Q&A with fab'rik Franchisee Jessica Harvey

Jessica Harvey, 27, is a perfect example of the well-rounded, young female entrepreneurs that the fab’rik franchise attracts. Not only has Harvey recently celebrated the opening of her second fab’rik boutique in North Carolina; she was named one of the Top 30 Under 30 Future Business Leaders of Charlotte by Elevate Magazine in 2013, was crowned Mrs. North Carolina in 2012, served as the national spokesperson for the Angelman Syndrome Foundation, and currently sits on the board of a nonprofit called Young and Beautiful, which is geared toward empowering and educating young women.

Harvey grew up in Tallahassee, Florida and relocated to South Carolina for college. She received a track and field scholarship for Clemson University and was a heptathlete during her time there. After graduating with a major in marketing, Harvey traveled the east coast alongside her professional baseball playing husband, Kris Harvey. During this time she had various side jobs to keep busy; she was a personal trainer, a model, and was even part of the 2007 WWE Diva Search.

Once the Harvey’s decided to start a family they made permanent roots in Catawba, NC where Jessica started a career in Business Development.  They had their first daughter in 2010 and joined the fab’rik franchise the next year.  Their second daughter arrived just months before the opening of their second store. 

How did you first hear about fab’rik?

I went to the same high school as the owner of the fab’rik boutique in Savannah, Bree. Bree also went to college with the owner of the fab’rik in East Cobb, so I knew her as well.  The three of us got together at a mutual friend’s baby shower in early 2011 and I finally visited the store in person. I went and thought I would buy something to be polite and assumed it would be pricey, but I was blown away by how affordable everything was.

Why did you choose an opportunity with the brand?

My husband and I had been thinking about starting our own business, especially with baseball being a perishable career. We liked the idea of a franchise because it was a proven business model, and after learning that fab’rik was a franchise, in addition to the fact that I had two friends already in it, we decided to join the brand.

I also loved the idea that so many of the women who owned the stores were very successful women in their own careers. It was an elite group to be a part of, and there were many inspiring people I could learn from. Seeing that it was possible for me to be a store owner and still have my own career in a separate field was amazing.

What are your development plans and long term goals with fab’rik?

My original plan when I began franchising was to open three boutiques.

Are you involved with any charities or complete any community outreach?

As a family the organization we support is the Angelman Syndrome Foundation, because of my sister-in-law. I had the opportunity to serve as the spokesperson during my reign as Mrs. North Carolina. I currently sit on the board for Young and Beautiful, a local organization that supports confidence building in young girls.  I also serve on the first Franchise Advisory Council for fab’rik.

For more information or to learn about franchise opportunities to own a fab’rik, visit www.fabrikstyle.com/franchise.    

From Purpose to Passion...

The fab'rik mission statement is simple: High Style with Heart, No Attitude or Sticker Shock.

In our boutiques, we pride ourselves on offering first class customer service to each and every customer. We want to have the cutest, trendiest clothes you can find, all under $100. We want to make sure each shopper leaves the store feeling a little more beautiful than when she walked in.

Outside of the store is where we let our hearts shine.  In 2009, fab'rik CEO Dana Spinola teamed up with a friend, Kim Bartlett, to start our free fab'rik charity.  free fab'rik offers young women the opportunity to shop in a boutique setting without the pressure of a price tag, all while being surrounded by positive influences and fun mentor relationships with the volunteers who help out at the free sprees.

While the charity was immediately a smashing success, Dana wanted to do more.  In January 2013, a group from the fab'rik management team went to visit the village of Karagoto, Kenya and forged lifelong friendships with the women in their local knitting facility.  We brought back their scarves to sell in our stores and plan on returning annually to help out in their incredible community.

We're not stopping there though, and we couldn't be thrilled to share the next chapter of fab'rik with our fab'rik addicts, family, and supporters.  Coming this October, the former fab'rik Midtown store will become the first ever free fab'rik Community Boutique.  This boutique will have donated clothing from the community for sale, with all profits going back into the free fab'rik organization. In addition, the Community Boutique will be used as a gathering place for the free sprees that free fab'rik started with, small group meetings, community dinners, and speakers for the ladies in the mentorship program.

Read this letter from our CEO for a little more info...

Our community boutique’s mission is to restore dignity, confidence and hope to young ladies who have lost theirs by helping them discover God’s will for their lives through mentorship programs, job opportunities and free shopping sprees.

And now, fab'rik family, we need your help! We are hiring not only a Community Boutique manager, but are looking for strong women with exceptional values and huge hearts to volunteer as mentors for the incredible young women who will be benefiting from the program.  The free fab’rik volunteer mentor is a caring, responsible, adult woman who serves as a trusted friend and guide to one mentorship participant. Her role is to encourage, support and advise the mentee to make positive life choices and to help provide guidance for the mentee to grow personally, professionally and spiritually.

If you are interested in contributing to the next chapter of fab'rik, we want to hear from you! We are accepting clothing donations at all fab'rik locations.  If you are interested in making a monetary donation, check out the free fab'rik website.

If you would like to apply for the Boutique Manager or Mentor positions, please send an email to dana@fabrikatlanta.com with your interests! Thank you in advance for helping so many dreams come true.