I never cease to be amazed and pleased by the passion and genuine dedication our franchisees bring to the table, and by the challenges they so cheerfully overcome. For example, taking on an existing store may seem simpler than starting up a new location from scratch—but it can often come with its own unique set of challenges. One such new franchisee who has proven up to the task of rising to the occasion is Rommel D’Souza.
A native of Dubai living in the Toronto, Ontario area since the age of 19, Rommel recently took the reigns of our Barrie, Ontario location, which has been in existence for more than half a decade. A self-described “husband, father and dreamer”, Rommel brings just the right blend of business know-how, optimism and genuine excitement that I’ve seen lead to success time and time again.
“Having been raised in a family of entrepreneurs, the spark of business ownership was ignited much earlier through my experiences in a family business,” he told us. “Since then, my pursuit of an education has built upon my life experiences, and everything that I am today, in ways that I never expected.”
Despite his upbringing, Rommel indeed was not always on the path of business ownership; in fact, he went to school to study genetics, and spent a lot of time working in a lab. However, his innate love for the retail business, and for customer service in particular, was brought back to the surface thanks to his experience working in a retail store while still attending University. Realizing how much he truly enjoyed working with people, he reconsidered his career path.
“The more I learned about myself, the more I realized I missed the energy of a retail environment,” he said.
Rommel and his wife, having just welcomed a beautiful baby boy into their lives, decided to embark on the adventure of entrepreneurship together. After careful research, they came across the unique franchising opportunity that is Edible Arrangements. And with an existing location available in their vicinity, and an exciting product they could confidently stand behind, the choice was clear:
“Edible Arrangements is a product and system that I am truly proud to be a part of, and it has given me the opportunity to challenge my skills and abilities through business ownership.”
Rommel has taken his first steps on a thrilling adventure, and I’m a little envious of what awaits him, which I’m quite familiar with as an entrepreneur and one-time small business owner myself. Yes, there are challenges ahead, but with the right attitude and the right tools, those challenges can lead to some of the most satisfying experiences a person can hope to have. As a wise man once said, it’s not the destination, it’s the journey. And I believe that Rommel is starting off on the right foot.
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