Can Deka Lash use regional advertising for my franchise?
Deka_Lash Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
produce advertising material and conduct promotional programs. We may use online, radio, television, direct mail, billboards, print or other advertising. We may use local, regional, or national advertising. We may produce advertising material in-house or through outside agencies. (Franchise Agreement, Section 5.8).
Use of Your Own Advertising Material. You may use your own advertising materials provided that, prior to use, you submit them to us and we approve them, in writing, and they adhere to federal, state, and local law. All Internet and social media marketing using our Marks must be coordinated through us and approved by us. If our written approval is not received within 14 days from the date we received any material or marketing request, the material or request is deemed disapproved. (Franchise Agreement, Section 7.2).
Local Advertising Cooperative. We may designate any geographic area as a region for establishing a local advertising cooperative ("Local Advertising Cooperative"), though we typically designate areas based on Designated Market Areas as determined by the A.C. Nielsen Company. The members of the Local Advertising Cooperative for any area will consist of all Franchised Businesses, as well as outlets operated by us or our affiliates. We will determine in advance how each Local Advertising Cooperative will be organized and governed and when it must start operation. Each Local Advertising Cooperative will be organized for the sole purpose of administering advertising programs and developing, subject to our approval, promotional materials for use by the members in local advertising. If a Local Advertising Cooperative has been established for a geographic area where your Franchised Business is located when the Franchise Agreement is signed, or if any Local Advertising Cooperative is established during the term of the Franchise Agreement, you must become a member of the Local Advertising Cooperative and abide by the rules of the Local Advertising Cooperative.
If we establish a Local Advertising Cooperative for your area, you and franchisor-owned outlets in the Cooperative must contribute to the Local Advertising Cooperative the amounts required by its members, and all outlets must contribute on the same basis (which may be a uniform percent of revenue, a fixed amount, etc.). The amount of contribution will be determined by the members of the Local Advertising Cooperative, subject to our approval. Each member will have one vote for each Franchised Business operated by the member within the geographic area subject to the Local Advertising Cooperative.
Any contributions you make towards the Cooperative will be credited against your Local Marketing Requirement.
We reserve the right to form, change, dissolve or merge any Local Advertising Cooperative. (Franchise Agreement, Section 7.5).
Brand Development Fees. We require you to contribute a monthly Brand Development Fee equal to the greater of 3% of Gross Studio Sales or, after one year of being open, $500 per month. We may use the Brand Development Fund to pay for any costs incurred through third parties or our employment of personnel primarily dedicated to consumer marketing and promotion activities associated with advertising, promotional events, graphic design, photography, video production, branding, public relations, marketing, promotional materials, media, production, and any other activity we believe will benefit Deka Lash, including the creation, maintenance, optimization, and advertising of the company website or other websites, pay per click advertising, and administration of such, creating, conducting, and managing social media, creating, maintenance and promotion of appointment setting software, contests, direct mailers, promotions, and providing promotional materials to our franchisees. We may also use these fees for the support of creation and execution of all materials. We have the right to develop all media and marketing programs (internally or through outside vendors), and have the final decision on all promotions, creative concepts, and media.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 32–40)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Deka Lash's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, Deka Lash has the discretion to use regional advertising. Deka Lash may use local, regional, or national advertising at their discretion, and they have the right to produce advertising material in-house or through outside agencies.
Additionally, Deka Lash may designate geographic areas for establishing local advertising cooperatives. If a cooperative is established in the franchisee's area, the franchisee must become a member and adhere to the cooperative's rules. Franchisees and franchisor-owned outlets within the cooperative must contribute to the cooperative, with the contribution amount determined by the members and subject to Deka Lash's approval. Any contributions made to the cooperative will be credited against the franchisee's local marketing requirement.
Franchisees are also required to spend $2,000 per month on local marketing, according to Deka Lash's standards and specifications. This local marketing expenditure is in addition to the Brand Development Fee. Franchisees must spend these funds as prescribed by Deka Lash, which may include specific requirements for media advertisements or engaging public figures. Unless otherwise approved in writing, the local marketing efforts must primarily focus within the franchisee's protected territory.