Later this week I will be in Austin speaking to a gathering of franchise professionals about the impact of technology on the future of franchising during the annual FranTech conference, sponsored by the International Franchise Association.
From the day I opened my first flower shop as a teenager, technology has played a major role in the success of my businesses. Even at an early age I recognized that unleashing the power of technology could significantly enhance my marketing capabilities, streamline my operations and provide the means to drive sales like few other tools. When I couldn’t find the proper solution to a problem, I created my own, often reselling my customized solutions to other small businesses with the same needs.
This understanding and use of the power of technology was critical as we grew Edible Arrangements into a global icon. Our constantly evolving proprietary software solutions, created by my technology company Netsolace, have given Edible Arrangements and our franchisees a significant competitive advantage and, in my opinion, is a major reason for our success.
Interestingly enough, I have found that even today there are many that still don’t embrace technology and understand the true impact that it can have on their business. In part, this is understandable, as keeping up with advances in technology can be overwhelming and even a little scary. I was lucky enough to have become a “technophile” early in life, but I completely understand the “technophobes” among us.
That is why I am so excited about my latest business venture, Naranga, a new technology company designed to help franchise companies and small businesses take advantage of emerging technologies to integrate their sales, operations and marketing activities.
Earlier this year I acquired proven franchise solutions provider eMaximation. It has been rebranded under the name Naranga, and we have focused over the past few months on improving existing systems as well as expanding the suite of products and services.
Naranga’s products will allow franchise chains to take control of their brand with simple, flexible tools that drive sales, improve operational efficiency, and allow them to easily connect with their franchisees.
In addition to previous products available through eMax, we have added new solutions that can be customized to meet the specific requirements of a franchise chain and eliminate the need to use multiple resources to meet all the technology needs.
The bottom line is that we are making it as easy as possible for others to take advantage of the latest advances in technology in order to become even more competitive in the marketplace.
In addition, all applications are developed with a mobile-first approach. To meet the needs of today’s highly mobile professional, it is critical to design for mobile tools such as smart phones and tablets first, then apply those applications to more traditional formats. This allows us to produce innovative experiences that unlock new ways for franchisors to interact with their customers and their franchisees without having to become experts in technology!
I hope you will visit our website at naranga.com to learn more about this exciting new company or call 800-900-8321 and our experienced and talented team will be happy to discuss your needs and how we can help.
In this lively interview with Jill Malandrino of The Street, I discuss the importance of ongoing innovation and how we grew to 1,200 retail centers with sales of $500 million in just 15 years. We also talk about what has worked for Edible Arrangements®, customer feedback and what we are focusing on going forward. See the complete Tariq Farid interview here.
In the earliest days of Edible Arrangements, before it even became an official tag line, I set out with one simple goal in mind: To WOW my customers. And that’s why to this day, I find it so gratifying to see franchisees who continue that tradition.
One such franchisee is Rory Friedland, owner of our stores in Plainview and Port Washington, New York. Witnessing he and his employees, and the energy they put into WOWing their guests, really took me back to the beginning.
In those early days, people didn’t even know who we were yet; they hadn’t come to fall in love with our product yet, as they were just hearing about it. People would ask about our company, and question our product because it was so new. It took time and dedicated customer service to win them over, and to ensure that the business would not only survive, but thrive. We guaranteed our guests we would WOW them, and offered to do whatever it took to achieve that end.
I still remember what it took to win those early guests over, and how dedicated I was to WOWing them. I see that same dedication in franchisees like Rory Friedland and his staff. They are holding true to the original mission of Edible Arrangements, which is so near and dear to my heart. And I’ve seen this in Rory right from the very start, when we first got together to open his first store. Today, he’s a multiple-unit owner, and has never lost sight of that original spark.
Rory’s hard work and dedication is commendable. And for that, I congratulate both he and his staff, and I thank them sincerely. I would also suggest that it is this very dedication to achieving that WOW that has helped make Rory the successful franchisee he is today.
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