is no stranger to running a business, but Mayflower Home Organizing may be her most successful venture to date. Formerly known to New Canaan residents as the Town Greeter, and prior to that, founder of The Sweet Baker, Radman says it was during her time as Town Greeter that she was inspired to start her organization business.
Before Mayflower Home Organizing … Photo courtesy of Mayflower Home Organizing
“A lot of my newcomers were telling me, ‘Stephanie, I have two young children, the dog’s barking, the baby’s crying, boxes are up to the ceiling,’ in their homes in New Canaan, and they would ask me, ‘Do you have someone who could help me get organized?’ ” Radman told the New Canaanite. “I thought this is something I could definitely do. I’m a very meticulous person myself, and it just really happened organically. People were asking for it, there was a need in the area, so Mayflower Home Organizing was born.”
Before long, demand for Radman’s organizational skills grew too great, and she decided it was time to commit fully to her new enterprise.
… and after. Photo courtesy of Mayflower Home Organizing
“I was doing both businesses simultaneously, the Town Greeter and Mayflower Home Organizing,” Radman said. “Mayflower Home Organizing really just took off, so I sold the Town Greeter business.”
In its first year alone, a milestone Radman reached in April, Mayflower Home Organizing has seen success, growing primarily through word-of-mouth. While most clients are from the tri-state area, she has traveled as far as California to lend her organizational skills to clients in need.
“I did pretty well at the beginning because I’m originally from Stamford, so I have a lot of family and friends in the area,” Radman said. “It was mostly word-of-mouth from the beginning. Truthfully, I really had not advertised at all, and in one year, I had to say that I’m now booking two months out, so I’m quite proud of how far we’ve come.”
Radman says it is no coincidence that her business shares a name with the English sailing ship that arrived on America’s shores in 1620, carrying 102 pilgrims from England.
“You might guess, I am a descendent of the Mayflower, my relatives on my dad’s side, so I come from a very hard-working family with good work ethics,” Radman said. “I just thought it was a fitting name, you know, hard-working people from the Mayflower, so that’s why I chose it.”
Radman has also seen success in sharing her skills with others through her lecture series, “The Art of Home Organizing.” Her next lecture will be held May 14 at Stamford Library.
“I am now doing speaking engagements for local libraries and various non-profit groups,” Radman said. “The Westport Library just contacted me about speaking to them this Fall, as well as the Greenwich debut of YMCA, I just spoke at the Bronxville Library last week, so I’m now going around to different agencies, libraries, non-profits, and even companies and teaching people how to do it themselves, DIY home organizing. So I’m really just taking on the role of an educator at this point, which is really nice.”
In an effort to give back to the community, Radman has also partnered with several nonprofit organizations, including Stamford Hospital, Junior League of Greenwich, Getabout New Canaan, and more, to whom she donates a free day of home organizing each month.
More information about Radman’s business can be found on her website.