FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Who is Crosstown Gourmet, Inc.?
A. Crosstown Gourmet, Inc. is the licensed franchisor of Instead of Flowers™.
Q. Where do I locate my Instead of Flowers™ kitchen?
A. One of the key components of our concept is that you can create well prepared, gourmet meals for a retail customer base without having to set up and manage a retail location. Your kitchen may be located anywhere permitted by your local zoning ordinances. The only site selection that we would caution against is your own home.
Q. Will I get an exclusive territory?
A. Yes. Our franchisees take orders through a zip code driven system. As a result we authorize territories on the basis of zip codes. You will be permitted to sell outside your territory so long as you do not attempt to sell into another franchisee’s territory. Also, you will have the first right to adjacent territories before a prospective franchisee will be allowed to buy that territory.
Q. How do I know what equipment to buy or what inventory stock?
A. We will guide you in the process of the initial set up of your kitchen. Our years of experience in developing the Instead of Flowers concept has taught us what we need to know to advise you, down to the smallest detail, about the opening of your kitchen.
Q. How do I take in orders?
A. We have set up an online driven system that will direct customer’s order to your facility. You will be a part of our Customer Ordering Placement Network (COPN) that is designed to facilitate smooth and efficient processing of customer’s orders throughout our franchise network. We also offer the customer the option of ordering by toll free telephone number answered by our corporate telephone ordering system. All orders received by telephone will be sent to your facility online.
Q. Am I trained in the Instead of Flowers™ way?
A. Yes. Soon after you execute your franchise agreement we will start a twofold process of 1) site selection with you and 2) we will invite you to Atlanta to train in our corporate training facility. While in Atlanta you will learn about our recipes, our kitchen operations including equipment acquisition and stocking inventory and the individual facility’s business operations.
Q. Will I get continuing support?
A. Yes. We know that you cannot have all the information that you will need to operate your Instead of Flowers facility perfectly after the initial training phase. We strive to make all our franchisees successful on an ongoing basis. Our staff will be available to you to answer all your questions and to provide you with the knowledge that we have gained through the years. We believe that there is no question to small to ask.
Q. How much does a franchise cost?
A. That question is answered extensively in the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC) together with other important documents that we will send to you upon your request. The basic expenses are equipment, inventory, location costs, franchise fee and ongoing royalty and marketing fees. This is by no means a full list of your expected costs; please carefully review all documents that we may send to you and seek the advice that you need.
Q. Will I need online access?
A. Yes. Our COPN, the ordering network, will require you to go online to retrieve your orders and to receive other important news from the corporate office.
Q. Who sets my pricing?
A. Crosstown Gourmet will determine, with significant input from you, what the appropriate pricing levels area for your territory.
Q. How long can I own my franchise?
A. Again, that question is answered extensively in the UFOC and other attached documents. The basic term is ten years with renewable terms provided for in the Franchise Agreement. For a complete answer to this question please carefully review the UFOC and other documents with an advisor if necessary.
Q. Can you send to me a copy of the UFOC and the Franchise Agreement together with the other important documents?
A. Upon our mutual determination that, at least initially, we both believe that your joining our franchise family would be a win-win situation, we will send to you all the documents that you will need to make an informed decision to make the final decision.
Q. What’s next?
A. You should submit to us the Prospective Franchisee Evaluation Form. After we receive and review it we’ll be in touch.
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