My latest interview is with Charlotte Slankard of CHAR & Co.

Charlotte and her team proudly serve homeowners and businesses throughout the St. Louis metro area, including St. Louis, Clayton, Ladue, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Brentwood, Creve Coeur, Chesterfield, Des Peres, Frontenac, Ballwin, Town & Country, Manchester, Richmond Heights, Fenton, Crestwood, Ellisville, Sunset Hills, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, and the surrounding areas.

Welcome, Charlotte! I’m happy to have you here. How did you come up with your business name?

I wanted a name that felt personal and reflected the heart behind the business. “CHAR” comes from my nickname, and “CO.” represents the team and the community we’re building together. Organizing isn’t something I do alone. It’s a collaborative process, and every project is about working alongside our clients to create a home they truly enjoy.

How did your training and experience prepare you to become an organizer?

My organizing journey started long before I launched CHAR & CO. After selling my medical supply business, I began simplifying my own home and discovered how life-changing the organizing process could be. Inspired by Marie Kondo‘s approach, I dove into learning everything I could and eventually joined Sacred Space Organizing, where I gained hands-on experience helping clients throughout St. Louis.

Since then, I’ve worked with hundreds of clients, refining a practical, judgment-free approach that focuses on creating systems people can actually maintain. Every home and every family is different, and that experience has taught me how to meet people where they are and help them move forward with confidence.

What’s your specialty?

My specialty is helping busy families and individuals create organized, functional homes that are easier to maintain and more enjoyable to live in. While every project is different, I especially enjoy whole-home organizing, decluttering, packing and unpacking for moves, and creating simple systems that make everyday life easier.

My approach is never about perfection. It’s about understanding how each client lives, helping them let go of what no longer serves them, and designing organizing systems they can realistically maintain for years to come. I meet every client without judgment and focus on creating spaces that reduce stress and support their lifestyle.

What other services or products do you offer?

In addition to home organizing, we offer:

• Packing and unpacking services for moves
• Move support and pre-move decluttering
• Business and office organizing
• Holiday decorating, including Christmas tree styling, decorating, takedown, and organized holiday storage
• Closet, pantry, kitchen, garage, home office, playroom, basement, laundry room, and storage space organization
• Donation drop-off services as part of many organizing projects
• Personalized organizing plans and product recommendations when storage solutions are needed

Whether someone needs help organizing one room or an entire home, our goal is to create practical systems that make life simpler long after we’re gone.

How do you approach a new organizing project?

Every project starts with listening. Before we move a single item, I want to understand how my client lives, what’s frustrating them, and what they hope to accomplish. From there, we create a plan and work through our Signature 5-Step Process: prioritize, categorize, minimize, organize, and systemize.

My goal isn’t just to make a space look beautiful. It’s to create simple, practical systems that fit each client’s lifestyle and are easy to maintain long after we’re gone.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve discovered about running an organizing business?

The biggest surprise has been realizing that this business is so much more about people than it is about stuff. Clients often invite us into their homes during major life transitions like moving, downsizing, welcoming a new baby, or caring for aging parents. Building trust, listening without judgment, and helping someone move forward is every bit as important as organizing a closet or pantry.

What is the biggest challenge you currently face in your business?

One of the biggest challenges is simply managing the schedule. There are times when we’d love to help everyone who reaches out, but we can only take on so many projects at once. I’d much rather take on fewer clients and give each one the time and attention they deserve than rush through the work.

How are you marketing your business?

Most of our growth comes from word-of-mouth referrals, online reviews, and our website. We also share organizing tips and before-and-after transformations on social media, stay active in the St. Louis community, and build relationships with local businesses and professionals who serve many of the same clients we do. Our goal has always been to educate, build trust, and make it easy for people to find us when they’re ready to get organized.

What professional communities or organizations support your work?

One of the most rewarding parts of my work is finding new homes for the items my clients no longer need. Through our Blessing Our Neighbors Initiative, we’ve been able to connect furniture, household goods, and other donations with local families and organizations throughout the St. Louis area.

Outside of CHAR & CO., I enjoy staying involved in the community. I’m an Ambassador for Catholic Charities of St. Louis, Co-Chair of the Women’s League at Our Lady of Providence Parish, and have volunteered with organizations including Connections to Success and Our Lady’s Inn. Helping people, whether it’s through organizing their homes or serving the community, has always been meaningful to me.

What’s your favorite organizing product?

I’m actually not someone who believes every organizing project starts with buying products. Decluttering and creating the right system always come first.

That said, I love clear bins, quality drawer organizers, and labeled containers because they make it easy to see what you have, keep similar items together, and maintain the space over time.

The best organizing product is the one that fits the client’s home and how they naturally use the space.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

I love spending time with my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and my three grandchildren. I also enjoy traveling, especially with my girlfriends, serving my church, and volunteering with local charities. Staying connected to my family and community is something I truly value.

What else should we know about you?

I truly believe an organized home can change the way people feel and live. It’s incredibly rewarding to help someone let go of the stress that clutter creates and replace it with systems that make everyday life easier. Through our Blessing Our Neighbors Initiative, we also make sure many of our clients’ donations find new homes with local families and organizations, so the organizing process continues to make a positive impact even after a project is complete. Helping people, whether in their homes or in the community, is the most meaningful part of what I do.

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