1.  What is NAPO Chicago?

NAPO Chicago is one of the oldest (founded in 1990) and largest (approximately 100 members) chapters that make up the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals. Our members are specialists in the following:

• Home and family organizing—these topics are popular with the public and appear everywhere—in magazines, on television, in online blogs, in books and with public speakers. People have belongings that are disorganized and make their homes feel cluttered. They can’t find convenient ways to store things. Their families struggle with establishing habits that would keep their lives in order.
• Professional Organizers are experts who help them physically de-clutter their homes and solve their storage problems. Our members help organize family belongings of all kinds—kitchens, closets, children’s rooms, storage areas, household records, home offices, photos, memorabilia, and other items. They patiently guide those with long-term organizing challenges to learn new skills. They provide support and expertise to clients who need to reorganize their lives in response to major life events.
• Personal and business productivity—this involves organizing the intangibles of life—such as information and daily routines. People need to manage more information than even a good memory can keep track of and accomplish more than the time that’s available allows. They want help with mental, digital, or to-do list clutter, so they can quickly and easily find the information they’re looking for and get things done in a timely manner.
• Productivity Professionals are experts in these areas, with deep experience in time-management techniques to get more done in less time with less stress. Some help create checklists, design and document procedures, or tame to-do lists. Some specialize in organizing computer files, while others focus on financial or general business issues. In summary, they help clients manage the demands of modern life.
  

Our members share their extensive knowledge of products and techniques to help clients clear their lives of stress, so they can focus on what’s important. Almost all are independent business owners who each determine the kinds of clients they work with, the geographic areas they serve, the methods they use, and the fees they charge. Some work alone, some work in teams.

2.  What does it mean to be a “Business Partner” with NAPO Chicago?

Our chapter members greatly value our Business Partners and actively look for opportunities to use their services and recommend them to their clients and friends. We appreciate it when our Business Partners bring opportunities to us, too! In addition, we love seeing our Business Partners find ways to collaborate with each other. We encourage our Business Partners to participate in any and all chapter activities that interest them.

The local NAPO Chicago Business Partner program is separate from the Business Partner program at the national level of NAPO. Membership at the national level of NAPO is NOT required to be a Business Partner with the Chicago Chapter.

3.  What kinds of companies become Business Partners?

We welcome companies whose products and services are complementary to the work we do as Professional Organizers and Productivity Consultants – in both residential and business/commercial settings. We invite you to note the rotating logo display on our Home page to see our current Business Partners. Our Business Partners range in size from national brands to local single-person businesses and non-profit organizations.

4.  What are the benefits of Business Partnership?

Benefits include opportunities to network at our meetings and to promote your products and/or services to our members in-person, in our e-newsletter, on our website, and in our chapter online chat platform. We also share a wide range of educational content through our book-lending library, our digital library of educational content from national NAPO conferences, and educational speakers at monthly meetings. Subject matter includes business topics as well as organizing-related matters.

5.  Do you allow more than one business in the same category to be Business Partners?

Our chapter policy does not limit Business Partners to one company per business category; however, we are sensitive to each Business Partner's wish for a rewarding relationship with our chapter. While we avoid recruiting new Business Partners who would compete directly with current ones, we often find that similar businesses who decide to join us find ways to collaborate with each other.

6.  How much is membership?

Our Business Partner membership fees range from $180 per year for single-person businesses and non-profit organizations to $250 for the Standard benefits above, to $500 per year for companies who wish to enjoy upgraded and additional benefits at the Premium level. Fees are all-inclusive and include meetings, social and other chapter events.

7.  How can I get more information?

Our Director of Business Partners will be happy to speak with you by phone or in person. She can explain the features and benefits of our Business Partner program and answer whatever questions you may have. Send her an email to arrange a mutually convenient time to share information about your company and learn more about NAPO Chicago.

8.  How do I become a Business Partner?

Joining our chapter is an easy online process using VISA or MasterCard. However, BEFORE deciding whether to join we would like you to contact our Director of Business Partners to discuss your interest. She can give you information that will help you decide if it’s a good choice for your business.