Does an Apricot Lane franchisee receive an exclusive territory?
Apricot_Lane Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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. You may face competition from other franchisees, from franchisor owned outlets or from other channels of distribution or competitive 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.
Source: Item 12 — TERRITORY (FDD pages 30–32)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Apricot Lane's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees do not receive an exclusive territory. The territory is protected only in that Country Visions, or its affiliates, will not establish a company-owned or franchised Apricot Lane store within the franchisee's territory during the term of the Franchise Agreement. However, franchisees may face competition from other franchisees, franchisor-owned outlets, other distribution channels, or competitive brands controlled by the franchisor.
The size of the territory varies depending on the store's location. For stores inside an enclosed mall, the territory is limited to the mall property. For stores in larger facilities like shopping centers or tourist attractions, the territory is limited to that facility. Stand-alone locations typically have a territory defined as a 1-2 mile radius from the store, but this depends on the market.
Apricot Lane franchisees are restricted from selling merchandise outside of their designated territory or through other distribution channels without prior written consent from Country Visions. However, qualifying franchisees may participate in Apricot Lane's e-commerce platform programs. Country Visions and its affiliates retain the right to use alternative distribution channels to solicit and accept orders within the franchisee's territory without providing any compensation to the franchisee. This includes selling merchandise through independent retail outlets, wholesale, retail to the general population, catalogs, mail order, home parties, the Internet, and television buying networks.