Can Apricot Lane refuse a franchisee's request to approve a supplier or merchandise?
Apricot_Lane Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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.
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. InterWest will then be given the right to match any other quotes and you are required to use InterWest Insurance Services if it provides competitive prices to you. We do not collect any rebate for insurance sold to you by InterWest Service. You must maintain insurance protecting you and COUNTRY VISIONS, their officers, directors, partners and employees against any loss, liability, personal injury, death or property damage or other expense connected with the Franchised Business, specifying COUNTRY VISIONS as an additional insured.
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, Apricot Lane has broad discretion over approved suppliers and merchandise. Apricot Lane may limit the number of approved suppliers a franchisee can work with, designate specific sources that franchisees must use, and refuse a franchisee's request to approve a supplier or merchandise for any reason. This includes situations where Apricot Lane has already designated an exclusive source for particular merchandise, goods, or services, potentially including themselves or an affiliate, or if they believe refusing the request is in the best interest of the Apricot Lane system.
Apricot Lane can establish and modify standards and specifications regarding the merchandise that may be carried and the services that may be provided, including approved vendors and the type, brand, amount, and variety of merchandise. Franchisees must adhere to all such standards and specifications. Apricot Lane can also require franchisees to discontinue offering for sale any merchandise or services not specifically approved by them or the merchandise of any vendor specifically approved by Apricot Lane. A list of required and recommended vendors is provided as part of the initial merchandise plan, and these standards and specifications may be included in the Confidential Operations Manual or provided in another format.
If a franchisee wishes to offer or use merchandise, products, or materials for which there are no existing specifications or standards, they must ensure that these items are of high quality and consistent with Apricot Lane's image. Apricot Lane may require franchisees to discontinue offering or using any merchandise, product, or materials that they deem inconsistent with this requirement. Currently, there is no formal procedure for franchisees to obtain approval for items not covered by existing specifications, standards, or the approved merchandise/supplier list. This gives Apricot Lane significant control over the products and services offered at each franchise location, ensuring brand consistency but potentially limiting a franchisee's autonomy in selecting suppliers and merchandise.