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Marketing Rights & Content Usage Policy

Sankofa Collective Vendor Marketing Agreement

OUR APPROACH: COLLABORATIVE MARKETING

Sankofa Collective believes in amplifying Black-owned brands through strategic, authentic storytelling. When you partner with us, we work together to showcase your products, share your story, and build your brand visibility—while respecting your intellectual property and creative vision.

This policy outlines what marketing rights you grant to Sankofa and what rights you retain.

 

SECTION 1: RIGHTS GRANTED TO SANKOFA COLLECTIVE

By entering into a vendor partnership, you grant Sankofa Collective non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use the following content for marketing, promotional, and operational purposes:

1.1 Product Content

Product Photography & Images:

  • Product photos (professional images, lifestyle shots, detail shots)
  • Product packaging images
  • Swatch/color samples
  • Before/after images (if applicable)
  • Usage images showing product in use

Product Information:

  • Product names and descriptions
  • Ingredient lists
  • Usage instructions
  • Product specifications (size, weight, scent, etc.)
  • Pricing information
  • Product benefits and claims (as provided by vendor)

Product Videos:

  • Product demonstration videos
  • Tutorial or how-to videos
  • Brand story videos
  • Testimonial videos featuring your products

1.2 Brand Content

Brand Identity:

  • Company name and "doing business as" (DBA) names
  • Brand logos (in original form and colors)
  • Brand taglines and slogans
  • Brand color palettes (for design consistency)
  • Brand fonts (if provided)

Brand Story & Information:

  • Founder name(s) and biography
  • Company history and founding story
  • Mission and values statements
  • "About Us" content
  • Awards and recognition
  • Press mentions and media features

1.3 Approved Marketing Materials

Any marketing materials you've already created and shared with Sankofa, including:

  • Social media graphics
  • Email templates
  • Print advertisements
  • Website banners
  • Promotional videos

 

SECTION 2: HOW SANKOFA MAY USE YOUR CONTENT

2.1 Website & E-Commerce Platform

Product Pages:

  • Display product images, descriptions, and specifications
  • Show pricing and availability
  • Feature customer reviews and ratings
  • Highlight product benefits and ingredients

Vendor Profile Pages:

  • Feature your brand story and founder bio
  • Display your logo and brand imagery
  • Link to your website and social media
  • Showcase your full product line available through Sankofa

Homepage & Collection Pages:

  • Feature products in curated collections
  • Highlight new arrivals or bestsellers
  • Showcase seasonal promotions

2.2 Email Marketing

Newsletter Content:

  • Feature products in weekly/monthly newsletters
  • Highlight new vendor partnerships
  • Share your brand story with subscribers
  • Promote special offers or limited editions

Transactional Emails:

  • Include product images in order confirmations
  • Feature cross-sell/upsell recommendations
  • Share product care instructions

2.3 Social Media Marketing

Platforms: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest, LinkedIn, X (Twitter)

Content Types:

  • Product posts featuring your items
  • Brand spotlight posts sharing your story
  • Educational content about ingredients/benefits
  • Behind-the-scenes content about your business
  • Repost/share your original social media content (with credit)
  • Stories, Reels, and short-form video featuring products
  • Customer testimonials and reviews

Tagging & Credit:

  • Tag your brand's social media accounts in all posts
  • Credit you as the maker/creator
  • Link to your website/shop when platform allows

2.4 Paid Advertising

Digital Advertising:

  • Facebook/Instagram ads featuring your products
  • Google Shopping ads
  • Display ads on relevant websites
  • Retargeting campaigns to previous customers

Content for Ads:

  • Product images and videos
  • Brand story highlights
  • Customer testimonials
  • Promotional offers

Budget & Approval:

  • Sankofa funds all advertising at our discretion
  • No approval required for individual ads using approved content
  • We notify you of major campaign launches featuring your brand

2.5 Public Relations & Media

Press Materials:

  • Include your products in press releases
  • Provide product samples to media for review
  • Feature your brand in media kits and lookbooks
  • Share your story with journalists and influencers

Media Appearances:

  • Showcase products in TV segments, podcasts, or interviews
  • Feature in print publications and online media
  • Include in industry awards and competitions

2.6 Partnership Marketing

Co-Marketing Opportunities:

  • Feature products at pop-up shops and events
  • Include in collaborations with other Black-owned businesses
  • Participate in community initiatives and activations
  • Cross-promote with strategic partners

2.7 Internal Use

Operational Purposes:

