Where is an Apricot Lane franchisee allowed to operate the franchised business?
Apricot_Lane Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
tive brands franchisor controls.
You may operate the Franchised Business only at the location specified in the Franchise Agreement unless we agree otherwise. If applicable, you may operate any temporary, seasonal, kiosk, cart or other adjunct operation only from a location approved by COUNTRY VISIONS. You also may not sell APRICOT LANE Store merchandise through any other distribution channel without our prior written approval.
You may relocate your Franchised Business at your sole expense within your Territory, but only with our prior written consent. COUNTRY VISIONS shall have the right to charge you for any costs incurred by us, and a reasonable fee for our services, in any relocation of the Franchised Business. If your lease expires or terminates and you are not at fault, or the site is destroyed, condemned or in any manner made unusable, if you are unwilling or unable to relocate the Franchised Business, COUNTRY VISIONS is not required to refund any fees or costs paid to COUNTRY VISIONS.
If you relocate the Franchised Business, you will conform the new store location to COUNTRY VISIONS' then-current standards for store design; close the old location at the same time you open the new location; and remove and obliterate any visible signs, graphics and advertising materials displaying any of our names, Marks and slogans. These changes must be completed within 7 business days of the opening of the new location.
Continuation of your Territory is not dependent on the achievement of a certain sales volume, market penetration or other contingency.
COUNTRY VISIONS does not have to permit you to open any additional Stores in your Territory or elsewhere. If you are approved for an additional Store, you will sign the Franchise Agreement then in use for new franchisees and pay the franchise fee for additional stores described in Item 5 of this Disclosure Document.
You may request an option, effective for a 12-month period, to develop an additional Store at a location that you have identified. If we in our sole discretion grant this option, you will sign the Location Option Agreement attached to the Franchise Agreement as Exhibit B and pay us an option fee of $15,000 upon signing. The option may be exercised only in that 12-month period by signing the then-current form of Franchise Agreement for the additional store, which must be preceded by securing the location for that store. The franchise fee for the additional Store is $20,000 and is due when you exercise the option, provided that $5,000 of the option fee is credited without interest toward this franchise fee for the additional store. If you do not exercise your option on time and in the manner prescribed, the option expires and the option fee is retained in full by COUNTRY VISIONS for holding the location off the market. The option fee is not refundable under any circumstances.
Source: Item 12 — TERRITORY (FDD pages 30–32)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Apricot Lane's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee can only operate the franchised business at the location specified in the Franchise Agreement, unless Apricot Lane agrees otherwise. This means the franchisee's primary place of business is fixed unless they receive explicit permission to operate elsewhere.
Apricot Lane may allow franchisees to operate temporary or seasonal adjunct locations like kiosks or carts, but only if the franchisor, COUNTRY VISIONS, approves the location. Furthermore, franchisees need written approval from COUNTRY VISIONS before selling Apricot Lane merchandise through any other distribution channel. This restriction ensures that all sales channels align with Apricot Lane's brand and marketing strategies.
A franchisee may relocate their Apricot Lane store within their territory, but this is contingent on receiving prior written consent from COUNTRY VISIONS and bearing all relocation expenses. COUNTRY VISIONS retains the right to charge the franchisee for any costs incurred and a reasonable fee for their services during the relocation. The franchisee must also conform the new store location to Apricot Lane's current design standards, close the old location when the new one opens, and remove all signs displaying Apricot Lane's names, marks, and slogans within 7 business days of opening the new location.
Apricot Lane does not have to permit a franchisee to open additional stores in their territory or elsewhere. If a franchisee is approved for an additional store, they must sign the current Franchise Agreement for new franchisees and pay the additional franchise fee, as detailed in Item 5 of the FDD. A franchisee can request a 12-month option to develop an additional store at a location they identify, which requires signing a Location Option Agreement and paying a $15,000 option fee. If the option is exercised, $5,000 of the option fee is credited towards the $20,000 franchise fee for the additional store. However, failure to exercise the option on time results in Apricot Lane retaining the full option fee.