Who develops the promotional/advertising activities for Marble Slab Creamery?
Marble_Slab_Creamery Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We will conduct promotional/advertising activities, developed by us, an advertising agency and/or a public relations firm, to enhance our corporate name and image through a national advertising fund (the "Fund"). You must make a weekly contribution to the Fund in an amount equal to 2% of total net sales. This requirement is in addition to the 2% of total net sales which you must spend on local advertising under Section 10.1 of the Franchise Agreement. We reserve the right to increase the amount of your Fund contribution to up to 4% of your net sales. Except as described below, for each Restaurant owned by us or our affiliates, we, or our affiliates, will contribute the amount that would be required to be contributed to the Fund as if it were a franchised Restaurant.
During our Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2024, the following percentages of advertising expenditures were made in the areas described below: Media Placement: 43.7%, Production: 9.5%, Web Site: 10.5% and Other: 36.3%. Other includes: Franchisee Communications Platform, Guest Experience Programs, In Store Music, Franchisee Print Portal, Market Research & Product Testing, Marketing Partnership Funds, Overhead, Travel & Administrative Expenses, Social Media Management Software, PR Monitoring and Other Services. We have not spent any of the Marketing Fund contributions that we have received for marketing that was primarily a solicitation for the sale of franchisees.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 53–62)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Marble Slab Creamery's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the promotional and advertising activities are developed by Marble Slab Creamery, an advertising agency, and/or a public relations firm. These activities are intended to enhance the company's corporate name and image through a national advertising fund.
Franchisees are required to contribute to this fund, with a weekly contribution of 2% of total net sales. Marble Slab Creamery retains the right to increase this contribution up to 4% of net sales. For restaurants owned by Marble Slab Creamery or its affiliates, they will contribute to the fund as if they were franchised restaurants.
The FDD specifies how the advertising expenditures were allocated during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. Media placement accounted for 43.7%, production for 9.5%, the website for 10.5%, and other activities for 36.3%. The 'other' category includes franchisee communications platform, guest experience programs, in-store music, franchisee print portal, market research & product testing, marketing partnership funds, overhead, travel & administrative expenses, social media management software, PR monitoring and other services. Marble Slab Creamery states that no marketing fund contributions have been used for marketing that primarily solicits the sale of franchises.