Erin Gaskins (she/her)
Room Redefined LLC, owner
Do you have a specific area of sustainability that interests you the most? Why do you CARE about that specific area? (i.e. energy, water, waste, transportation, etc.)
As a professional organizer, I help clients let go of items they no longer want/need. It can be much easier for clients to be able to decide to let items go if we can relocate that item in a way that aligns with the client’s values. We are passionate about increasing our knowledge of places and resources where we can take items for sale, donation, and recycling so that we are eliminating waste for ourselves and our clients, and, ideally, putting items to good use in a new way!
What interests / excites you most about being involved in (Women in) sustainability? As the company owner, I have always felt the responsibility to guide my clients and my employees in ways that are most environmentally responsible. However we deal with so much “stuff” it feels like we will never be able to take care of it all in a sustainable way. In my first conversation with WIS I was given grace! To have other women commiserate that it is impossible to find a place for it all, but a worthy investment to keep pursuing new solutions was relieving. It was such a relief to hear I didn’t have to be perfect at this to be making a difference- and then to find a group that can help me continue to learn and grow.
Finish this statement: I CARE Because … everyday I visit client homes and see the overwhelm that too much “stuff” has on our lives and the planet. People are drowning in things, but don’t know how to make a change. I believe it is vital for our planet, and our health- collectively and individually- to continue to improve our relationship with our things, our spaces, and our planet.
What are one or two of your favorite sustainability tips or tricks that you like to share with others?
The organizer in me knows how important systems are to your success in things you want to accomplish. So- if sustainability is important, setting up systems within your home to support that process is key. For example, we hep clients of ours to set up an efficient place in which to store the categories of items they wish to recycle or donate. There might be one bin for clothes, one for clear plastic, and one for technology/cords/etc. Then, it is easy for the client to grab the bin and take it to their recycling drop-off location when full, or for us to clean out and take with us at each visit.
Have more to get rid of than will fit in your car to be dropped off? We love to recommend companies like Gone For Good. Gone for Good is a haul-away service that also runs a thrift store. Before taking anything to a landfill they will sort through your unwanted items to determine what they can sell or donate to others. Next they work with hard-to-recycle companies to dispose of as much as possible. This way only a very limited amount of stuff actually is taken to a landfill!
What inspires you? I am inspired by helping people feel in control of their stuff, and their space. If I can help individuals do that, they can focus their energy and time on what they love to do best!
What is your favorite quote? “He who dies with the most stuff- is still dead!”- a coffee mug
Connect with Erin:
Email: erin@roomredefined.com
Website • LinkedIn • Facebook • Instagram
Community Voices Webinar July Topic:
Redefine your Sustainable Life: How Organizing Your Space Can Help Save the Planet & You
Today’s society tells us that we should be able to balance careers and family, have space for home life and active pursuits, and take care of ourselves, our loved ones, and the environment. We should be able to do it all, right? As a professional organizer, Erin is in constant conversation with clients who are feeling the stress of trying to do it all and do it well. Really our message to ourselves needs to be, “Do what you do best, and find people who share your values to help you accomplish the rest.” That is where Room Redefine steps in with its services. Room Redefined uses a relationship-based approach to get to know clients’ “pain points” and help create strategies for them to feel in control of their stuff and their space in a way that honors their needs and takes care of the environment around us. Wherever you are in your journey to living a more balanced and sustainable life, living a more organized life can help you and your family continue on that path in a more focused and productive way. In this Webinar, Erin is excited to share her tips and resources to help you start or continue in that journey in a way that aligns with your needs and your conscience.
Watch Replay.