  • Product catalogs and lookbooks for buyers
  • Sales presentations and pitch decks
  • Investor relations materials
  • Training materials for customer service team
  • Inventory management and warehouse systems

 

SECTION 3: CONTENT APPROVAL & BRAND GUIDELINES

3.1 Pre-Approved Content

No Approval Required: Once you provide marketing assets during onboarding, Sankofa may use them without seeking approval for each individual use, provided the content is used:

  • As originally intended
  • Without material alteration
  • In accordance with brand guidelines (if provided)
  • In alignment with Sankofa's values and standards

3.2 Content Requiring Approval

Vendor Approval Required For:

  • Major alterations to product images (color correction beyond standard editing, cropping that changes context, adding text/graphics)
  • Creation of new branded content (designs featuring your logo in new ways)
  • Claims or statements not provided by you
  • Use in controversial or political contexts
  • Collaborations with other brands using your content
  • Licensing your content to third parties

Approval Process:

  • Sankofa submits request via email with visual mockup or description
  • Vendor has 5 business days to approve or request changes
  • If no response within 5 days, approval is assumed
  • Urgent requests (under 48 hours) will be marked as such

3.3 Brand Guidelines

If You Provide Brand Guidelines:

  • Sankofa will adhere to your logo usage, color specifications, fonts, and tone of voice as outlined
  • Guidelines should include: logo files, color codes, font specifications, approved/prohibited uses
  • Submit guidelines during onboarding or email to: partnerships@sankofacollective.net

If No Guidelines Provided:

  • Sankofa uses best judgment to represent your brand professionally and consistently
  • We match your existing brand aesthetic as closely as possible
  • We avoid uses that could dilute or misrepresent your brand

 

SECTION 4: RIGHTS YOU RETAIN

4.1 Ownership

You retain full ownership of:

  • All product designs and formulations
  • All trademarks, logos, and brand names
  • All photography and videos you created
  • All copyrighted content (text, graphics, packaging design)
  • All intellectual property rights

Sankofa's license is non-exclusive: You may license the same content to other retailers, distributors, or partners without restriction.

4.2 Your Marketing Freedom

You retain the right to:

  • Market your products through any channel (your own website, other retailers, social media)
  • Create and distribute your own marketing content
  • Partner with other brands, retailers, or platforms
  • Run your own advertising campaigns
  • Control your brand messaging and positioning

No Exclusivity: Unless explicitly agreed in a separate exclusivity agreement, Sankofa does not require exclusive marketing rights.

4.3 Content Removal Requests

You may request removal of content if:

  • Content is outdated (product discontinued, reformulated, rebranded)
  • Content violates your brand guidelines
  • Content is inaccurate or misleading
  • You're terminating the partnership

Removal Process:

  • Email partnerships@sankofacollective.net with specific content and reason
  • Sankofa removes content within 10 business days
  • Content archived but not deleted (for recordkeeping)
  • Active marketing campaigns may continue through scheduled end date

 

SECTION 5: USER-GENERATED CONTENT (UGC)

5.1 Customer Reviews & Testimonials

Sankofa may use:

  • Written customer reviews from Sankofa platform
  • Star ratings and feedback
  • Customer photos of products (if submitted with permission)
  • Video testimonials from customers

Vendor Notification:

  • Vendors receive monthly reports of customer reviews
  • Negative reviews shared immediately for resolution
  • Testimonials may be featured in marketing without additional approval

5.2 Influencer & Creator Content

If Sankofa partners with influencers to promote your products:

  • Influencer content (posts, videos, photos) may be reshared by Sankofa
  • You may also reshare influencer content (with proper credit)
  • Sankofa notifies you of influencer partnerships featuring your brand
  • Influencer gifting or paid partnerships funded by Sankofa

 

SECTION 6: CO-MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES

6.1 Vendor Marketing Support

Sankofa provides:

  • Product photography for use on your own channels (upon request)
  • Sales data and customer insights (monthly reports)
  • Social media shoutouts and tags
  • Inclusion in Sankofa's email newsletters and blog content
  • PR opportunities through Sankofa's media relationships

6.2 Collaborative Campaigns

Vendors are encouraged to:

  • Share Sankofa's posts featuring your products
  • Tag @sankofacollective in your own posts
  • Mention Sankofa partnership in your marketing (press releases, website, social media)
  • Collaborate on joint giveaways or promotions
  • Participate in Sankofa's seasonal campaigns or initiatives

Co-Promotion Assets:

