Is an Aplus franchisee prohibited from displaying or selling adult magazines?
Aplus Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
You are expressly prohibited from the display or sale of any adult/sophisticate magazines and/or materials at the APLUS Store. We also reserve the right to restrict you from the displaying or selling other items such as periodicals, videos, drug paraphernalia and other merchandise which may be offensive to the general public, or prohibited by applicable local laws or regulations. You are also expressly prohibited from selling synthetic marijuana (also known as Spice and K-2), drug paraphernalia and "bath salts". Bath salts may be known as Bliss Blue Light, Blue Silk, Charge, Cosmic Blast, Disco Concentrate Bath Salts, Ivory Snow, Ocean Burst, Pure Ivory, Purple Wave, Snow Leopard, Stardust, Tranquility Bath Salts, White Dove, White Knight, White Rush, Zeus 2, Ivory Wave, White Lightening or other names. Further, the sale of drug paraphernalia, such as glass smoking pipes are also prohibited. Sales of these products and any other prohibited product, as Franchisor may designate from time to time, can result in Franchisor's immediate termination of this Agreement.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 68–302)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Aplus's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are expressly prohibited from displaying or selling adult magazines and/or materials at the APLUS Store. Aplus also retains the right to restrict franchisees from displaying or selling other items that may be offensive to the general public or prohibited by local laws, such as periodicals, videos, and drug paraphernalia.
This prohibition extends to specific items like synthetic marijuana (Spice and K-2), drug paraphernalia, and bath salts, which are listed under various names. The sale of these prohibited products, as designated by Aplus, can lead to immediate termination of the Franchise Agreement.
This policy ensures that Aplus maintains a certain brand image and complies with legal and community standards. Prospective franchisees should be aware of these restrictions and ensure their business practices align with Aplus's guidelines to avoid potential penalties, including termination of the franchise agreement.