Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Kimbrell.
Hi Jackie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I am a fort mill original/local, so I am proud that I can bring business to the community that I have lived in for 40 years! I have always wanted to own something of my own. I have worked in healthcare since I graduated from college, and even though I love what I do, I wanted something more and completely different. My ultimate goal is to pass this on to my daughters or others passionate about clothes and shopping. When I began researching franchises about two years ago, I stumbled upon Apricot Lane. Their mission and values aligned with my goals and now became a dream come true. Each owner does their buying, which puts a special touch on their store. The support I have received from Apricot Lane Headquarters along the way has been amazing.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
Since we started this process right after the peak of COVID, it has been a very slow, drawn-out process. We encountered several obstacles along the way, such as the landlord’s sale to another landlord in our shopping area, supply chain issues, and construction lag. The process started in October 2021, and we were finally about to open in December 2022. Still, it was down to the very last second when we got clearance and a certificate of occupancy.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Apricot Lane Fort Mill?
At its core, Apricot Lane is a business that empowers women everywhere to work for themselves. Apricot Lane has brought business opportunities to communities all over the United States by focusing on providing our customers with the gorgeous fashions and high-style pieces that they are looking for. Becoming an Apricot Lane franchisee means I can use my skills and passion daily to control my future. Being an Apricot Lane franchise owner is incredibly rewarding. One of the things I don’t get working in an office or healthcare every day of the week is the chance to delve into my passions. I can be creative in my business endeavor; Apricot Lane cultivates an environment of excitement that doesn’t exist in other lines of work. Loving what you do makes every day a joy. When you can wake up every morning and come to work with a smile, it is reflected in all that you do and positively affects your employees and customers. The fulfillment that comes with being your boss is indescribable. We stand apart from the competition in our commitment to empowering our customers and offering them the most cutting-edge styles quickly and affordably.
- Boutique Philosophy—Unlike the big stores that compete with us for customers, we carry a limited selection of each style, giving our shoppers a unique experience from store to store.
- All Seasons Shopping—Shoppers no longer look for big collections at the start of each season. Instead, they want to find the pieces that make a statement now, following the trends they see on Instagram, fashion blogs, and runways. Apricot Lane brings in new items weekly, keeping up to date at all times.
Personalized experience just like our unique clothing pieces, Apricot Lane Fort Mill creates an intimate, specialized shopping experience that mass-market retailers cannot compete with in large stores.
We’d like to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
I don’t think luck has had much to do with it. I have never been a risk taker and always thought that I needed to stay on a career path in healthcare until I retired. However, I am lucky enough to have opened this boutique and still maintain a career in healthcare along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://apricotlaneboutique.com/store/fortmill/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apricotlanefortmill/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apricotlanefortmill
