Have you ever had a dream about creating and owning your own business? Well this man’s dream became reality when he had the idea of owning a flower shop. A couple years later, he had no idea his business would have made it this far.

On Wednesday Oct. 21, Tariq Farid talked about how “The American Dream Is Alive and Well” in front of an audience during the Rogow Distinguished Visiting Lecturers Program held in Lincoln Theater on the University of Hartford campus.

Farid is the founder and CEO of Edible Arrangements International which is the company that makes edible flower bouquets.

These bouquets usually consist of fruits and sometimes vegetables. They can be given as gifts or they are amazing centerpieces.

Presented by the Barney School of Business, Tariq Farid’s lecture was free to the public and he talked about his business, experience and how someone’s dream is within reach.

There was a big turnout and his speech was very moving to many of the attendees.

His successful business has been spread across the United States. Previously from Pakistan, Tariq and his family moved to the United States and lived in West Haven, CT when he was only 11 years old.

Six years later, he purchased his own flower shop and had it expanded to four different stores.

With a $5 thousand loan from his parents, he became fortunate and wealthy.

His business went from being just a flower shop to being an edible flower shop.

In 1999, Edible Arrangements had its debut in East Haven, CT.

The business has been running for about 16 years and has around 1,200 stores across the country.

To this day, Edible Arrangements is known as an industry leader.

The company has many awards and accomplishments including being ranked first in its category in Entrepreneur magazine’s annual Franchise 500 list for eight years and being recognized in 2012 and earning the Hire Power Award, which awards private businesses that lead the way in creating jobs.

Individually, Tariq was awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Retail and Consumer Products category in 2009.

On top of having a successful business, Farid has a foundation called the Tariq Farid Foundation that supports causes at home and all over the world.

The foundation focuses on helping schools, hospitals, soup kitchens, community centers and more.

The Edible Cares Fund is another effort created by Farid that helps out employees, friends and families in the Edible Arrangements company that are struggling due to family problems, illnesses and natural disasters.

His accomplishments and life story are inspiring others to follow their dreams and that their dream is in reach.