Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Frazier.
Hi Jessica, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hi there, my name is Jess! I am the owner of Rylan Boutique — a women’s clothing shop that specializes in themed collections.
Ever since I was a child, I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. My parents love to tell the story of how at 10 years old I would catch frogs on our family farm and bring them home to sell to the neighborhood boys! While I’ve tried my hand at everything from diy crafts to Amazon FBA, Rylan Boutique was the first time that I really put my heart and soul into something.
When Covid-19 first hit the US, I was laid off from my job. It came as a huge shock and kickstarted my downward spiral. I began to struggle with my mental health and body image. I lacked a sense of purpose and felt terrible about myself. There were many days when I never even got off the couch, let alone changed out of my sweats.
After a few weeks and concern from my husband, I challenged myself to start getting ready every morning. That meant putting on something that I felt confident in every single day. That small task alone changed my life.
After learning the power of a great outfit, I decided to share the message by starting my own clothing boutique! I’m a big believer in going out in the world and making things happen, instead of waiting for them to happen to you. Rylan Boutique has been both the hardest and best thing that I have ever done. I am so grateful for all of the people I have met through my business and look forward to all of the big things we’ve got planned for the future!
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?
Unless you have a business of your own, it’s impossible to know how hard it can be at times. Something that I will never forget is how I felt on the day of our opening launch…
I was so excited and thought that I was going to immediately sell out of everything and be a massive success! I chuckle at the thought now, but those first few hours were devastating to me! We ended up getting only two orders from close friends and none from family. I remember crying and feeling like all the hard work had been for nothing.
I am now so grateful for that experience. It has shaped me so much as an entrepreneur and given me the grit and patience to keep going even when it gets discouraging. We have since had many successful launches and a few failures too, but we’re learning to love the journey!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Before creating RB, I had many jobs. From graphic design and photography to being a car salesperson, nanny, and more, I consider myself a jack of all trades at this point. I used to see it as a weakness because I tend to get bored of things easily and have a hard time staying in one place for long. However, it’s given me invaluable tools for running my own business! Over time, I’ve gained unique skill sets from each job that have helped me to manage every aspect of RB.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Recently I’ve had a big interest in farming! It always shocks people when I bring it up because farming and fashion don’t usually mix haha! I tend to get fixated on a hobby until I’ve learned everything I can about it. Eventually, I’ll get bored and move on to the next hobby, but it definitely keeps things interesting! We just spent the last 2 months building a chicken coop for 14 baby chicks.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rylanboutique.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/rylanboutique
