知名连锁店道歉！“已启动法律程序”

Core Viewpoint - The facial cleansing care chain brand "Washing Bear" has faced multiple store closures across various regions, leading to consumer complaints about the inability to contact stores and use membership cards at other locations. The founder expressed regret over inadequate supervision and pledged to protect consumer rights [1][2][3]. Group 1: Company Response - The founder of Washing Bear, Tang Huabo, acknowledged the company's shortcomings in supervision and committed to addressing consumer concerns [2][3]. - On January 2, Washing Bear issued a statement indicating that some stores had closed without proper communication with headquarters, violating cooperation agreements. Legal action has been initiated against these stores [1][3]. - The company has organized a special team to handle the situation and is actively working to ensure refunds for affected consumers [3]. Group 2: Market Context - Washing Bear operates over 2,600 stores nationwide, and the company claims that services remain unaffected despite the closures [2][3]. - The brand, endorsed by celebrity Louis Koo, focuses on skin cleansing and targets a growing market segment that includes young men and women increasingly interested in skincare [7][9]. - The price range for single cleansing services varies from tens to hundreds of yuan, with specific packages priced between 53 yuan and 240 yuan [6][9]. Group 3: Industry Challenges - The incident highlights issues within the franchise model, where inadequate evaluation systems and oversight can lead to inconsistent franchisee quality and consumer protection failures [9][11]. - Regulatory bodies in Guangzhou have received multiple complaints regarding Washing Bear and are increasing oversight of the company's operations, particularly concerning prepayment management [11].