What standards must my social media activity adhere to as an Apricot Lane franchisee?
Apricot_Lane Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
All advertising, marketing and promotional materials that you develop for the Franchised Business must contain notices of the URL of the System Website in the manner that we periodically designate. You may not develop, maintain or authorize any other website, other online or digital presence or other electronic medium that mentions or describes the Franchised Business or displays any of the Marks without our prior written approval. Neither you, nor any of your owners, signatories, guarantors or individuals who attended training or signed a confidentiality agreement, may conduct commerce or directly or indirectly offer or sell any products or services using any website, another electronic means or medium, or otherwise over the Internet or in any other manner without express permission from us in writing. Any social media that you engage in must be in accordance with our standards that we specify from time to time.
We have the right to maintain websites other than the System Website and to offer and sell products and services under the Marks from the System Website, another website or otherwise over the Internet without payment or obligation of any kind to you.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 22–30)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Apricot Lane's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, any social media engagement must align with the standards specified by Apricot Lane, which may be updated periodically. As an Apricot Lane franchisee, you are required to include notices of the System Website URL on all advertising, marketing, and promotional materials you develop for your franchised business.
Without prior written approval from Apricot Lane, franchisees are prohibited from creating or maintaining any website, online presence, or electronic medium that mentions or describes the franchised business or displays any of Apricot Lane's trademarks. Furthermore, franchisees, their owners, signatories, guarantors, or individuals who attended training or signed a confidentiality agreement are not allowed to conduct commerce or offer/sell products or services through any website, electronic means, or the Internet without express written permission from Apricot Lane.
Apricot Lane retains the right to maintain websites other than the System Website and to offer and sell products and services under the Marks from the System Website, another website or otherwise over the Internet without payment or obligation of any kind to you. Apricot Lane also has the exclusive right to establish and maintain sites on the Internet under any domain name containing the words "APRICOT LANE" or any of the Marks or any variation of them and you may not establish any such site on the Internet without Apricot Lane's written consent, which may be withdrawn at any time. You need Apricot Lane's written approval of any web page or Internet advertising you propose to maintain or use, including the use of linking and framing between your web page and any other web sites.