Today we’d like to introduce you to Virginia Jacques
Hi Virginia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started as a PR major in college while playing Division I soccer at UNC Charlotte. During my time there, I held various marketing internships, but two experiences truly sparked my passion—interning for The Charlotte Eagles and my PR Campaigns class. I knew then that one day, I wanted to own my own marketing business.
However, after graduating, I faced the harsh reality that no one wanted to hire a recent graduate with little experience. Panicked, I pivoted into sales, working for a few years before my husband and I moved to Columbia, SC, for his medical school. Then, COVID hit, and I was furloughed. I remember feeling completely lost—stuck in a city where I had no connections and in a career that didn’t fulfill me.
Determined to change my path, I leaned into my soccer background, networking through coaching. That led me to an opportunity with one of the parents whose daughter I coached. She hired me to work for her marketing firm, where I gained hands-on experience with various clients and honed my craft. At the same time, I was coaching club soccer, doing personal training on the side, and picking up another marketing job I had connected with. My husband was a full-time student, so it was up to me to work extremely hard to support us financially.
On top of everything else, I started singing and performing live music with my husband to earn extra money. I was working harder than I ever had, juggling multiple jobs just to make ends meet.
My boss quickly recognized my talent and encouraged me to apply for Leadership Columbia, where I had the opportunity to learn alongside top professionals in the city, despite being one of the youngest participants. During this time, I also started creating content for my gym while still juggling my other marketing jobs, coaching responsibilities, and live music gigs.
Eventually, I landed an exciting opportunity at another marketing firm in Columbia, working with top restaurants—including some in NYC. This is where I truly hit my stride. I became my boss’s right-hand person, managing accounts while she was on maternity leave, spearheading marketing efforts for the Columbia Food & Wine Festival, and developing creative campaigns for restaurant grand openings and collaborations. I grew tremendously in this role, but ultimately, my husband and I felt a pull to move to Charleston for his medical residency.
By March 2024, when he matched at MUSC, I knew it was time to start laying the groundwork for my own business. I already had two clients lined up—the gym and the technology company I had previously worked with on the side. Shortly after, a non-profit client I had worked with before at the first firm reached out, becoming my third. Determined to start strong, I set up a meeting with a restaurant owner before we even moved. He signed the following week, and by the time we settled into our home in West Ashley in early June, I had four clients.
At the same time, I began working with a wedding saxophonist, helping him build his brand and secure more bookings. This became my fifth client in July, and I quickly saw the potential in leveraging creative, content-driven marketing.
As I got adjusted, I focused on building my business from the ground up. I networked relentlessly—emailing businesses, dropping off cards, and refusing to fear rejection. I knew I was an outsider in Charleston, but the one thing I could control was my work ethic and my willingness to talk to anyone. I researched daily, identifying businesses that likely needed a stronger social media presence. Instead of trying to break into the big-name restaurants, I shifted my focus to smaller, independent ones that I knew could benefit from my expertise.
That strategy paid off. I landed a restaurant client with three popular locations and a skincare client, bringing my total to seven clients by September. Around the same time, I launched a food Instagram page to generate leads. In November, I visited a well-known fine dining restaurant and set up a free visit for my food page. Wanting to make an impression, I brought my camera, shot high-quality content, and followed up with an email introducing myself and my work. The owner was impressed, and by the start of the new year, they had signed with me.
Of course, not every deal was a good fit, and I faced my share of discouraging moments. But I stayed consistent and patient. In February, my non-profit client in Charleston referred me to the state-wide organization, which signed with me within two days. I then expanded my marketing reach by bringing on a boat charter company as a client in March 2025.
Building my business has been a journey of resilience, persistence, and continuous learning. My experience working at marketing firms taught me invaluable skills, and I’ve applied those lessons to every client I take on. I’m proud of the business I’ve built and excited for what’s next.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road. I’ve faced many challenges—competing with well-known PR firms, not having prior connections in Charleston, and having to build my network entirely from the ground up. I focused on smaller businesses, but cost was often a hurdle. With larger businesses, timing became the biggest challenge.
So many times, I’ve had meetings where everything seemed promising—clients were ready to sign, excited about working together—only for them to hesitate, push back the timeline, or back out altogether. It’s frustrating, especially when you feel like you’ve done everything right.
In January, my first restaurant client ended up selling his business. That was tough—I had built a great working relationship and put a lot of effort into their marketing. Back in November, there was uncertainty about a couple of clients re-signing, which they ultimately did, but at the time, it felt like I was in limbo. I was also waiting on other contracts to close, but many businesses delayed decisions due to the holidays. It was a stressful place to be—so much waiting, getting my hopes up, and feeling like time was wasted.
Despite the setbacks, I’ve kept pushing forward. Running a business is full of highs and lows, and I’ve learned that persistence is everything.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Harbor Creative Marketing is a boutique agency specializing in social media management, content creation, public relations, and branding—designed to help restaurants and lifestyle businesses grow. Unlike bigger firms, my clients work directly with me, ensuring a personalized, hands-on approach.
What sets Harbor Creative apart? I handle both professional photography and videography in-house, keeping costs down—while most agencies hire out both. I also have strong connections with local influencers and craft funny, engaging reels and creative campaigns that bring personality to a brand.
I don’t believe in cookie-cutter marketing. Every business has a story, and I create strategies that feel authentic and impactful. From launching restaurants to securing press coverage and driving engagement through unique content, I make marketing both effective and effortless for my clients.
Services include:
✔️ Social media management (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & more)
✔️ Professional photo & video content creation
✔️ Public relations & media outreach
✔️ Branding & creative strategy
✔️ Influencer collaborations
✔️ Creative campaigns & strategy
✔️ Email marketing & social media ads
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice for starting out:
Be confident—don’t fear rejection or compare yourself to others. Trust that the right clients will come if you continue to work hard and treat people with respect.
Always go above and beyond for your clients; you never know when that extra effort will pay off.
Build connections in the community. Don’t sit at home waiting for things to happen—networking is everything.
Use a lifestyle or food Instagram to funnel leads and create more natural connections. It’s a great way to showcase your personality and reach potential clients.
Don’t rely on email alone—engage directly with people, ask questions, and be curious about where businesses are at in their journey.
If someone is unsure about working with you, that’s not the client you want. Focus on the ones who see your value.
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