Does C3 Wellness Spa have discretion in how it uses the Brand Development Fund?
C3_Wellness_Spa Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
may designate for the System. (Franchise Agreement, Article 9);
-
- Brand Development Fund We may control and administer a brand development fund (the "Brand Development Fund") (Franchise Agreement, Article 9.A.). As disclosed in Item 6 of this Disclosure Document, you must contribute a weekly sum not to exceed 3% of weekly Gross Sales to the Brand Development Fund (currently 1% of Gross Sales) or $2,300 per week. We may use the Brand Development Fund for market studies, research, service development, product development, testing, research studies, technology development, advertising and public relations studies or services, creative production and printing of advertising and marketing materials, advertising copy and commercials, tracking costs, agency fees, administrative costs, which may include reimbursement for direct administrative and personnel costs associated with advertising and public relations, and any other costs associated with the development, marketing and testing of advertising, marketing and public relations materials, and the purchase of media placement, advertising time and public relations materials in national, regional or other advertising and public relations media in a manner determined by us, in our discretion, to be in the best interest of the franchisees and the System. Our company and/or affiliate owned Spas may but are not required to contribute to the Brand Development Fund. The Brand Development Fund will maintain unaudited financial records detailing its expenditures and will make available to you, no more frequently than one time in any 12 month period, an unaudited accounting of how monies contributed to the Brand Development Fund were spent each year. We are not required to segregate the Brand Development Fund from our general operating funds
and we are not a fiduciary or trustee of the Brand Development Fund. The Brand Development Fund will not be used to directly promote your Spa or the marketing area in which your Spa will be located. (Franchise Agreement, Article 9.A.). We may use the Brand Development Fund to develop and test various media and technologies for potential use and/or improvement of the operations of Spas and the marketing of Spas. These technology developments and/or improvements may relate, among other things, to our website and to the interaction and potential enhancement of web offerings that may or may not be implemented on behalf of Spas. You may or may not benefit from these technology developments and improvements. The Brand Development Fund will be unifor
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 30–38)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to the 2024 C3 Wellness Spa Franchise Disclosure Document, C3 Wellness Spa has significant discretion over the Brand Development Fund. C3 Wellness Spa may control and administer the fund. Franchisees must contribute a weekly sum not to exceed 3% of weekly Gross Sales to the Brand Development Fund (currently 1% of Gross Sales) or $2,300 per week.
C3 Wellness Spa can use the Brand Development Fund for various purposes, including market studies, research, service and product development, testing, advertising and public relations, and administrative costs. These administrative costs may include direct administrative and personnel costs related to advertising and public relations. The funds can also be used for creating advertising materials, purchasing media placements, and other activities related to marketing and development.
C3 Wellness Spa is not obligated to segregate the Brand Development Fund from its general operating funds and is not considered a fiduciary or trustee of the fund. The Brand Development Fund will not be used to directly promote an individual franchisee's spa or its specific marketing area. However, C3 Wellness Spa may use the fund to develop and test technologies that could potentially improve spa operations and marketing, although franchisees may or may not directly benefit from these developments.
C3 Wellness Spa's company-owned or affiliate-owned spas may or may not contribute to the Brand Development Fund. While the fund will maintain unaudited financial records of its expenditures, franchisees are only entitled to an unaudited accounting of how the funds were spent each year, and this can be requested no more than once in any 12-month period.