What is Dallas/Fort Worth receptionist Julia Richerson's favorite hobby, you ask? 

She can’t remember exactly how all started 25+ years ago, but she she noticed something about herself… unlike some of her family (and most people she knew), she always LOVED doing the laundry or dishes.  She found it satisfying to get things accomplished, by folding laundry or putting dishes away in an organized fashion.  

“I really LOVE to do housework!” she says.

Julia's propensity to organize grew into a hobby & passion.  She does recall helping a friend with a home library, when they were downsizing their living space.

“This was back when people had books and an encyclopedia collection,” Julia said. "I recall alphabetizing was a start. Then it was a matter of going through and categorizing into separating & evaluating what was worn out and what could we donate to the local Library and which were famous books that a collector might want to keep.”

Julia thrived at the task. And her “client” was more than ecstatic with the results.

You may or may not notice how organized Julia Richerson. But when you learn that she actually helps many people organize as a hobby and second trade, you’ll have a whole new appreciation for what it means to “Tidy Up” with Julia. It might be your grandmother’s china or a houseful of collectibles. From housework to organizing or to helping people move, Julia is an artist and the organization of miscellaneous cluttered items is her canvas. 

Tidying Up at Datamax.

No one knew at the time that it was the new receptionist, Julia Richerson, who slipped into the breakroom at Datamax and placed some new trays for the plastic utensils in the drawers & found the lids to the unclaimed Tupperware.  

During the weekly admin meeting she asked if the company announcements were ever a part of the bulletin board in the breakroom.  She was then given the “go ahead" to add some Anniversaries & Birthdays & volunteer opportunities along with seasonal décor to get everyone’s attention.

Tidying Up can mean any number of things.

Word of mouth among her friends and colleagues caught on quickly. Working for a realtor at the time, one client was selling her home and needed to pack up, organize, and purge in time for moving. Julia was up to the challenge, and the service only expanded from there.

Julia often doesn’t charge for her services for friends; it’s sometimes a friend of a friend or a friend’s grandmother who needs her help. But each job varies. She’s helped two families downsize their large-scale homes to prepare for RV living. She’s helped people move, helped organize homes after their loved ones pass. She helps organize estate sales and garage sales, and during COVID she helped people adopt a more minimal lifestyle.

For her, it’s about the finished product and the fanatical gratitude of those she serves.

“When I see TV shows like ‘Hoarders’ that people are familiar with, I don’t think I’ve ever walked into a situation like that. But the reality is, people get attached to things. It’s a part of their identity to say I have a collection of ‘fill in the blank,’” Julia said. 

Tidying Up propels her energy.

Julia loves the results she helps create, but she also gets a thrill out of serving & inspiring others, in this unique way.

“I have a high level of energy, and helping people organize their things brings them encouragement. but either way, I feel like it almost inspires people to have their items back in order. They know they want to get organized, or they know they have to get rid of things, but they can’t get there on their own… I’m not critical. No judgment. No apologies. If they want to keep something that is near and dear to them, that’s great!   I do have a passion for decorating, so, for me, it’s all about the before and after. People are like ‘Oh my gosh, thank you so much! I wish I had your energy!'”

"I suspect wanting to always organize might be a form of OCD.  It is an unusual character trait that not everyone has.  I try to be helpful and respectful when I am called on to help," Julia said, laughing. “It’s almost like when I walk into a situation that’s disorganized, it’s as if ‘oh my goodness, we have to do something about this.’ ‘Let me help you.’ It’s probably a God-given talent that was needed at one time and it just sort of took off from there.”