Who determines if a non-approved supplier meets Big Blue Swim School's requirements?
Big_Blue_Swim_School Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
7.D.1 If you want to purchase or lease any Operating Assets or other products or services from a supplier or distributor we have not then approved (if we require you to buy or lease the product or service only from an approved supplier or distributor), then you must establish to our reasonable satisfaction that the product or service is of equivalent quality and functionality to the product or service it replaces and 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 and TRE we incur to determine whether or not the products, services, suppliers, or distributors meet our requirements and specifications.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 75–76)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Big Blue Swim School's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee wants to use a supplier or distributor that Big Blue Swim School has not already approved, the franchisee must demonstrate to Big Blue Swim School's reasonable satisfaction that the new supplier's products or services are of equivalent quality and functionality to those already approved. The franchisee must also show that the proposed supplier or distributor is reputable, financially responsible, and adequately insured for product liability claims.
Big Blue Swim School has the right to assess the proposed supplier to ensure they meet the brand's standards. The franchisee is responsible for covering any expenses Big Blue Swim School incurs while evaluating the potential new supplier.
Big Blue Swim School may also set specific conditions for approving a supplier or distributor, including requirements related to product quality, safety, testing, pricing, supply chain reliability, financial stability, customer relations, and delivery efficiency. Big Blue Swim School can also inspect the supplier's facilities and request product samples for testing. Ultimately, Big Blue Swim School maintains the authority to limit the number of approved suppliers, designate mandatory sources, and refuse requests for new suppliers for any reason, including if they already have an exclusive source or believe it is in the best interest of the Big Blue Swim School network.