Today we’d like to introduce you to Irina Salgan.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was working for a medical software technology company out of college. We had a fruit arrangement delivered to our office for one of my co-worker’s birthdays. At that time, no one knew about Edible Arrangements. I saw how people swarmed around it and commented on how visually beautiful and delicious it was. After that, I purchased arrangements for my mother and mother-in-law for Mother’s Day in 2003. One short month later in June, I signed my first franchise agreement. When I opened my first store in Natick (which I moved to Framingham in 2006), it was the 3rd Edible Arrangements store in Massachusetts and 26th in the country.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I was 25 when I opened my first store, and only one year out of college. There was, of course, a lot to learn about business, and life in general, very quickly. I did not have a background in business or HR. I had to learn how to navigate leading employees who were twice my age. I had the uphill battle of getting the word out about this new concept too. For example, in 2004, when I hired a contractor to build out my new store in Quincy, he laughed at me when I told him the store was Edible Arrangements and said “Edible what??” When I opened my first store, my neighbors were telling me that nobody would buy something like that. Being an owner of a small business, you have nobody to fall back on but yourself, so that could be stressful at times.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Edible Arrangements – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
The Edible Arrangements franchise was founded in Connecticut in 2000. The company started as a fruit basket gift company with a passion for celebrating special moments in the lives of people around the world with fresh, delicious and beautiful combinations of fruit, and sweet artistic designs. Edible has evolved from gift giving alone to include fresh treats for yourself or a friend, and ‘just because’ snacks, smoothies, chocolate dipped fruit cones and fruit salads every day. Our fruit is fresh and never frozen, our chocolate is 100% real, and everything is hand crafted daily in our stores.
What sets us apart from others is two things, our people and our product. As a small business employer, the team I have working in my store is critical for high quality service and giving the best product possible to the local community. All of us who work at the store live in the community we serve. It is a small and effective team of people who are passionate about what we do. Many of the people I work next to have been with me for over 10 years. Our product is not just set apart from other gifting companies. Edible Arrangements in the original. We have set the standard and continue to be the yardstick of fruit and chocolate gifting. Our standards for fruit are second to nobody. From where the fruit comes from to how fresh it is when it arrives daily, we accept nothing less than the best. Our fruit is made to order, cut and prepared in the store, and hand delivered in refrigerated vehicles.
I am very proud of what we have been able to build in this community over the years. I have grown with this business from owning one store to currently owning 4 locations. I am proud to be one of the ‘early adopters’ and a real cheerleader for a concept that nobody knew about, people didn’t believe in at first, and that has grown to become an international success in just 15 years.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
To keep providing quality Edible gifts and treats to the residents of of Quincy, Marlborough, Framingham and South Weymouth, while continuing to work with non-profits and women-based organizations and networking groups in those towns as well.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/edible_ma_nh
