What costs can the Aerus System Media Fund be used to meet?
Aerus Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
a Fund, or to expend any particular amount of money in your Area of Responsibility.
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- The System Media Fund will be used only (except as otherwise provided below) to meet any and all costs of maintaining, administering, directing, conducting, creating, and/or otherwise preparing advertising, marketing, public relations and promotional programs and materials, and any other activities that we believe will enhance the image of the Programs.
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- We have the right to use System Media Fund contributions to, among other things, prepare and/or conduct media advertising campaigns, social media campaigns, direct mail advertising, marketing surveys and other public relations activities; employ advertising and/or public relations agencies to assist in doing so; purchase promotional items; develop new or modified trade dress and marks; point-of-purchase (POP) materials; design and photographs; conduct and administer visual merchandising, and other merchandising programs; purchase media space or time (including all associated fees and expenses); administer regional and multi-regional marketing and advertising programs; engage in or retain third parties to engage in market research and customer satisfaction surveys; develop and implement customer loyalty and gift card programs; customer retention programs; offset costs associated with the creative development of, and actual production associated
2025 Aerus FDD 28
with, premium items, giveaways, promotions, contests, public relation events, and charitable or non-profit events; develop and maintain our website(s); develop, implement and maintain an electronic commerce website and/or related strategies; maintain and develop one or more websites devoted to the Programs and Marks; provide promotional and other marketing materials and services to Franchised Businesses operated under the Programs; and offset the salaries of our employees to the extent such employees provide services in conjunction with System marketing activities. The System Media Fund may also be used to provide rebates or reimbursements to franchisees for local expenditures on products, services, or improvements, approved in advance by us, which products, services, or improvements we will have the right to determine, that we believe will promote general public awareness and favorable support for the Programs. We will have the sole right to decide how the System Media Fund creates, places, and pays for marketing.
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- Upon 30 days' notice from us that we have established the System Media Fund, you must contribute to the System Media Fund in the manner we specify.
Source: Item 11 — Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training (FDD pages 36–43)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Aerus Franchise Disclosure Document, the System Media Fund is designed to enhance the image of Aerus programs through various advertising and marketing initiatives. The fund can cover a wide array of costs associated with these efforts.
Specifically, the System Media Fund can be used to cover the costs of maintaining, administering, directing, conducting, and creating advertising, marketing, public relations, and promotional programs and materials. This includes media advertising campaigns, social media campaigns, direct mail advertising, marketing surveys, and other public relations activities. Aerus may also use the fund to employ advertising and/or public relations agencies, purchase promotional items, develop new trade dress and marks, create point-of-purchase materials, and manage visual merchandising programs.
Furthermore, the fund can be used to purchase media space or time, administer regional and multi-regional marketing and advertising programs, engage third parties for market research and customer satisfaction surveys, and develop customer loyalty and gift card programs. It can also offset costs related to premium items, giveaways, promotions, contests, public relation events, and charitable or non-profit events. The fund also supports the development and maintenance of Aerus's websites, including e-commerce sites, and can provide promotional materials and services to franchisees. Additionally, the fund can be used to offset the salaries of Aerus employees involved in system marketing activities and may provide rebates or reimbursements to franchisees for local marketing expenditures approved in advance by Aerus.
Aerus retains sole discretion over how the System Media Fund is used, including the creation, placement, and payment for marketing initiatives. Franchisees should be aware that Aerus is not obligated to ensure that expenditures from the fund directly benefit each franchisee in proportion to their contribution, nor is Aerus required to spend any specific amount in a franchisee's area. Aerus also has the right to charge the System Media Fund for reasonable administrative costs and overhead related to the fund's management and marketing programs.