From the Orlando Sentinel :

Dec 25, 2006

As 2007 fast approaches, these pros are on the move; Demand soars for improvement services as Central Floridians shape up for new year!

by Laura Brost and Sara K. Clarke, Sentinel Staff Writers

The new year means one thing -- a fresh start. Many Central Florida businesses from house cleaners to financial planners are ready to help people turn over a new leaf next week. Though the season for attacking resolutions can be the busiest of the whole year for some companies, the rush is welcomed.

Here's a look at Central Floridians who are in demand during the new year.

Get organized.

Rachel Logan says come January, lots of people want to get their homes organized.

"I think the new year does sort of light a fire under people," Logan, 38, said.

She should know. Logan owns Breathing Space, an organizing company she started in Orlando in January. Her business, which focuses on decluttering rooms, throwing away unnecessary items and even rearranging pantries, sees at least a 50 percent increase in January.

But it's not just the home that needs an organizer's touch. According to reports on the National Association of Professional Organizers Web site, the average person wastes one hour a day looking for misplaced items and papers on a cluttered desk at work.

Athenee Mastrangelo, 38, of Chaos Organizing in Longwood helps small businesses get their offices and desks in order, and ensures their maintenance as well.

"I go in for coaching," said Mastrangelo, who worked as an office manager before starting her own business about four years ago. "I look at your office, give you a questionnaire, an assessment, e-mail and phone support along the way."

Taking care of taxes is a big reason for getting the piles of paper in files, whether job-related or personal.

"A lot of people have home offices, and they just have paper everywhere," said Bonnie Miller, who started her own organizing business in Winter Springs in 1998.

Before heading up Utterly Organized Inc., Miller, 58, worked for corporations where organizing was in her job description. Though she has been in the business for years, she thinks Central Florida has just recently awakened to the trend.

"I think there's more awareness in Orlando about the profession and how much they can help people because everyone is just so busy and there's just so much to do and get done," she said.

All three organizers say people are usually embarrassed about their clutter and disarray. But by the end, customers are usually ready to start a new year and surprised by how much space they have.

"I've had, so far, very good results," Mastrangelo said.

But, she added, anything the pros do, has to be kept up by the client.

"You can't have someone come in and do it all and then not maintain it," she said.

Straighten out the finances

Right now, Larry Breen's clients are concerned with things like year-end tax planning and evaluating retirement plan options.

But come January, Breen said there's a little spurt of people looking to finally get their financial house in order.

"For whatever reason, this is the time of year that people are contemplating things that are very important to them," said Breen, president and CEO of Breen Financial Management in Lake Mary.

As families gather for the holidays, planning for one's well-being is fresh in one's mind, he said.

"That's the only reason you plan, is to improve your life and improve the lives of those that you love," he said.

According to one financial professional, now's a good time to budget for the new year and look at what you would like to accomplish.

But many people are reluctant to plan ahead, and are more reactive than proactive, said Gary Kane of Kane & Associates, an accounting firm in Winter Park.

"I have found that so many small businesses do absolutely nothing when it comes to planning," he said.

Get fit

The Central Florida YMCA started prepping for January back in October: Sprucing up facilities, changing carpets and ordering new equipment just in time for the holidays.

As people vow to get in shape, the YMCA is resolving to help them find an enjoyable way to meet their goals.

"January, for us, is like the Super Bowl," said Cynthia Allen Smith, vice president of membership development. "We have a lot of new people that have never tried getting fit before."

Most YMCAs are open on New Year's Day to help people get a jump-start on their resolution. And discounts and special programs aim to help people get started on the right foot.

"We feel that those first six weeks are critical if they're trying to make a lifestyle change," Smith said.

For many, staying with a workout program through the new year is tough. Personal trainer Craig Dill said many New Year's resolution customers drop off by mid-February. About one in 10 sticks it out, he said.

"You wind up with the occasional person who becomes dedicated," he said.

Dill, who works at Eclipse Personal Training Center in Winter Park, said some people come in with unreasonable expectations of how easily they'll meet their goals.

"I scare off a lot of people with the initial pep talk," he said.

For the new year, he's hoping for a boost in business.

"Lord willing, it will get very busy," he said.

New Year's cleaning

Customers in need of cleaning call before the parties, after the parties -- and those who are experienced know to book way ahead of time.

For Tamy and Phil Minshall of Supreme Steam Carpet & Tile Inc. in Apopka, the holidays are the busiest time of the year.

"Thanksgiving to New Year's, because of all the parties," brings in double the normal business, Tamy Minshall said.

Along with big get-togethers from November to January, New Year's resolutions that motivate people to get houses and offices cleaned also pump up demand for housekeeping services.

C.J. Eastman, part-owner of three Merry Maids franchises in the Orlando area, estimates she has cleaned for 150 parties this holiday season. She says her company does most cleaning in preparation for the holiday parties, though 15 percent to 20 percent of her clients will schedule a cleaning both before and after festivities.

For Nancy Field, however, it's the opposite. "We clean up after a lot of parties," said Field, part-owner of Nancy's Cleaning Service in Ocoee. "We go in and pull down the bar and do all the dishes and everything."

Though busy, it's the party season that provides the long-term, year-round customers for cleaning services.

"A lot of people during the holiday season start with a one-time cleaning and then end up doing regular cleanings after that," said Eastman, who cleans once a week or twice a month for 80 percent of her customers.

Field's business works a lot with office and commercial cleaning.

"For some reason, after the holidays is an opportunity to pick up offices," Field said. "Everyone is doing their new fiscal year, and that's the opportunity to pick up our longtime customers."

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