Can Country Visions or its affiliates locate a company-owned or franchised Apricot Lane within a franchisee's territory?
Apricot_Lane Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
, but will depend on the market.
The Territory is only protected to the extent that neither COUNTRY VISIONS nor any affiliate will locate either a company-owned or franchised APRICOT LANE within your Territory during the term of the Franchise Agreement.
You will not receive an exclusive territory. You may face competition from other franchisees, from outlets that we own, or from other channels of distribution or competitive brands that we control. We (and our affiliates) retain the right during the term of the Franchise Agreement to engage in any and all activities that we (and our affiliates) desire, any time or place, and whether or not these activities compete with the Franchised Business, including the right to:
- (1) sell and authorize other parties to sell merchandise, including merchandise bearing the Marks or any similar or related names or marks, to independent retail outlets, at wholesale, at retail to the general population and by means of catalogs, mail order, home parties, Internet and/or television buying networks and/or clubs, whether within or outside of the Territory;
- (2) establish and operate and authorize other parties to establish and operate Stores, the physical premises of which are located outside of the Territory, on any terms and conditions we deem appropriate;
- (3) develop, acquire, establish, operate and franchise any retail or other businesses operating under marks other than the Marks at any location, including within the Territory; and
- (4) engage in all other activities that the Franchise Agreement does not expressly prohibit.
The Territory is not exclusive.
Source: Item 12 — TERRITORY (FDD pages 30–32)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Apricot Lane's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Country Visions (or its affiliates) is restricted from establishing a company-owned or franchised Apricot Lane store within a franchisee's designated territory during the term of the Franchise Agreement. However, the territory granted to an Apricot Lane franchisee is not exclusive. This means that a franchisee may face competition from other franchisees, franchisor-owned outlets, or other distribution channels controlled by the franchisor.
Apricot Lane franchisees should be aware that while they are protected from direct competition from another Apricot Lane store within their territory, Country Visions retains the right to engage in various activities that may compete with the franchised business. These activities include selling merchandise through independent retail outlets, wholesale channels, retail to the general public, catalogs, mail order, home parties, the Internet, and television buying networks, regardless of whether these activities occur within or outside the franchisee's territory. Additionally, Country Visions can establish and operate stores outside the franchisee's territory under any terms and conditions they deem appropriate.
Furthermore, Country Visions has the right to develop, acquire, establish, operate, and franchise any retail or other businesses under different marks (other than the Apricot Lane marks) at any location, including within the franchisee's territory. They can also engage in any other activities not expressly prohibited by the Franchise Agreement. This broad reservation of rights means that while a franchisee has some territorial protection against direct Apricot Lane competition, they may still face significant competition from other ventures of Country Visions or its affiliates.