Does Apricot Lane currently maintain a procedure for franchisees to obtain approval of items not covered by specifications?
Apricot_Lane Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If there are no specifications or standards addressing the particular merchandise, product or materials you wish to offer or use, you must nevertheless ensure that all merchandise, products and materials sold or used in the Franchised Business are of a high quality and consistent with our image. We may in our sole discretion require you to discontinue offering or using any merchandise, product or materials that in our opinion are inconsistent with this requirement. We do not currently maintain any procedure for you to obtain our approval of any item that is not covered by our specifications and standards or which is not on our list of approved merchandise or suppliers.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 17–20)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Apricot Lane's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to ensure that all merchandise, products, and materials sold or used in their franchised business are of high quality and consistent with Apricot Lane's image, even if there are no specific standards addressing those items. Apricot Lane retains the sole discretion to require franchisees to stop offering or using any merchandise, product, or material that it deems inconsistent with this requirement.
However, Apricot Lane does not currently have a formal procedure in place for franchisees to seek approval for items that are not already covered by existing specifications, standards, or the approved merchandise and supplier list. This means that if a franchisee wishes to introduce a new product or use a supplier not already vetted by Apricot Lane, there is no established process for obtaining the necessary approval.
This lack of a formal approval process could present challenges for franchisees who want to innovate or respond to local market demands with unique offerings. While franchisees are expected to maintain high quality and brand consistency, the absence of a clear path for introducing new items may limit their flexibility and potentially lead to uncertainty about compliance with Apricot Lane's standards. Prospective franchisees should inquire with Apricot Lane about how they can suggest new products or suppliers and what criteria would be used to evaluate them.