Franchisee: Ted Kostisin

 / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
/ PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

The pitch:

We help people celebrate what’s good in life.

Years in business:

Opened first franchise in 2003

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Employees:

40 across five locations, plus additional seasonal help

Locations:

Cranston, Providence, Smithfield, Warren and Attleboro

Cost to obtain franchise:

The approximate investment range is between $192,695-$326,445

Before opening franchise:

Kostisin worked in restaurant management and his wife, Deb, was a student and waitress turned stay-at-home mom.

Reason for opening:

While I was working as a restaurant manager, my wife said, “If I start this and it makes money, will you quit your job?” That was the deal we ended up making. When she went to the Statehouse, all anybody wanted to do was help – she asked the questions and they encouraged her. … The [company] recommended we open in Providence, which turned out to be a brilliant move. n

‘When [we] opened the Providence store in 2003, we were the 15th store nationally. … By the time we opened our Attleboro store in 2008 it was the 883rd store. … Edible Arrangements has grown to more than 12,000 locations nationally.’

‘There was very little awareness about the product when we first started. My wife would walk around … holding an edible arrangement with brochures in her back pocket, just hoping someone would ask about the product.’

‘Between Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day – holidays are 30-35 percent of business for the entire year. The last time Valentine’s Day was on a weekday we did 12,000 orders. … [Yet] the most challenging part is getting used to the idea that you don’t really know what you’re going to make. … From weather and climate-change issues to political debates [such as] minimum wage – all of these things are connected to what we do.’

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