franchisee | Tariq Farid - Founder of Edible Arrangements ® and Entrepreneur

Franchisee congratulations this week goes to Michelle and Eddie, another husband wife team opening their first Edible Arrangements in Wilson, North Carolina.

Michelle and Eddie, who have been happily married for 10 years, have the full support of their four children when it comes to their new venture.

“The kids absolutely love Edible Arrangements,” they said of Peyton (7), Cameron (6), Mackenzie (3) and Bailey (2). “They get really excited every time they are sent an arrangement or see a commercial!”

As with many of our franchisees, family is important to Michelle and Eddie. They say they spend every moment they can together, enjoying the outdoors by taking walks, swimming and playing soccer among their many hobbies.

In fact, the family-feel of Edible Arrangements was one of the things that convinced them it was a concept they could truly believe in.

Michelle joins Edible after a career in sales and now enjoys her new role training new sales representatives hired into the company. Eddie has been in fire service for over 25 years and says the highlight has been getting to know their community and providing fire prevention education.

Wilson is about 40 miles east of Raleigh and proudly promotes itself as North Carolina’s Gigabit City for having some of the fastest broadband speeds in the U.S. Perhaps it won’t be long before it will also be known as home to one of the most successful Edible Arrangements franchises, as well.

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Who are our franchisees?

We have long-term franchisees that have owned a store (or stores!) for a decade and then signed on for 10 more years.

We have franchisees who always dreamed of being entrepreneurs and small business owners, and we made their dream come true.

Some are military veterans. Some are husband and wife teams. Some own one or two Edible Arrangements’ stores, while others own more than 10!

There are franchisees that came out of retirement after successful business careers seeking a new challenge. There are young upstarts, who always knew they wanted to be a small business owner. And there are those who got tired of the “corporate treadmill” and wanted to be fully rewarded for their work.

Linda falls into several of the categories mentioned above.

An amazing young woman with boundless energy and a very friendly, energetic and outgoing demeanor, Linda was barely in her mid-20s when she became the owner of her own small business—an Edible Arrangements store. She had enjoyed a successful career in marketing, but was disenchanted with the fact that while her work was praised and helped her employer thrive, she was still not given an opportunity for advancement. She started to become unhappy in her job.

Linda knew about Edible Arrangements from her work in marketing and had been watching us grow from the time we started franchising in 2001. Linda says that watching Edible Arrangements grow from from a small start-up into a global chain in just a few years was exciting.

Linda remembers thinking to herself: “What if I could be rewarded for the work I put into something and not have to rely on a boss or someone else to reward me?”

It was then that she decided to make the big jump, leave her job and open her own Edible Arrangements store.

That was 10 years ago! Now a long-term franchisee, a multiple store owner and still young, Linda says she doesn’t regret a thing.

“At first, I thought that I would do this for a few years and then get out,” she told me. “But I found something that I truly enjoyed and I was able to grow along with my business. I love the challenging times, and I still get to use my marketing background!”

The best thing, Linda says, is that “with my Edible Arrangements stores, I definitely get out what I put in!”

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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.

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Maurice Welton had dreams of no longer being stuck on the “corporate treadmill” when he discovered Edible Arrangements. Today he owns four successful stores with a fifth on the way!

When I first met Maurice, who now owns multiple Edible Arrangements stores, he WOWED me. Maurice is a veteran, a hard worker and a friendly, fun and charming person. He had big dreams of no longer being stuck on the “corporate treadmill” as he put it.

“I was working so hard, and successfully, but not getting anywhere. No acknowledgement, no promotion even though I was doing great work and making money for the company I worked for,” I remember him telling me.

After watching a program in which I was being interviewed in 2006, Maurice was struck by the thought that Edible Arrangements presented the opportunity for which had been looking.

“It all fit,” he told me. “I felt a connection.”

So, Maurice did some research then called the Edible Arrangements corporate office to get a better understanding of how he could become an Edible Arrangements franchise owner.

After that, he says, “I knew, this was it!”

Maurice opened his first Edible Arrangements store on May 29, 2007 in Texas.

“Everything went smoothly,” Maurice remembers. “Everything happened exactly as my corporate support contact explained it would. And I am still guided by his advice today.”

Maurice’s first store was a success. Then he opened another, and another, and another! He now owns four Edible Arrangements stores with a fifth in the works!

“I do something I love,” he says. “I like that what I sell makes people smile—who doesn’t love a dipped pineapple!”

Maurice says that Edible Arrangements has allowed him to grow, both personally and professionally. He serves on the board of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce and he is a member of numerous other chambers and organizations!

“I love being more involved with the community. Along with my businesses, I have blossomed,” he says with a grin. “That’s what Edible Arrangements has done for me.”

But what is the most important change that his experience as a small business owner with Edible Arrangements has brought him?

“Legacy. It’s not just about being able to provide for my daughter, but I will never have to put a lid on her aspirations. That means the most to me,” Maurice says.

His advice for anyone considering becoming an Edible Arrangements store owner?

“Go for it! I have no regrets!”

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Thanksgiving is one of the holidays that holds a special meaning for me. I was just a child when my family moved to the United States and we arrived knowing very little about our new home and its customs. We hardly spoke the language, and we had little idea what the future held for each of us. We did, however, know that this was a land filled with unlimited opportunity.

Thinking back, I can only imagine how my parents must have struggled with the pressure of making such a decision as moving their young family across the world to a new land. But I am so thankful that they were willing to risk everything to create a better life for all of us.

I am also thankful for the compassionate teachers who took us under their wings to help make the transition easier and gave us such a great education.

I am thankful for my early bosses and mentors, who believed in me and taught me more about business than I could have ever learned in a classroom.

I am thankful for all of those who have played a part in the growth of my companies over the years, our dedicated management team and team members, our committed vendors and suppliers, our loyal customers and, of course, our passionate franchisees who are responsible for the success we have all enjoyed.

I am thankful that there are people who have dedicated their lives to helping those in need or in pain, and that my success in business has given me the chance to meet so many of them and help them in their efforts.

I am thankful for the men and women of our military, our veterans and our first responders who, on a daily basis, have been willing to sacrifice their own safety for ours.

Most of all, I am thankful for my wonderful and beautiful family, for their support and for their love.

With all of the daily pressures of life in the 21st Century, it is sometimes easy to become frustrated or disillusioned and to lose focus on what is really important. This Thanksgiving weekend, however, is a time when we can all pause and count our blessings. We really do have a lot to be thankful for.

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Tag: franchisee

Family business and family fun with Edible Arrangements store ownership!

The “rewarding” story of an Edible Arrangements franchisee

Naranga will help your business unleash the true power of technology

Stepping off the corporate treadmill and onto the path of success at Edible Arrangements

There is so much for which to be thankful