Client Testimonials
Lois has been amazing. Her plan was perfect. She oversaw all the details in her mandate so well. My staff enjoyed working with her. We are moved in and love our new office!
Many thanks for helping to make our move so effective, efficient and problem free!
Lillian Vineberg
Lois, just wanted to tell you how much we are enjoying living in our new home and how much all the little details you put your stamp on.... like the hooks behind so many doors, your using the file organizer to place the trays in the kitchen cupboard, the bath mat rod under the kitchen sink and in each shower, the white sheets you made materialize within hours of me mentioning my interest in them, and the extra shelves that appeared the day after you realized that they would be so useful and so many more conveniences, all in the time of Covid, to name but a few, make living here sooooo much fun. Your upbeat personality, energy and physical strength made you a dream to work with. You are the best!!!! Lucky hubby, lucky kids!
Evelyn S.
My boss and I were in New York City for work when he found out he had 2 days to move out of his apartment...in Montreal. I had no idea what to do. It's a miracle that I found Susan. She facilitated packing up his entire apartment, finding movers (that would work on Labor Day weekend) and transporting his belongings to his new place in Toronto. There is no one else who could have handled the logistics of this project with such ease. Susan was meticulous, patient, and professional. I don't know what I would have done without her expertise.
James Coker
Freelance Production Assistant: Television and Commercials
It was an extraordinary, positive, cleansing, and therapeutic experience to work with Lois and Susan. Though they come to their work from different personality perspectives, the result is not just a change that creates an efficient office or an organized closet, but also a change in you, the client. Lois' charm and patience and Susan's talent and dynamism combine to get rid of both room and personal clutter, which ultimately leaves you feeling in control and empowered. Most therapists would give their right arm to achieve this result in their work. Thank you both.
Ruth Feder
Psychotherapist
Yesterday was wonderful. Lorna is professional, graceful, attentive and very tasteful! She answered all my questions and gave me very supportive and constructive feedback. We went through my clothes, removed the ones that don't fit, matched clothes appropriately. Afterwards we went shopping. This was a lot of fun and I was able to pick up a few very nice pieces at good prices! I'd recommend her to everyone, and would ask for her advice anytime. Thank you so much for setting this up for me! It was greatly needed!
George Joseph Nimeh
I have always considered myself quite organized – clearly, an illusion, as my recurring day to day operational annoyance was not being able to find the document I needed when I needed it. Even if it was where it was supposed to be, that was not where I was looking. So... Susan Portnoy turns up, and, lo and behold, she has all these new, insightful and elegant ideas that simplify everything – and she brings this to bear with a unique combination of focus, diligence, balance, support and humour. She is an unmitigated pleasure to work with. Now, things are where they are supposed to be and I actually know where to look. Thank you very much, Susan, for giving new meaning to the word 'organized'.
Michael Crelinsten
Executive Director, YM-YWHA JCC of Montreal
I am the kind of person who feels relaxed only when my home is tidy. However, I also hate organizing. So, although my place usually appeared neat and clean, my drawers and closets were jam-packed and messy. Whenever I needed anything at all, for example a picture hook, a light bulb, etc., I had to search in many places before I either found what I wanted or gave up and bought another! My clothes closet was so overfilled that I did not know what clothes I had; what I did find was, more often than not, too wrinkled to wear.
Finally, I decided to get some help and found Lois Kaplan. What is really wonderful about Lois is that she organized my space specifically according to my needs and lifestyle. For example, after looking at my main clothes closet, she asked me many questions about how I dress and the type of clothes I like to wear. Based on my responses, she arranged and organized my clothes so that it would be easy for me to choose what I wanted to wear on any occasion, as well as to maintain everything in the same order. Of course, she helped me sort through my things and decide what I did and did not need to keep. That was the only hard part. The rest was very easy!
I was so pleased with what Lois accomplished for me with my clothes, that I asked her to organize everything! She organized everything in my kitchen (and put all my spices into labeled containers), my hobby equipment, my home office (including my filing system) and my storage locker.
If someone had told me that organizing my house would be an uplifting experience, I would not have believed it. But almost every day, I silently thank Lois. I never have to search for anything. I know exactly where things are and where they should be put away. I can now 'shop' in my closet and wear clothes that I had forgotten I owned! And after many months, I can easily keep my spaces organized and uncluttered.
My home is now serene, and life is easy.
Jocelyne Feine
I should have hired Susan and her team five years ago when we opened our business. They blew in like a bunch of organizational good fairies and quickly showed us how to set up our filing, our supplies and just make our business go so much smoother. We can find everything now! We are super impressed with Organized Success – they were worth every penny and more!
Amy Fish
Servicelab Canada Inc.
I cannot thank everyone enough for all of your time and effort in helping my parents through this very difficult move to their new condo. If it were not for you, I have no idea how this transition could have ever happened. You are all amazing!!
You seriously performed a mitzvah here and I thank G-d that I found your service. Being away in New York has been so hard, and knowing that your team was on the case helped to put my mind at ease.
I would be more than happy to serve as a testimonial any time, and refer your services to anyone going though a move – especially for older parents who have children living out of town.
Words cannot fully describe how thankful I am.
Stacey Kotler
Susan, just a note to say thank you so much for all your help yesterday. Your focus and strategic organizational skills are outstanding! I know that I will enjoy the benefits of my new system in the months ahead. Looking forward to working with you again in the New Year.
