What are the conditions under which a Bambu franchisee may be restricted from advertising, marketing, or conducting business outside of their Protected Area?
Bambu Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You may advertise your Bambū shoppe in any geographic area and you may serve all customers who enter your shoppe, subject to reasonable restrictions and policies as we may place on your activities which may include restrictions and policies regarding: (1) electronic advertising (including Internet advertising); (2) the content, methods, media and means used to advertise, market and promote your shoppe; and (3) limitations on advertising, marketing or conducting business in areas outside of your Protected Area. Other Bambū franchisees have the same rights to conduct advertising anywhere and provide programs and products to all persons who enter their shoppes, subject to any restrictions set forth in our FRC Materials. You may not use other channels of distribution such as the Internet, catalog sales, telemarketing or other direct marketing to make sales outside of your Protected Area without our prior written consent.
Source: Item 12 — (FDD pages 38–40)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bambu's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, while franchisees can generally advertise their Bambu shop in any geographic area and serve all customers who enter their shop, Bambu may place reasonable restrictions and policies on their activities. These restrictions can include limitations on advertising, marketing, or conducting business in areas outside of the franchisee's Protected Area. Bambu also retains the right to implement restrictions and policies regarding electronic advertising, including internet advertising, and the content, methods, media, and means used to advertise, market, and promote the shop.
Bambu franchisees are not allowed to use other channels of distribution like the Internet, catalog sales, telemarketing, or other direct marketing methods to make sales outside their Protected Area without obtaining prior written consent from Bambu. Other Bambu franchisees have the same rights to conduct advertising anywhere and provide programs and products to all persons who enter their shops, subject to any restrictions set forth in Bambu's FRC Materials.
This means that while franchisees have some freedom to advertise, Bambu maintains control over how and where franchisees can market their businesses, especially outside of their designated territory. Franchisees need to be aware of these potential restrictions and policies, as they could impact their ability to reach customers and generate sales. It is important for prospective franchisees to carefully review the FRC Materials and discuss any concerns with Bambu before signing the Franchise Agreement.