Entrepreneurs Find Franchise Agreements A Promising Venue For Growth

Virtual Entrepreneur:

Giving up the relative security of the corporate world for the uncertainties of entrepreneurship, Gina Guglielmi was looking for structure and guidance. Instead of starting her own business from scratch, Guglielmi bought a franchise from Wallingford, Conn.-based Edible Arrangements.

‘With my marketing background, I saw how expensive it is to open a business and come up with a concept, a logo and a theme for the Web site,’ said Guglielmi, a former marketing manager for private jet-service broker Jets.com in Quincy. ‘With a franchise, you’ve got a lot of that already established for you and you’re buying into that.’

Interest from investors such as Guglielmi has translated into explosive growth for Edible Arrangements and other New England-based franchise companies last year. The fruit bouquet company led the region’s franchisors in growth, with a 211% increase in store units, according to data compiled by Entrepreneur magazine and the New England Franchise Association.

Jim Coen, executive director of the Pembroke-based franchise association, said interest in franchise opportunities has intensified in the current fragmented media environment.

‘Today, because of the clutter of media, it’s more important than ever to have that brand name, which is very difficult to create on its own,’ Coen said.

Edible Arrangements currently has 702 stores in operation, and has agreements for an additional 109 stores that will open soon, spokesman Jeff Alexander said. Read more.