Beacon of Hope

Franchising World
Special Report

 

Newest member of IFA Hall of Fame represents the true power of franchising.

 

By Phil Rose

 

In 1969, when 11-year-old Tariq Farid left his native Pakistan for a new life in the United States, his family may not have dreamed of the success that lay ahead for him.

 

As a teenager growing up in West Haven, Conn., Farid worked at a local McDonald’s. There he learned the value of business systemization and began to think about the kind of career he would follow.

 

The year 1986 was significant for Farid in two ways. He became a U.S. citizen that year, and he borrowed $5,000 from his parents and family friends to buy a flower shop in East Haven, Conn. Within two years, he was operating four successful stores.

 

After seven years as a traditional florist, he came up with an inventive new idea – sculpted fruit bouquets that customers could eat. Farid was inspired by the increased consumption of fresh fruit, steady growth in the specialty foods market, and the higher amounts of money Americans were willing to spend on gifts. It was Farid’s vision, coupled with his ability to convert this inspiration into entrepreneurial effort, that would change not only his world, but the gift industry forever.

 

“If you are willing to put in the effort, you can succeed.”

 

Farid launched Edible Arrangements in 1999 from the East Haven storefront, and opened his first franchise location two years later, in Waltham, Mass. It was a success from the beginning, and today there are more than 1,300 franchise locations worldwide.

 

A strong believer in the franchise business model, Farid takes every opportunity to promote franchising and its role in providing a path to business ownership for franchisees. Edible Arrangements’ success would not have been possible, he says, were it not for franchising and the opportunities it creates.

 

“Franchising has allowed me to accomplish more than I ever dreamed possible,” Farid said. “Franchising doesn’t care about who you are or where you are from. If you are willing to put in the effort, you can succeed. Even an immigrant who came to this country at a very young age and could not speak English was able to achieve the American Dream and build a thriving, international business.”

 

“Franchising has allowed me to accomplish
more than I ever dreamed possible.”

 

Farid has nothing but praise for the franchise business model. “Franchises take America to the people, no matter where they are,” he said. “Franchising is a beacon of hope, a carrier of dreams, and a foundation of stability.”

 

Those involved in franchising, he added, “have an obligation to continue to protect the virtues that have made franchising an indispensable part of society and people’s lives around the world. We must continue seeking ways to encourage people to work together, to welcome others who may act or look different than they do, to have hope, and to dream.”

 

A member of IFA’s Board of Directors, Farid is the 2008 winner of the IFA Entrepreneur of the Year award, a founding sponsor of the IFA Foundation’s NextGen in Franchising program and a Certified Franchise Executive.

 

Phil Rose is a contributing writer for Franchising World, and an accomplished aviation journalist and editor. Find out more about Edible Arrangements at www.franchise.org/edible-arrangements-franchise.

 

 

Award Sponsor: BDO

“It is our honor to award the IFA Hall of Fame Award each year. Presenting this award to franchising icons is a humbling experience. At BDO, we believe in franchising, the IFA and giving back to the franchising community, and that is why BDO continues to sponsor this award every year. We are grateful to all of our friends and family in the franchising community for your continued support of both BDO and the IFA Hall of Fame Award."

 

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