ITEM 1.
THF
FRANCHISOR, ITS PRFDFCFSSOR AND AFFILIATES
The name of the franchisor is
Petland, Inc., which is referred to in this Franchise Disclosure Document
("Disclosure Document") as "Petland," "we,"
"us," or "Franchisor." Petland, Inc. is an Ohio corporation. Petland, Inc.''s predecessor, Petland of Chillicothe, Inc., was incorporated in
Ohio in 1967. On March 23, 1971, the incorporators of Petland of Chillicothe,
Inc. formed Petland, Inc. On January 16, 1973, Petland, Inc. was merged into
Petland of Chillicothe, Inc., and on February 1, 1973, the name of Petland of
Chillicothe, Inc. was changed to Petland, Inc. We do business under the names
"Petland, Inc.", "Petland", and "Aquarium
Adventure". Petland has two wholly-owned subsidiaries, neither of which is
an affiliate: Aquarium Adventure, Inc., an Ohio corporation, and Petland
Leaseholding, Inc., an Ohio corporation. Our principal business address is 250 Riverside Street, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601-5606. Our agent for service of process is Petland,
Inc., 250 Riverside Street, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601, Attention: Lorenda
Oberholzer. In addition, if your state is listed in Exhibit H to this
Disclosure Document, our agent for service of process in your state is listed
in Exhibit I.
Petland does not have a parent
company. Petland has no affiliates that must be disclosed in this Disclosure
Document. Petland has had no predecessors during the last ten years.
description
of petland''s business
Petland operates and licenses
franchisees to operate pet stores under either the brand name
"Petland" or "Safari Stan''s Pet Center" in a particular
location. These stores sell a variety of pets, pet supplies, pet services and
pet-related items to the general public. Petland also licenses franchisees to
operate aquarium stores called "Aquarium Adventure." This Disclosure
Document is not a Disclosure Document for the sale of Aquarium Adventure
franchises. The Aquarium Adventure franchise is described in a separate
Disclosure Document.
When we use the word
"you" in this Disclosure Document, we are referring to you as a
prospective Petland franchisee and to other Petland franchisees. If you elect
to acquire a Petland franchise through a corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, or other business entity, the word "you" also
includes the shareholders, partners, members, or owners of that entity.
description
of the petland franchise
Each Petland franchisee can
operate a Petland store and use Our System and the Licensed Marks (as defined
in Item 13 of this Disclosure Document) at a specific location approved by us
and set forth in Exhibit B attached to the Franchise Agreement
("Franchised Location"). "Our System" means the uniform
standards, methods, techniques, expertise, procedures, and specifications
developed by us for establishing, operating, and promoting a retail pet
business specializing in the sale of pets, merchandising and sale of pet
supplies, pet services, and pet related items. The distinguishing
characteristics of Our System include, without limitation, operating methods,
procedures, and techniques for the care and sale of pets; distinctive store
design, layout, decor and color scheme; specially designed signage, kennels,
and aquatic fixtures;
operating methods, procedures,
and techniques; procedures, methods, and techniques for inventory and cost
controls; record keeping and reporting; personnel management and training;
marketing, merchandising, advertising, sales, and promotional techniques; the
Confidential Operations Manual {as defined below), and Confidential Information
(as defined below), all of which may be changed, improved, further developed,
or otherwise modified by us from time to time. Petland stores are generally
located in outdoor shopping centers, although some Petland stores are located
in enclosed malls and freestanding locations.
Petland stores are patronized
by a broad spectrum of the general public interested in high quality pets, pet
supplies, and pet related items and services. If you become a Petland
franchisee, you must compete in a developing market with already established
locally-owned pet stores, which may have been in business for a significant
period of time, as well as national chains, regional franchise programs
offering franchises, and other businesses such as supermarkets, department and
discount stores offering pets, pet supplies, and other pet-related items. You
should consult the classified telephone directory under "Pet Shops"
and "Pet Supplies" to determine the number of competitors in your
territory.
A Petland store is subject to
numerous laws and governmental regulations that apply to businesses generally.
In addition, certain areas of the country may have animal and/or wildlife
control regulations, which may affect how you operate your Petland business.
You are responsible for checking on the existence of these types of laws and
regulations in your territory and complying with these laws and regulations.
Othfr
Franc hisfs of pfti and
Petland has started
franchising, as a separate franchise from the Petland store, stores under the
name "Aquarium Adventure," specializing in tropical fish. As of
December 31, 2007, there were five (5) franchised Aquarium Adventure stores
located in Ohio, New York, and Illinois. We will not establish an Aquarium
Adventure store within the exclusive territory of any Petland franchisee
without the franchisee''s consent or participation. Petland will start
franchising, as a separate franchise from the Petland store, stores under the
name "Safari Stan''s Pet Center." As of December 31, 2007, there were
no franchised Safari Stan''s Pet Center stores. We will not establish a Safari
Stan''s Pet Center store within the exclusive territory of any Petland
franchisee without the franchisee''s consent or participation.
Prior
Business Experience Of Petland
Petland, and/or its
predecessor, have conducted a business of the type to be operated by you since
1967 and have offered franchises since 1972.
We
have master franchisees in Canada, Japan, Chile, South Africa, China and Mexico.
