If Apricot Lane develops proprietary items, private-label, or exclusive merchandise, are franchisees required to carry them?
Apricot_Lane Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ranchised Business. If we develop any proprietary items, private-label or exclusive merchandise for the APRICOT LANE Marks, we can require you to carry it and we may be the designated supplier or may designate another supplier.
You will set up, maintain and utilize an Internet service provider for the purposes of receiving electronic communications and point-of-sale, inventory management and other systems information from us, from other franchisees and your customers.
Gift Card Program
You must participate in our gift card program, currently administered by Ceridian-Stored Value Solutions. These gift cards operate like gift certificates and are redeemable at any participating Store. All new Franchised Businesses must participate in the program. You will purchase from Ceridian-Stores Value Solutions a gift card unit, initial supply of gift cards and set up for $700, which is included in Item 7 under Initial Store Marketing and Point of Purchase expense. You will need to purchase additional "blank" cards and other supplies from Ceridian-Stored Value Solutions at its then current pricing. The customer selects
the amount to put on the gift card from $10 to $500 and this remains in your account and is debited as the card is redeemed along with applicable transaction fees. Inter-store redemptions are reconciled monthly. All amounts due from your Franchised Business for transactions under this program are debited from your designated bank account by Ceridian-Stored Value Solutions. We cannot promise or represent that this program with Ceridian-Stored Value Solutions will continue in the future, and the terms and conditions of the program if it continues may be subject to change. We reserve the right to change administrators of the gift card program or to modify or discontinue the gift card program.
Merchandise
You must carry the merchandise of those vendors that we have determined consistently account for a significant amount of sales by the Stores. The products of these vendors help to shape the total image of the Stores. We reserve the right to issue specifications about the amount and variety of such merchandise you are required to carry. You will also contract directly with a visual merchandiser selected and scheduled by COUNTRY VISIONS from its approved supplier list. Typical fees range from $350 to $550 per day plus expenses.
If COUNTRY VISIONS or anyone we authorize develops private-label or exclusive merchandise, whether or not under the Marks, you must carry it and keep a representative selection of the products at all times.
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 may be required to carry proprietary, private-label, or exclusive merchandise developed by Apricot Lane. Specifically, if Country Visions, Apricot Lane's parent company, develops any proprietary items, private-label, or exclusive merchandise for the Apricot Lane Marks, they can require franchisees to carry it. Furthermore, Country Visions may be the designated supplier or may designate another supplier for these items.
In addition to proprietary merchandise, Apricot Lane franchisees must carry merchandise from vendors that consistently account for a significant amount of sales by the stores, as these products help shape the total image of the stores. Apricot Lane reserves the right to issue specifications about the amount and variety of such merchandise that franchisees are required to carry. If Country Visions develops private-label or exclusive merchandise, whether or not under the Marks, franchisees must carry it and keep a representative selection of the products at all times.
Apricot Lane may also establish and modify standards and specifications regarding the merchandise that may be carried, including approved vendors and the type, brand, amount, and variety of merchandise. Franchisees must abide by all such standards and specifications. Apricot Lane can require franchisees 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. These standards and specifications, including approved vendors, may be part of the Confidential Operations Manual or provided in any other format as Apricot Lane determines.