Can Big Blue Swim School change the Brand Standards related to suppliers?
Big_Blue_Swim_School Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
To maintain the quality of BIG BLUE Swim School services and products and our franchise network's reputation, all Operating Assets and other services and products your School uses or sells (besides those described above that you currently may obtain only from us, our affiliates, and/or approved and designated suppliers) must meet our minimum standards and specifications, which we issue and modify based on our, our affiliates', and our franchisees' experience in operating BIG BLUE Swim Schools. Standards and specifications may impose minimum requirements for production, performance, safety, reputation, prices, quality, design, and appearance. Our Operations Manual will identify our standards and specifications for you. When appropriate and authorized, you may provide those standards and specifications to suppliers if they agree to maintain confidentiality.
If you want to purchase or lease any Operating Assets, products, or services from a supplier or distributor we have not then approved (if we require you to buy or lease the asset, product, or service only from an approved supplier or distributor), then you must establish to our reasonable satisfaction that the quality and functionality of the item or service are equivalent to those of the item or service it replaces and that the supplier or distributor is, among other things, reputable, financially responsible, and adequately insured for product-liability claims. You must pay upon request any actual expenses we incur to determine whether or not the items, services, suppliers, or distributors meet our requirements and specifications. We will decide within a reasonable time (up to 120 days).
We have the right to condition our written approval of a supplier or distributor on requirements relating to product quality and safety; third-party lab testing; prices; consistency; warranty; supply chain reliability and integrity; financial stability; customer relations; frequency, economy, and efficiency of delivery; concentration of purchases; standards of service (including prompt attention to complaints); and other criteria. We have the right to inspect the proposed supplier's or distributor's facilities and require the proposed supplier or distributor to send samples directly to us or to a third-party testing service. We have the right to be reimbursed for the costs of testing new products or services or inspecting new suppliers you propose. We have the right to re-inspect a supplier's or distributor's facilities and products and revoke our approval of any supplier, distributor, product, or service no longer meeting our criteria by notifying you and/or the supplier or distributor.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 29–34)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Big Blue Swim School Franchise Disclosure Document, Big Blue Swim School has the right to modify the Brand Standards and designate or approve suppliers. To maintain the quality of Big Blue Swim School services and products and the franchise network's reputation, all Operating Assets and other services and products a franchisee's School uses or sells must meet minimum standards and specifications. These standards and specifications are issued and modified based on the experiences of Big Blue Swim School, its affiliates, and its franchisees.
The standards and specifications may include minimum requirements for production, performance, safety, reputation, prices, quality, design, and appearance. These standards are identified in the Operations Manual. If a franchisee wants to purchase or lease any Operating Assets, products, or services from a supplier or distributor that Big Blue Swim School has not approved, the franchisee must prove that the quality and functionality of the item or service are equivalent to those of the approved item or service. The supplier or distributor must also be reputable, financially responsible, and adequately insured for product-liability claims.
Big Blue Swim School has the right to condition its written approval of a supplier or distributor on requirements relating to product quality and safety, third-party lab testing, prices, consistency, warranty, supply chain reliability and integrity, financial stability, customer relations, frequency, economy, and efficiency of delivery, concentration of purchases, and standards of service. Big Blue Swim School can inspect the proposed supplier's or distributor's facilities and require them to send samples for testing. The franchisee may be required to reimburse Big Blue Swim School for the costs of testing new products or services or inspecting new suppliers. Big Blue Swim School can also re-inspect a supplier's or distributor's facilities and products and revoke approval if they no longer meet the criteria.