Meet Amber Gallegos

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amber Gallegos and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amber, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
In 2017, I was a single, first-time mom working as a licensed optician. The whole “9-5” thing wasn’t working for me and I would come home from work to my baby fast asleep for the night. I Googled “Ways To Work For Myself” and the first thing that caught my attention was starting a cleaning business. I personally didn’t want to scrub and deep clean ovens, but I knew I could transform any space. Ever since my elementary years, I was always the friend that people called to help clean-up their rooms and organize their closets. What kind of person enjoys emptying out desk drawers and sorting through paperclips? Well, that would be me. At the time, a professional organizer was a newer profession and people were just getting comfortable with inviting strangers into their homes. I took on smaller projects for close friends and family and posted pictures of before and after transformations. It was difficult to persuade everyone that what I was doing was legitimate but I believed in my new craft. Those closest to me encouraged me to start a separate social media account to start posting my work on a more consistent basis. I didn’t know it then but I was creating a platform for what would eventually be my professional organizing business, The Neatery.

What should our readers know about your business?
Imposter syndrome is very real. I was answering emails, creating content, gaining clientele, tracking accounts, procuring materials but couldn’t accept that I was becoming a business owner and running my own business. Somehow, seeing other women accomplish the same thing in my field seemed so far out of reach. As a mom of 3, managing my own home while overseeing client’s homes can come with a lot of pressure. It’s hard being a professional organizer and feeling like my own life can become disorganized at times. But just like I tell my clients, it doesn’t need to be perfect.and it doesn’t need to happen overnight

I started this company with the hopes of having employees someday, but I think what makes my business so unique is the value I bring individually. There is something about having someone take inventory of your items and give you best possible layout for success. My photographic memory certainly helps but I genuinely take interest in improving every single person’s home and daily routine. Sometimes the smallest adjustments can make the biggest difference, so my attention to detail is what sets me apart. Square footage is expensive here in San Diego! My goal is to maximize your space by minimizing your clutter.

Your physical space is a direct reflection of who you are as individual and building healthy habits starts in the home. My services are an investment and I pride myself on improving client’s productivity, mood and overall lifestyle. The systems I create are meant to be modular and easily adjustable as your life evolves over time.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m a North County Girly. I love the scenery in my hometown, but I will always be up for a trip Downtown. My dream day would be spent near Seaport Village and grabbing beignets from our favorite Louisiana inspired restaurant. I’d walk over to Horton Plaza and catch a glimpse of the Gaslamp District. I would make my way over to The Melt and sit in my usual spot enjoying my Mac n’ Cheese Grilled Cheese with Bacon. I’d have about an hour before the Padre’s game starts at Petco Park, so I would walk around Gallagher Square and let my kids explore the playground area. I’m hoping the game ends early so we can use our San Diego Zoo passes and spend a few hours at the zoo before we head home.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a shout out to my parents who are no longer here with us. There is something incredibly humbling and tragic about losing both of your parents at a young age, but I am so grateful for the 20+ years I had with them. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of them or ponder about their thoughts on my growing business or growing family. I’d like to give another shoutout to my children, Moses, Moriah and Samuel. They are not only my little organizers in training, but my biggest cheerleaders and blessings. I would also like to shout out to my Godparents, Lori and Aldo, for their genuine generosity and interest in my life. For without their guidance and direction, I would not be on this path.

Website: https://www.TheNeatery.com

Instagram: @TheNeatery

Facebook: @TheNeatery

Youtube: @TheNeatery

Image Credits
@wylderphotography