Must an Apricot Lane franchisee abide by all standards and specifications regarding merchandise?
Apricot_Lane Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ducts at all times.
We may establish and modify in our sole discretion standards and specifications regarding the merchandise that may be carried and the services that may be provided from the Franchised Business, including approved vendors and the type, brand, amount and variety of merchandise to be carried. You must abide by all such standards and specifications. We can in our sole discretion require you to discontinue offering for sale any merchandise or services not specifically approved by COUNTRY VISIONS or the merchandise of any vendor specifically approved by COUNTRY VISIONS. Our standards and specifications and modifications, including approved vendors, may be part of the Confidential Operations Manual or provided in any other format as we determine. A list of required and recommended vendors is currently provided to you as part of the initial merchandise plan. We may also issue standards and specifications for products, materials and supplies used in the Franchised Business, including approved vendors, types and brands of products, materials and supplies. All products, materials and supplies used in the Franchised Business must meet these standards and specifications. We may limit the number of approved suppliers with whom you may deal, designate sources that you must use and/or refuse any of your requests to approve a supplier or merchandise for any reason, including that we have already designated an exclusive source (which might be us or our affiliate) for a particular merchandise, goods or services or if we believe that doing so is in the best interests of the COUNTRY VISIONS system.
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 must adhere to all standards and specifications set by Country Visions regarding the merchandise they carry. This includes following guidelines on approved vendors, as well as the type, brand, amount, and variety of merchandise offered. Apricot Lane, at its sole discretion, can require franchisees to stop selling any merchandise or services not specifically approved by them or to stop using merchandise from any vendor not approved by them. These standards and specifications, including approved vendors, may be found in the Confidential Operations Manual or provided in another format determined by Apricot Lane.
Apricot Lane franchisees are required to carry merchandise from vendors that consistently account for a significant amount of sales, as these products help shape the overall image of the stores. Country Visions reserves the right to issue specifications about the amount and variety of merchandise franchisees are required to carry. Franchisees will also contract directly with a visual merchandiser selected and scheduled by Country Visions from its approved supplier list, with typical fees ranging from $350 to $550 per day, plus expenses.
If Country Visions develops private-label or exclusive merchandise, franchisees must carry it and maintain a representative selection of these products at all times. Franchisees must also purchase an initial inventory that is collectively agreed upon from various required and recommended vendors. This ensures consistency and quality across all Apricot Lane stores, maintaining brand standards and customer expectations.