Is an Apricot Lane franchisee permitted to contract with suppliers outside of COUNTRY VISIONS' approved suppliers?
Apricot_Lane Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
TRY VISIONS system.
You must purchase certain specified products and services from us (or our affiliates), including software, web marketing, the gift card program, store merchandise, visual merchandise, supplies, and certain construction and improvement activities from our approved suppliers. COUNTRY VISIONS does not permit you to contract with suppliers outside of our approved suppliers.
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.
Insurance
All of your insurance policies must meet our standards and specifications stated in the Confidential Operations Manual. Currently we have designated InterWest Insurance Services as our preferred provider. After obtaining a quote for required insurance from InterWest Insurance Services you may solicit quotes from other insurance companies as well.
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 generally not permitted to contract with suppliers outside of Country Visions' approved suppliers. The FDD specifies that franchisees must purchase certain products and services, including software, web marketing, the gift card program, store merchandise, visual merchandise, supplies, and certain construction and improvement activities, from Country Visions or its affiliates' approved suppliers. This restriction is in place to ensure consistency and quality across the Apricot Lane brand.
However, if there are no specific standards for particular merchandise, products, or materials a franchisee wishes to use, they must ensure that these items are of high quality and consistent with Apricot Lane's image. Country Visions retains the right to require franchisees to stop offering or using any merchandise, product, or materials that it deems inconsistent with this requirement. It is important to note that Apricot Lane does not currently have a procedure for franchisees to obtain approval for items not covered by existing specifications, standards, or the approved supplier list.
This requirement impacts the franchisee's operational flexibility and potentially their costs. While Country Visions negotiates purchase arrangements with suppliers and arranges volume discounts, the franchisee is still limited to approved vendors for a significant portion of their required purchases. The FDD estimates that the cost of all required purchases and leases from approved sources or according to specifications is between 40% and 50% of the cost to establish the franchised business and between 10% and 20% of the cost to maintain and operate the franchised business. Prospective franchisees should carefully consider these restrictions and costs when evaluating the Apricot Lane franchise opportunity.