Women in business: You Need A Vicky

Vicky Silverthorn is…wait for it… a professional organiser. She started a business called ‘You Need A Vicky’ ten years ago and since then her business has grown hugely and she has been helping people by helping them to adjust their habits ever since. This helps us to save space and time which many urban environments are missing.

Vicky runs a business which helps people to find that Zen, enabled by domestic organisation. We all know the joy and satisfaction you can get from Feng Shui-ing your sock drawer, your makeup bag or your handbag…sometimes this is done once a year as a spring clean, and sometimes this is done regularly and a weight feels lifted. 

It was a pleasure to find out more about how much Vicky advocates the philosophy of ‘tidy house, tidy mind’. In times of uncertainty such as those we are now accustomed to, it is tricky to find parts of our lives that we are able to control. Our immediate bubbles and closest environments are what we want to hold onto and be JUST SO. Vicky works to spread this message that small changes can lead to bigger and better things in our worlds, and bring more peace to our mindsets. This in turn, allows us to see and experience what we interact with in a much more positive way. And by doing so, allows for more optimistic outlooks. 

For me - it is a running joke with close friends of mine that I am meticulously organised and never late, almost in an obsessive and annoying way. Although I appreciate that too much of this behaviourism can be a bad thing, there is undeniable satisfaction that can be obtained from – for want of a better phrase - feeling like you at that moment, ‘have your shit together’. As this can help the rest of your world feel more aligned and on track, even if only for a little while. Being ‘on track’ however is definitely not a necessity or happiness, and it is key to realise that spontaneity is a catalyst for some of life’s greatest adventures. But you can be spontaneous AND organised – it is key to find a balance and chatting with Vicky definitely opened my mind to this philosophy. 

What made you start 'You Need A Vicky'? Have you always been passionate about this? 

I knew there was a gap in the market for home organisation or professional organising services, and I was really ready to follow my dream of starting my own business. Back in 2010, it was still a very unusual career choice and I have to be honest, I kind of liked that too! 

What is the USP of the business? 

I was a PA for ten years but rather than sitting at a desk and being on a computer for that entire time, my job really did involve the organisation of space and logistics – ensuring the way our surroundings were organised worked for my bosses and their lives. 

What obstacles have you overcome during the initial growth and birth of the business? 

I think initially, working at getting people’s heads around the fact there was a service that existed that physically decluttered and organised homes. Even that concept was hard for people to understand, but I loved and thrived off the challenge. 

I don’t feel like many people had that much faith in the idea at the time, but I just knew and again, any negativity I used and twisted to give me the extra drive and push you need when you start a business. 

The company I have created is a serious business. We are serious professional organisers. We don’t just put pretty baskets in cupboards (although that can be a small part of it), and there is a lot of explaining that -that isn’t the solution the majority of the time. 

Why do you think people find such peace in being organised? Is there an inherent satisfaction in feeling in control? 

The psychological studies are full of explanations which are just fascinating. The link between visual distraction, chaos and the mind are so clear. The mind processes our surroundings every second of the day without us even being aware it’s doing so. Imagine the difference then between a full, extremely cluttered space and a neat space that isn’t even half as full. 

Less stuff equals less work for the mind and more head space. Often the stuff around us is like a physical to-do list…that can easily cause overwhelm and the feeling that you are constantly behind. You can see where I’m going here…less stuff, less of a to-do list, less pressure, less overwhelm. 

Control, as you say, is a key word. 

Can you name your three best life hacks for keeping your bedroom tidy and sustainable? 

1. Give everything a home.

2. Put away as you go.

3. Declutter anything you label as something you can ‘live without’. 

If you could give three words to summarise the first stages of starting your business what would they be? 

I would say – energising, perseverance and patience! 

Have you seen an increase in attention since COVID-19? How have your clients attitudes and priorities changed during the past few months in these times? 

