OrganizingLA Blog

Newell-Rubbermaid Reports 4Q Net Income Up 33-Percent

Large companies are cashing-in with America's large fascination with organization, and products that help.

Net income for Newell Rubbermaid, global marketer of consumer and commercial products, climbed 33-percent for the period ending December 31, 2006.  For all of 2006, net income as reported was $385 million, up from $251.3 million for 2005.  These numbers include the cleaning, organization and decor segment and results were released January 30th.

Mark Ketchum, Newell Rubbermaid’s president and chief executive officer, attributed the improvement to the company’s strategy of focusing on higher margin products and optimizing its portfolio of companies.

Source:  Newell Rubbermaid Press Releases

January Get Organized Contest Ends in Two Days

Just two days left to enter our first Get Organized contest!  Stay tuned to the end of this post for a teaser on our February contest, open to all OrganizingLA Blog readers.

Prize this month include:

• 45-minute phone consultation with Los Angeles organizing expert John Trosko
• $50 gift certificate to the Container Store

To enter, you must enter your e-mail address and join our Feedblitz e-mail digest.

Enter our contest by adding your Email


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Click here for more information and prize rules.  Contest ends January 31st 11:59pm.

On or around February 5th, we're also announcing an exciting electronic organizing contest for February, which will include all blog readers, both Feedblitz folks and RSS-feed.

Today Show Hosts "Perfect Mess" Co-Author Daniel H. Freedman

Imagine never having your parents nag you about keeping a clean room.  Is "organization" over-rated?

This morning, The Today Show and Matt Lauer hosted "Perfect Mess" author Daniel H. Freedman along with video of messy Americans who "claim" they're sick and tired of feeling awful about their messes."

The piece hosted by corespondent Kevin Tibbles ends with a interview with Lauer and Elizabeth Mayhew, Today Show Lifestyle Expert and former editorial development director for Time Inc.'s Real Simple magazine.

Click here to see the video, on the MSN site.

We've written about the story (click here to read the post) and well, the Internet is just buzzing.  This is such a stimulating concept, and we're respectful of the conversation the book brings up:  is America's passion for organization unignitiing America's passion for creativity?

The authors say "the more messy the desk, the more fertile the mind."

What do you think?

Related posts:

• The dangers of disorganization for small business
• Compulsive hoarding article in Parade Magazine
• A "Perfect Mess" - get out of jail card if you embrace clutter

Hat tip to blog reader Daniel for e-mailing us the story this morning.

Constance Marie Thinks It's Pretentious To Have Lifestyle Help

Constance Marie, star of the George Lopez show feels compelled to do everything herself, and receive very little outside "lifestyle" assistance.

In a February interview with Tu Cuidad magazine, LA's newest glossy guide to Latino LA, the ex-break dancer articulates:

"I use a stylist for events.  Honestly, it feels so pretentious.  That's why I haven't hired an assistant. I did break down and get a Blackberry.  That's my assistant for now."

We'd like to let Ms. Marie know it's okay to also have human assistance at the house and for scheduling appointments-- it's not a sign of weakness, but a sign of the times.  You're busy, you're hurried, why not delegate and do the things you really enjoy?

Even folks who were given the gene for organized behavior need a little help sometimes.  Small business owners think they have to tackle everything by themselves.  Many suffer from perfectionism, which lands them into a difficult place.

And by the way, click here if you'd like to translate this post instantly into Spanish, or click here to go to our post with easy instructions to translate just about any language you can think of. 

Photo above courtesy WCHS-8, Charleston-Huntington, WV

Related Posts:

• New book highlights the world of Hollywood's celebrity personal assistants

Organizing Paperwork with NeatReceipts (Martha Stewart How-To Video)

Ah, the thought of organizing bookkeeping and reimbursements.

I remember my days at Disney, when someone wouldn't get their expense reimbursement approved if all the "i's" weren't dotted, and "t's" tee'd.  I learned how to tape receipts on four sides so the paper wouldn't get caught in the photocopy machine.  I learned how to circle dates, stores, write how's and why's and keep copies of all materials that we sent to accounting on the second floor.  It was a long-learning experience, not just in organization, but in learning to respond to a bookkeeper's need for paper perfection-- or else.  Luckily Disney introduced SAP and things got much easier, in a way.

Those Disney days are over, and I am also happy to say, the days (and I mean days) of receipts that can accompany a big professional organizing or relocation job.  Because our company has discovered NeatReceipts, through a techno-loving client.

Stylish Footwear Storage Doubles As Art?

We found these through Danielle de Lange's Style Files blog.

Part art, part organization-- a great modular shoe storage system.  Wall-mounted, they're available in pink, powder blue and white powder coated steel.

For some home organizing clients, we can see them:

• In the contemporary home's entryway
• In the traditional cabana
• In a master closet where the closet width is an issue and shoe storage is needed
• Poolside, holding complimentary flip-flops for your guests

Most of all, they get the damn shoes off the floor.

More Info:

• Check out the Style Files
• See if Charlotte Tangye’s Footprint pieces are right for you

Related Posts:

• Hipster Condo Owners Required to Keep Personal Beach Cabanas Clutter-Free (11/05)