Meet Annie of The Tidy Bean Collective

Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie

Hi Annie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My immigrant parents inspired me to create The Tidy Bean Collective. As Lao refugees, their scarcity trauma manifested from having restricted access to essentials in overcrowded refugee camps as they were forced to flee their home leaving everything behind after the Vietnam War. Even though The Tidy Bean Co. transpired from my parents’ journey, I named it after my daughter – the future generation of this collective.

Growing up, I witnessed how tirelessly my parents worked to build up a stable life in America. The things we accumulated over the years instilled a sense of accomplishment, a reminder of how far my parents came from the hardships they endured. On the other hand, they were convinced that these items might be needed for worse times to come. This resulted in cluttered spaces that felt stifling but somehow provided them comfort at the same time. What provided my parents a sense of security was the same energy that was stagnant to me as I was overwhelmed by the overstuffed drawers and closets to the different styles and personalities that meshed together over the years. I knew that hoarding was a commonality in immigrant households, but I didn’t realize it was a very discreet way of dealing with trauma until I was much older facing quite the opposite – my own guilt around minimalism moving me further away from my roots.

As a child of refugee parents, it can be an emotional experience going through a lifetime’s worth of things and being flooded with nostalgia. I launched The Tidy Bean Co. with a goal to create spaces that inspire harmony and balance by honoring cultural roots and preserving special memories while arranging a functional, tidy home where families could thrive. Feng shui plays a huge role in the flow of energy, so I’ve been studying and incorporating it into my work. The Tidy Bean Co. is really a memento to healing generational trauma.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a business is not without its challenges. I started out on task rabbit offering my services at a very low rate so that I could gain experience and build my clientele. I was taking on everyone that reached out to me which wasn’t ideal, but I learned quickly what type of work and clients aligned with my vision.

I wanted to go beyond running a cleaning company, which is already an oversaturated market. I wanted to be intentional about working with people that have a scarcity mindset, an emotional attachment to their things, people that are stuck in a funk and just need a boost in the right direction.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Tidy Bean Collective?
The Tidy Bean Co. specializes in decluttering homes and creating organizing systems. We also offer deep cleaning and maintenance, as well as consultation in arranging spaces that follow feng shui principles, which guide a lot of our work. Basically, it’s the Chinese art of arranging objects in a space to achieve harmony and balance while promoting well-being and prosperity.

However, it’s difficult to arrange your home according to feng shui principles when we are used to living a consumerist lifestyle because the constant accumulation of things can disrupt the balance and energy flow that feng shui aims to create. Clutter blocks the free movement of chi (energy) and can create a sense of chaos and stagnation in the home.

To fully embrace feng shui, it requires a shift in mindset towards intentional living and mindful consumption, focusing on quality over quantity and creating a harmonious, clutter-free space.

Another thing that sets us apart is that we aim to preserve cultural roots within people’s homes while embracing the dynamics of future generations. We help our clients give themselves permission to let go of things that no longer serve them without the guilt. We are proud of the difference we’ve made in people’s lives by giving their homes a little more love and light.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Starting this company was definitely a huge risk. It’s such a niche market to thrive in, and therefore requires more social media marketing to connect with younger generations that grew up in a similar environment, are facing the challenges of a generational gap, and are dealing with all the stuff their aging parents will be leaving behind. It requires building trust with our clients, helping them stay connected to their roots and committed to their journey of creating a home to thrive in. I’m a firm believer in high risk, high reward and quality over quantity especially when it comes to the people I’m fortunate to work with.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thetidybeanco.as.me/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetidybean.co/
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/5ID7JQN7Ye

Image Credits
The Tidy Bean Co.