I think I’ve seen that there are two camps… 

Camp 1: They are sick of reading about how they should be doing DIY, decluttering and more cleaning and that this is the chance to make a perfect home! Home schooling AND working from home and all of the challenges they bring is enough for anyone’s plates to feel full. 

Camp 2: They are cramming in every single bit of craft, DIY and extra home activity possible and this has helped to get them through this strange time. 

Both camps know what is going to work for them and I think that’s great. 

For me, I have been so busy mainly making videos for publications and contributing to articles. I’ve loved it. I think I have contributed to more in the space of the last three months than I ever had which has definitely relieved any boredom. 

What tips would you give to women who are looking to start a business and make their passion their income?? 

Research. 

Ask reliable friends what they think.

Go with your gut feeling. 

Research some more. 

Don’t spend lots of money if you go ahead and start your business – spend as little as possible initially. 

Speak to other business owners and learn about their successes and just as importantly their failings! 

I really enjoyed the book 'Start with your Sock Drawer'. Do you have anything else in the pipeline? 

I am in the processes of working with a production company on a YouTube channel which is really exciting. It wouldn’t be something I would have been able to do as well by myself, so I am really grateful for their professional input. 

In addition to that, I am still working hard as Bisley’s Ambassador and John Lewis’s official storage expert which is fantastic! 

Oh, and there is a new Instagram page coming very soon too 😊 

You say that clearing spaces helps to clear the mind. Do you think this element of therapeutic energy in the domestic environment is useful to help calm people in uncertain times, like the ones we are currently experiencing? 

Without a doubt – the energy of a room completely changes when it’s been cleared and organised. In turn, we then feed off this positive energy and can find ourselves calmer, more focused, able to think more clearly and with more energy. 

What would you say is a favourite career highlight to date? 

I think there are several but here are a few. 

Being on the side of a stage at Glastonbury when Lily Allen (my boss at the time) performed to around 150,000 people. Major highlight! To this day I get goosebumps when I think about it. 

When I did my first talk at a big conference was also amazing. I followed the Beatles old PA Freda Kelly and assumed everyone would leave after she’d come off stage and they didn’t. Then they queued to speak to me afterwards! 

The first time I appeared on ITV’s This Morning live on TV – I love new experiences and I realised I wasn’t nervous; I was just excited! 

In 2019 you celebrated 10 years of your business, how have you seen people’s appetites and interest to what you do evolving during that 10 year period? 

Now, it is far more well known as an industry which Marie Kondo has been a huge part of, of course. Whereas people used to sometimes hide the fact they’d used us in their homes, now they don’t mind sharing as the trend had grown. 

What words of wisdom would you like to leave us with?

I believe most people could declutter 50% of the contents of their houses and live exactly the same life, not feeling they are lacking any vital items. 

Shop more mindfully and think before you buy.

Be aware of what’s coming into your home in comparison to what leaves it.

Shopping should be an experience and not a habit that brings guilt with it.

Vicky’s work helps people to feel on top of things and remember that the little things such as getting rid of what we don’t need could be great, we can find them a more worthy home perhaps via a charity shop or they could even be recycled. As we need to remember in today’s world, when something is gone from your life it is not gone from the world. There is even more purpose here in what Vicky does as she helps clutter become something good and its overall lifecycle becomes more positive. 

It has been fascinating to hear the science from Vicky as to how decluttering can provide mental clarity and therefore greater productivity. As a proud feminist, I am conscious that being tidy and domesticated can be regarded as a female or a feminine behaviour. Adopting such habits are beneficial to everyone. This is not OCD. Yes, my quinoa has its own glass jar, which is separate to my bulgur wheat, cuff me. Having things your own way and embracing that way in order to save time, efficiently and save our planet can keep you focused. Looking after things, helps us look after each other. 

We could all do with a Vicky, and her business is therefore aptly named. Organisation makes me feel at peace. There is comfort in this efficiency. We all know that nowadays we need to live in a more efficient way to help prevent waste and assist in making the world a less cluttered place.

Follow You Need A Vicky on Instagram at @youneedavicky