Does Engineering For Kids provide approved advertising and promotional materials to franchisees?
Engineering_For_Kids Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You agree to conduct all advertising in a dignified manner and to conform to the standards and requirements we periodically specify in the Manual or in other written materials. All local marketing, advertising, and promotion must be in the media, and of the type and format, as we may approve. We will make available to you approved advertising and promotional materials, including signs, posters, collaterals, etc. that we have prepared. We will have the final decision on all creative development of advertising and promotional messages. You must submit to us, for our approval before your use, all proposed plans, promotion materials, and advertising that we did not prepare or approve in the previous year. If you do not receive our written approval within 10 business days from the date we receive the material, the material is deemed disapproved. We reserve the right to require you to discontinue the use of any advertising or marketing materials.
We may periodically require you to participate in and comply with special promotional activities for Engineering For Kids Businesses generally or in specific geographic areas or for specific types of venues. You must bear your own costs of participating locally in such promotions. (Franchise Agreement, Section 9.5)
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 25–36)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Engineering For Kids FDD, Engineering For Kids will make available approved advertising and promotional materials to franchisees. These materials include items such as signs, posters and other collateral. However, all local marketing, advertising, and promotion must be in a format approved by Engineering For Kids. Franchisees must submit any proposed plans, promotion materials, and advertising that Engineering For Kids did not prepare or approve in the previous year for approval. If written approval is not received within 10 business days, the material is considered disapproved. Engineering For Kids retains the right to require franchisees to discontinue the use of any advertising or marketing materials.
Engineering For Kids may also require franchisees to participate in special promotional activities, bearing their own local costs. Additionally, Engineering For Kids considers online sites as advertising, which are subject to review and prior written approval. Franchisees cannot establish an online site relating to the Engineering For Kids business, proprietary marks, or the system without prior written approval. If consent is granted, Engineering For Kids has the right to require adherence to certain rules and standards concerning any online site.
Engineering For Kids also has a Brand Fund that may be used for costs associated with local, regional, and/or national advertising, marketing, public relations, and/or promotional programs and materials. This includes advertising campaigns in various media, online marketing, direct mail advertising, market research, promotional items, and providing promotional materials to franchisees. Engineering For Kids has the right to direct all marketing programs, with the final decision over creative concepts, materials, and media used in the programs and their placement. Any promotional materials produced with Brand Fund monies will be made available to franchisees at a reasonable cost, with the proceeds deposited back into the Brand Fund account.
Engineering For Kids may stop collecting and disbursing advertising contributions and terminate the Brand Fund at any time, but not until all monies in the fund have been expended for marketing purposes. The Brand Fund will not expend any money for advertising that is principally a solicitation for the sale of franchises. The FDD states that Engineering For Kids or its affiliate will contribute to the Brand Fund in the same manner as franchisees, and may count other marketing costs incurred in connection with promoting the Engineering For Kids brand and products towards the required advertising contribution.