Mrs. North Carolina Finds Success With fab'rik

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, Fla., 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 degree in marketing, Harvey traveled the East Coast alongside her professional baseball-playing husband, Kris Harvey. During this time, she had various side jobs to remain busy. She was a personal trainer, a model, and even was part of the 2007 WWE Diva Search. After the Harveys decided to start a family, they made permanent roots in Catawba, N.C., where Jessica started a career in Business Development. They had their first daughter in 2010 and joined the fab’rik brand 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, Ga., Bree Thomas. Bree also went to college with the owner of the fab’rik in East Cobb, Ga., 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, who is affected by the syndrome. 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.