The WAGS Work Series aims to show our readers that we are more than the stereotypes you might be familiar with--we're creative, hard-working, driven, and willing to do whatever it takes to make this lifestyle work. We also hope to inspire women in all walks of life to get creative and think outside the box when it comes to working and creating the lives of their dreams. Please reach out to the women featured in this series if you have questions or want to learn more about what they do.

TELL US WHO YOU ARE, HOW YOU GOT INTO THE SPORTS WORLD, AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU  AND YOUR FIANCE.  

I am Sarita Francis, mother of 1, fiance to Jordan Scarlett, small business owner and nonprofit developer. Jordan and I met our freshman year at the University of Florida back in 2015 and the rest is history! Jordan was drafted in 2019 to the Carolina Panthers and we welcomed our babygirl in April 2020!

WHAT INSPIRED YOU? HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?

I have always been very crafty! Growing up I would create our annual family Christmas shirts, bedazzle ANYTHING I could my hands on and always found a way to customize clothing for Jordan’s games. When we got drafted to Carolina in 2019, I would spend hours the night before games working on my next outfit. The other wives and girlfriends started asking me where I got my pieces and if I could make some for them and their families. I realized how much others loved the opportunity to rep their guys in custom gear and decided why not try and make a business of it.

When I started in September of 2021, I primarily served women of the NFL because that is where we were naturally most connected. Thanks to Instagram I found all of you! When football season ended I figured my business would sort of slow down but I was wrong…along came baseball and hockey and I realized there were soo many more women and families to serve.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS, WHAT YOU DO, AND HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN WERKIN’ IT.

I would say I was blessed and by the grace of God found success pretty quickly! I truly am soo passionate about what I do and I think that shows through my work. There is a lot more success to be had and room for growth so I am excited to see what’s next!

WHAT OBSTACLES HAVE YOU FACED AND HOW DID YOU PERSEVERE IN THE HARD TIMES?

Making things by hand comes with its own bag of obstacles. Sometimes pieces don’t make it in one piece and other times my processes have been tested but each trial taught me something new and made me better for my next order.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE RUNNING A BUSINESS AND LIVING THE PRO SPORTS LIFE?

Aside from football, I work full time in nonprofit development, am pursuing my masters and have a two year old princess to keep up with. The days can seem overwhelming and typically I’m up until 2-3 AM completing orders, but each day I am reminded that I am doing all of this for a reason and one day soon PRESSED may be my full time gig!

HOW DID STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS IMPACT YOUR LIFE PERSONALLY, AND FOR THE TWO OF YOU?

Soo similar to baseball the football world is crazy?! Since being in drafted in 2019 we have landed on 4 different teams and explored the Canadian league! There is a ton of unknown in professional sports and coming out of a pandemic and being a stay at home mom (at the time) starting my business was one of the best steps I could take for us as a family.

WHAT’S A TYPICAL WORKDAY LIKE FOR YOU IN THE SEASON? IN THE OFF-SEASON?

My days are crazy!! When Jordan is away they are crazier LOL! Typically I drop Coco at school around 8:30am and then work my full time job from 9-5pm intermittently answering DMs and order consultations. I get Coco from school around 5 and do her nighttime routine. By 7:30pm she’s down for the night, and that’s when I typically get the bulk of my orders done.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HARDEST PART SO FAR? WHAT’S BEEN THE BEST?

The hardest part has been my schedule, and some days I am stretched VERY thin! But messages and support from my clients mean the world to me and I love being able to create pieces you love, cherish and can feel like your best self in as you cheer on your favorite person.

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON AND WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

I am currently working on EXPANSION! I would love to get a website up and running, hire help, get a designated workspace (right not i am working out of our living room) and just soo much more!!

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER WAGS WHO HOPE TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS?

GO FOR IT!! It’s hard to plan or know where the next steps are for YOU in your partner’s crazy lifestyle, but its important to know that your dreams matter too and pursuing them doesn’t keep you from supporting your man 100%. We are extremely fortunate to have the space to try things and have the connectivity of the sports world use it in a way you feel called.

WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU ONLINE / HOW CAN WE KEEP UP WITH YOU?
You can find me on Instagram @pressed.bysarita :)