  • Sankofa provides branded graphics, templates, and content for vendors to use
  • Available in Vendor Portal or by request

 

SECTION 7: PROHIBITED USES

7.1 Sankofa Will NOT:

  • Use your content in ways that misrepresent your products or brand
  • Alter ingredient claims or make unauthorized health claims
  • Associate your brand with causes or organizations without consent
  • License your content to third parties for commercial use without permission
  • Use your content after partnership termination (beyond reasonable wind-down period)
  • Share proprietary business information (formulations, suppliers, sales data) publicly

7.2 Vendors Must NOT:

  • Make false or misleading claims about Sankofa partnership
  • Imply exclusivity if no exclusivity agreement exists
  • Use Sankofa's trademarked name or logo without permission
  • Disparage Sankofa in public marketing or social media
  • Share confidential business information about Sankofa

 

SECTION 8: CONTENT SUBMISSION & SPECIFICATIONS

8.1 Required Assets (Due at Onboarding)

Product Photography:

  • Minimum 3 high-resolution images per product (300 DPI, 2000x2000px minimum)
  • White or transparent background for main product shot
  • Lifestyle images showing product in use (optional but preferred)
  • File format: JPG or PNG

Brand Assets:

  • Logo files (vector format: AI, EPS, SVG preferred; also PNG with transparent background)
  • Brand guidelines (PDF) if available
  • High-resolution founder photo (if willing to be featured)

Product Information:

  • Complete ingredient lists (copy-paste text, not just images)
  • Product descriptions (50-150 words per product)
  • Product specifications (size, weight, scent, etc.)
  • Usage instructions and benefits

Brand Story:

  • Founder bio (100-200 words)
  • Company story (200-300 words)
  • Mission/values statement

8.2 Ongoing Content Updates

Vendors should notify Sankofa of:

  • New product launches (with assets)
  • Product reformulations or ingredient changes
  • Rebranding (new logos, packaging, messaging)
  • Awards, press features, or major milestones
  • Discontinued products

Submission Process:

 

SECTION 9: TERM & TERMINATION

9.1 Duration of License

The marketing rights granted to Sankofa remain in effect for the duration of the vendor partnership agreement and for a reasonable wind-down period after termination.

Wind-Down Period (30 days after termination):

  • Existing marketing campaigns may continue through scheduled end date
  • Website content remains live until products sell through
  • Sankofa stops creating new marketing content featuring your brand
  • Paid advertising campaigns featuring your products paused within 5 business days

9.2 Post-Termination

After wind-down period:

  • Product pages removed from website or marked as "no longer available"
  • Email campaigns and social media posts featuring your products discontinued
  • Historical content (past blog posts, archived emails) may remain for recordkeeping
  • Analytics and sales data retained per data retention policies

Immediate Removal (Upon Request):

  • If vendor requests immediate removal due to brand emergency, safety issue, or legal concern, Sankofa acts within 48 hours

 

SECTION 10: INDEMNIFICATION & LIABILITY

10.1 Vendor Representations

By providing content, you represent and warrant that:

  • You own all rights to the content or have permission to license it
  • Content does not infringe on third-party intellectual property
  • Product claims and descriptions are accurate and compliant with regulations
  • You have necessary rights to use any trademarks, photos, or testimonials

10.2 Vendor Indemnification

Vendor agrees to indemnify and hold Sankofa harmless from claims arising from:

  • Intellectual property infringement related to vendor's content
  • False or misleading product claims provided by vendor
  • Regulatory violations related to product marketing

10.3 Sankofa's Commitment

Sankofa agrees to:

  • Use content only as authorized in this agreement
  • Remove content promptly upon valid request
  • Respect intellectual property rights
  • Maintain professional standards in all marketing

 

SECTION 11: UPDATES TO THIS POLICY

Sankofa Collective reserves the right to update this Marketing Rights Policy with 30 days notice to vendors.

Notification Process:

  • Email notification sent to all active vendors
  • Updated policy posted at sankofacollective.net/marketing-rights
  • Changes effective 30 days after notification

Vendors may:

  • Review changes and request clarification
  • Opt out of specific new uses (if materially different from original agreement)
  • Terminate partnership if changes are unacceptable (per termination policy)

 

QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS

Marketing & Content Inquiries:

Content Removal Requests:

  • Email: partnerships@sankofacollective.net
  • Subject Line: "Content Removal - [Your Brand Name]"
  • Include specific URLs, images, or content to be removed
  • Response time: 48 hours; removal within 10 business days

 

Last Updated: January 2026