Does C3 Wellness Spa grant an exclusive territory to its franchisees?
C3_Wellness_Spa Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
al, or similar rights to acquire additional franchises.
Territory Rights
You will not receive an exclusive territory. You may face competition from other franchisees, from outlets that we own, or from other channels of distribution or competitive brands that we control. However, during the term of the Franchise Agreement, provided that you are not in default of your obligations to us or our affiliates and, except as to our Reserved Rights set forth below, we will not establish or open and we will not grant another franchisee the right to establish or open an C3 Wellness at a Spa Location within your Designated Territory.
We and our affiliates reserve to ourselves the exclusive right on any and all terms and conditions that we deem advisable and, without any compensation or consideration to you (Franchise Agreement, Article 2.D and Multi-Unit Development Agreement, Article 2.3), to engage in the following activities (our "Reserved Rights"): (a) operate and grant to others the right to develop and operate Spa Location Franchises and Franchised Businesses using the System and Licensed Marks at locations outside your Designated Territory and, if applicable, Development Territory, as we deem appropriate and irrespective of the proximity to your Designated Territory and, if applicable, Development Territory; (b) acquire, merge with or otherwise affiliate with one or more businesses of any kind, including businesses that offer and sell products and services that are the same as, or similar to, the Franchised Business, and after such acquisition, merger or affiliation to own and operate and to franchise, or license others to own and operate and to continue to own and operate such businesses of any kind, even if such businesses offer and sell products and services that are the same as or similar to a the Franchised Business (but not using the Licensed Marks) within your Designated Territory and, if applicable, within your Development Territory; (c) be acquired by or merge with or otherwise affiliate with one or more businesses of any kind, including businesses that offer and sell products and services that are the same as or similar to the Franchised Business, even if such business or businesses presently or, in the future, own and operate and franchise or license others to own and operate businesses that offer and sell products and services that are the same as or similar to the Franchised Business (but not utilizing the Licensed Marks) within your Designated Territory and, if applicable, your Development Territory; (d) use the Licensed Marks and System to distribute the Approved Services and Products offered and sold by the Franchised Business or products and services similar to the Approved Services and Products offered and sold by the Franchised Business in alternative channels of distribution including internet / web based sales and similar outlets that sell cosmetic products or spa products, within or outside your Operating Territory; (e) operate, and grant to others the right to own and operate, a Spa Location Franchises in non-traditional sites including, but not limited to hotels, resorts, airports, universities, government facilities, and shopping malls both within and outside your Designated Territory and, if applicable, your Development Territory; and (f) use the Licensed Marks and System and to license others to use the Licensed Marks and System, to engage in all other activities not expressly prohibited by the Franchise Agreement.
Restrictions on Us from Soliciting or Accepting Orders in Your Territory
There are no restrictions on us from soliciting or accepting orders from customers inside your territory. We reserve the right to use other channels of distribution, such as the internet, catalog sales, telemarketing, or other direct marketing sales, to make sales within your territory using our principal trademarks or using trademarks different from the ones you will use under the Franchise Agreement. We do not pay any compensation to you for soliciting or accepting orders from inside your territory.
Soliciting by You Outside Your Territory
You are required to target and direct the marketing of your Spa Location Franchise to and/or on behalf of your associated Spa Location to customers located within your territory. You may only offer and sell Approved Spa Products and Services from your approved Spa Location within your Designated Territory, and only to retail customers.
Competition by Us Under Different Trademarks
We do not have plans to operate or franchise a business under trademarks different from the Licensed Marks that sells or will sell goods or services similar to those that will be offered by you through the Franchised Business.
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ITEM 13 TRADEMARKS
Under the terms of the Franchise Agreement, you will be granted a license to use the "C3 Wellness" trademark and those other marks. Our affiliate Aryes IP LLC is the owner of the Licensed Marks and has granted to us a license with an initial 20 year term and with automatic renewal thereafter to use the Licensed Marks and to license our franchisees to use the Licensed Marks. We reserve the right to supplement and modify the marks that you may or may not use in the operations of your Spa Location Franchise. You may only use the Licensed Marks in the manner authorized by us in writing and pursuant to the terms of the Franchise Agreement. You may not use the Licensed Marks in the name of the Corporate Entity that you may establish to own and operate your Spa Location Franchise.
Under the terms of the Franchise Agreement, you will be granted a license to use the "C3 Wellness" trademark and those other marks that we designate.
Source: Item 12 — TERRITORY (FDD pages 38–40)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to C3 Wellness Spa's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees will not receive an exclusive territory. While franchisees are granted a designated territory, they may face competition from other franchisees, outlets owned by C3 Wellness Spa, or other channels of distribution and competitive brands controlled by the company. However, C3 Wellness Spa states that, provided the franchisee is not in default, C3 Wellness Spa will not establish or open, nor grant another franchisee the right to establish or open a C3 Wellness Spa at a Spa Location within the franchisee's Designated Territory.
The Designated Territory's scope and size will generally be the smaller of a distance of two miles from the Spa Location in all directions travelable by road or a territory encompassing a population of 10,000 people as of the date of the Franchise Agreement. If the Spa is located within a shopping mall or similar facility with a captive market, the Designated Territory may be limited to the physical boundaries of the mall or facility. C3 Wellness Spa may identify the Designated Territory by zip code, boundary streets, highways, county lines, designated market area, and/or other recognizable demarcations.
C3 Wellness Spa also retains significant rights, including the right to operate and franchise businesses outside the franchisee's Designated Territory, affiliate with other businesses (even those offering similar services), and use alternative channels of distribution like the internet to sell products and services. There are no restrictions on C3 Wellness Spa from soliciting or accepting orders from customers inside the franchisee's territory, and the franchisee receives no compensation for such sales. The franchisee is required to target marketing efforts towards customers within their designated territory and may only sell Approved Spa Products and Services from their approved Spa Location within their Designated Territory, and only to retail customers.
Prospective franchisees should be aware that while they have a designated territory, it is not exclusive and is subject to considerable limitations and potential competition from C3 Wellness Spa itself through various channels. The franchisor also has the right to operate Spa Location Franchises in non-traditional sites including, but not limited to hotels, resorts, airports, universities, government facilities, and shopping malls both within and outside the Designated Territory. This lack of exclusivity is a significant factor to consider when evaluating the potential for success and return on investment with a C3 Wellness Spa franchise.