Brand Interview – Mary Carlomagno, Author and Founder of Order.

Brand Interview – Mary Carlomagno, Author and Founder of order.

Mary Carlomagno

How long has your company been in business? Please tell us a bit about your company, its mission, goals…
order was founded in 2005 to help busy people get organized.  With the idea that stuff should not control your life, we help people deal with the emotions behind clutter and tackle those first.  It is never really about the stuff.  Our techniques rely heavily on how to deal with the emotional and mental side to why we keep things, why we cannot get organized and most importantly, what is holding us back from living the life we imagined, to quote Thoreau!  In the end, people find more space and time to do the more meaningful things in their lives that perhaps they have been missing due to excessive shopping, clutter or disorganization.

Do you donate to charities? Tell us about that also and why.
I donate to charities constantly, especially churches and homeless shelters. By the nature of my work, I often have bags of clothing and household items that can be put to good use.  Personally, I practice what I preach as well, constantly passing things along to those in need.

How did you know what typeface (font) would be right for your company wordmark or logo? If your logo has an illustration, describe why that art was the right thing, animal, place, object, etc…
I love lower case fonts that are simple and pure.  They inspired me to create the letters of order.

How did you decide on the right color palette to fit your company look and feel?
I chose colors that I liked, that I would have in my wardrobe perhaps. Color can really convey an emotion and I kept that in mind when choosing my logo.

Mary Carlomagno - order logo

How did you decide which type of designer to work with, or did you design your own identity and web presence?
I was interested in building a website, so I asked around through my networking groups, which how I get most of my business providers. A friend showed me her own website and recommended that I talk with Two Thirty Media in Canada. They had designed her website and were very easy to work with.  They did a great job.

In what order did you present your company to the world? Did you start with marketing and products, or website, blog and social media?
Website first and the rest followed. Speaking and writing became a major focus of my work and at first I designed the website to drive the client business. Today, the website does it all including information about my books and articles too.

How long after the launch of your company did you start pitching in social media?
It took me a few years to get involved in social media, just this year in fact!  I now have a Twitter and Facebook page devoted to my business. I tweet tips and post ideas to Facebook regularly and find it a great way to build a following and start discussions. It can also be great to find ideas, referrals and resources.

Did you do research or study any software, take webinars, teleclasses, before approaching any area of your marketing or web presence?
NO

Do you advertise locally in newspapers and/or nationally in magazines? Are they effective?
At times, local ads, but not very many, my business is referral based. I have done Hoboken Reporter ads in the past as well as doing listings on Yahoo Groups that I belong to. None of the ads have ever done anything for creating business. The thing that works the best for my kind of work is referrals through friends and occassionally I get called if someone sees me on tv or hears me on the radio being interviewed for a book that I have written.

Do you advertise online using Google, Facebook or on other company sites? Are they effective?
Yes, google at times.

When you printed your products, packaging, business cards and other print marketing did you choose an online printer or visit a local vendor?
I do my printing locally at either The Office or Mimosa Digital.

Did you know anything about different types of papers, when you wanted to print your marketing materials?
I do know about paper ( I used to buy printing) I like matte card stock quality.

Have you ever used “green” technology in printing, using FSC certified papers or recycled paper and if not, how likely are you at trying this on a next project?
Not applicable.

If you sell products, are they produced in the U.S.A. or abroad?
Not applicable for my site.  My three books are sold through amazon and bn.com.

My books:

Live More Want Less by Mary Carlomagno
Live More, Want Less

Live More, Want Less gives readers a user-friendly non-judgmental approach to simplifying their lives in a week-at-a-time format. Offering personal narratives, a reflection on a Taoist-inspired “way” toward more meaning, and a list of daily practices that bring tangible change, Live More, Want Less provides universal guidelines for every reader’s unique issue. Covering themes like shopping addictions, procrastination, prioritizing, “busyness”, weight loss, and more.  Mary’s “been there, done that” approach reassures the tentative that greater clarity can be gained by voluntarily living with less, and that de-cluttering both physically and mentally can allow one to experience life more fully.

Secrets of Simplicity by Mary Carlomagno
Secrets of Simplicity
Secrets of Simplicity — Bulging in-boxes, out-of-control stress, and even climate change serve as reminders that when it comes to being happy and healthy, less is more. In this interactive journal, organization expert Mary Carlomagno leads readers on a journey toward release and discovery. Guided by the principle that the way you spend your time and money should reflect your true priorities, Secrets of Simplicity shows how to make practical changes to unburden your closets and calendars and make room for what’s really important. Readers can record their successes, as they de-clutter their homes and in the process, their minds.

Give It Up! by Mary Carlomagno
Give it Up! My year of Learning to Live Better with Less (PAPERBACK RELEASE JANUARY 2012!)
A refreshing book demonstrates how giving something up often results in gaining something important.
“Entertaining Reading” “Publishers Weekly
” Inspirational and thought provoking – Library Journal
 “Book for a Better Life” selection Timeonline.com
Like most people, Mary Carlomagno was stressed out, over scheduled, and tripping over the clutter of her days—until she decided to take control.  Each month, she renounced one thing: alcohol, shopping, elevators, newspapers, cell phones, dining out, television, taxis, coffee, cursing, chocolate and multitasking.  Find out more about her journey in her new book, Give It Up!

Is there anything you haven’t yet tackled, but will want to do soon?
More Media!  My goal is to be the host of a television or radio program based on my work.

To find out more about Mary Carlomagno, order, and her books, visit the links below:

Website: orderperiod.com
Twitter: @marycarlomagno
Facebook: Mary Carlomagno
LinkedIn: Mary Carlomagno

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