Heather Taylor
Executive Assistant
YM-YWHA
Hi Lois, I was just thinking of you and wanted to thank you for your help during the last year. Thanks to you all my income tax information for 2009 is ready to go and the documents which I have started accumulating for 2010 are accumulating in an orderly fashion. Just words of thanks as you have made my life so much easier and less stressful! Thanks again as your system is still working and I use it every day!
Frances
Hi Susan, Just wanted to thank you for the wonderful lecture you gave this afternoon. Hearing your words was a reminder that it was you who taught me some invaluable organizational skills that I have been using since we worked together almost seven years ago. You should know that the lessons you taught me have remained with me through these years and have been essential to keeping my busy household running smoothly. Thanks again!
Claudia Polachek
I am enjoying my new filing system very much – it gives me the illusion of control over the multiplicity and fragmentation of daily life! Many thanks for your help and enlightenment, Susan.
Mary-Louise Engels
Ph. D., Clinical Psychologist
Again thank you for a job well done. We are very impressed with your professionalism, efficiency and attention to detail. It was a pleasure to work with you.
Anne Jewett
Deloitte & Touche, Toronto
I want to express my gratitude to you all. About 3 years ago, I knew that I needed help in organizing my life. After 25 years in the same house, I moved and downsized. At the same time, my mother had just passed away. I needed to settle her affairs, as well as to deal with the contents of her house, where she had lived for 47 years. So here I was, with half the space and twice the stuff. The task was daunting!
That's when Organized Success entered my life. When you came to my house, Susan, to assess my 'balagan', you assured me, that you had seen much worse....
We made a plan and we got to work. We began by doing a 'triage'. What items did I really need, really want? It was efficient and I actually made decisions. I felt motivated and on a mission.
In the end I could now use my den and my basement, because the clutter was gone. My wardrobe was reorganized, so that my clothing could be easily accessed. Family heirlooms could now be displayed in my dining room. Everything was given a 'home'. Family documents, photographs & memorabilia were documented in a special album that my family is enjoying and will cherish forever. I actually felt sad when the ladies finished their jobs, as they had become good friends.
What impressed me most of all, was the compassion that you, Susan, expressed for my situation. This was not just a job for you, but rather a passion, a mission, to bring order and serenity to people's lives. You have high standards, and it is reflected in your team.
I had the pleasure of working with Andrea, Lois and Ronit, each of whom was wonderful & caring. Thank you, all, for your patience, time, commitment and devotion.
NT
Susan Portnoy's professional help and expert knowledge were put to work when she organized a superb filing system for me. I had recently moved, and as we went through piles – and piles and more piles! – of papers, she effortlessly and expertly organized absolutely everything. Her warmth and caring shone through: she is a true blessing.
Paula Blitstein
Educator
Omigosh Elaine, you are brilliant! This is even better than what you had before – I especially like the 1200 long-distance minutes free (now I don’t need to go through that direct access mess with DCI). Where do we sign up for the Elaine Lang fan club? I am very happy. Thanks a million.
Deborah Stupple
Cogitco
Dear Susan, I want to thank you and your "Organized Success family" for becoming part of my family.
I work full time and the idea of unpacking and organizing my kitchen after major renovations was overwhelming. I did not know where to begin.
You and Lois were available and ready to help me at all hours of the day and night. Lois rearranged her schedule to accommodate mine. She was here when the workers were still in the middle of putting things together and it is because of her quick thinking that many mistakes were avoided. I watched, in awe, as Lois transformed a disorganized mess into a beautiful, organized and efficient kitchen.
As a result of all of your hard work, I now have a dream kitchen. Everything is easily accessible, functional and at my fingertips. All I do is lean over and take what I need and replace it in seconds. The organization of my kitchen is not only a work of art, but efficiency personified. Best of all, no one needs to ask me where to put anything. Everything is beautifully organized and clearly labeled and, therefore, easy to put back in its place.
Thank you, Susan, for everything: for all of your phone calls to get people to do the things they were supposed to do, your availability, your flexibility, your positive attitude, your talent and your charming personality. It was a pleasure working with you and all of your staff.
Once again, I thank you for sharing your family with me. Who said you can't pick your family!!
Dr. Miriam Scherer Berkovic
Susan's wealth of tips and knack for knowing what works is what makes her so successful at what she does.
Gary E. Polacheck
CEO
Magil Laurentienne
The first time Susan worked with us, she helped one of our partners organize his office. Understanding his needs and apprehensions, she not only left his office well-organized and clutter-free, she also helped him change his work habits so he could keep things in order on his own. She even trained his assistant!
Because that first experience was so positive, we asked Susan and Jacqueline to hold sessions for all our staff – most of whom are moving to a new building. To give everyone a fresh start, Susan helped them think differently about organizing their workspaces, and offered them very practical, easily implemented tips. Jacqueline enhanced the presentation by discussing the role of colour and ergonomics in the workspace. After the sessions, our people were much more enthusiastic about the office change. Thanks, Susan and Jacqueline!
Chantal Lamoureux, LL.B., CRHA-CHRP
HR Tax Associate Director
Ernst and Young, Montreal
Forget about the others. Susan Portnoy has come up with the gold standard of "to do" lists. You will do three times what you did before in half the time. I was totally overwhelmed by re-organizing my office. The way Susan chopped up the job into small pieces miraculously transformed a dreaded task into a fun project. Susan Portnoy has achieved the impossible. As I wandered from one task to another, she got me back on track. What happened? The job got done. Her filing system did more than just help me keep my papers in order. It gave me the gift of time to do whatever I wanted.
Tommy Schnurmacher
CJAD Radio
