Store boss threatened with legal action over shop name by T K Maxx

The owner of a fashion store has told of his shock at being threatened with legal action - by high street giant TK Maxx.
Mark Yates has been threatened with legal action over the name of his store. Credit: SWNSMark Yates has been threatened with legal action over the name of his store. Credit: SWNS
Mark Yates has been threatened with legal action over the name of his store. Credit: SWNS

Local businessman Mark Brooks says he opened his store – called P K Max – on the Promenade at Easter in a bid to help rejuvenate an area of empty shops.

He admits his choice of name was ‘tongue in cheek’ and the red signage outside his store, at the end of Waterloo Road, bears an uncanny resemblance to TK Maxx’s own logo.

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But he claims he was stunned to receive a letter on Saturday from the store’s lawyers accusing him of ‘trading off’ the company’s name and demanding he drop the title.

Retail giant T K Maxx has said the name of Mark Yates' store, P K Max, is too similar. Credit: SWNSRetail giant T K Maxx has said the name of Mark Yates' store, P K Max, is too similar. Credit: SWNS
Retail giant T K Maxx has said the name of Mark Yates' store, P K Max, is too similar. Credit: SWNS

Mark, 44, says he cannot afford to become involved in a legal battle and will have come up with another name.

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He said: “My family have been in retail since 1949.

“I run Brooks Memorabilia next door – my nickname is Max, comes from my mother’s maiden name – and my partner’s name is Paul Kelly. He runs the rock shop on the other side.”

Mark Yates said he will have to change the name of the store, P K Max, which he said was 'tongue in cheek'. Credit: SWNSMark Yates said he will have to change the name of the store, P K Max, which he said was 'tongue in cheek'. Credit: SWNS
Mark Yates said he will have to change the name of the store, P K Max, which he said was 'tongue in cheek'. Credit: SWNS

He said when the shop in between them became empty, the pair decided to join forces and fill the shop with a sports and fashion store.

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Mark said: “We were honestly doing our bit for Blackpool, there’s nothing worse than empty shops. Yes we knew the name was a bit tongue in cheek but there is also a toy store in

Blackpool with the same logo as the film Toy Story, there’s also an ice cream shop called Ken and Terry’s.

“It is genuinely a mix of both our names but was also a play on the TK Maxx name. We were just having a bit of fun – Blackpool is like that.

Retail giant T K Maxx has said the name of Mark Yates' store, P K Max, is too similar. Credit: SWNSRetail giant T K Maxx has said the name of Mark Yates' store, P K Max, is too similar. Credit: SWNS
Retail giant T K Maxx has said the name of Mark Yates' store, P K Max, is too similar. Credit: SWNS

“It’s not like we were ever going to be competition for them and start opening stores in Paris or anything. We’re just a small family-run store.

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“We employ a couple of people and managed to keep the shop open.”

He now says he has no choice but comply with T K Maxx’s demands, set out in a hand delivered four-page letter, to change the name by the end of the month.

Mark Yates said he will have to change the name of the store, P K Max, which he said was 'tongue in cheek'. Credit: SWNSMark Yates said he will have to change the name of the store, P K Max, which he said was 'tongue in cheek'. Credit: SWNS
Mark Yates said he will have to change the name of the store, P K Max, which he said was 'tongue in cheek'. Credit: SWNS

He added: “My heart did go a bit because you really don’t want to go around upsetting big companies and getting yourself in a legal mess. The letter is from a solicitor acting on behalf of

TK Maxx companies and says it is in regards to ‘Your infringement of TK Maxx trade marks’.

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“Of course we’re going to change the name. We are not going to get in a wrangle with a big company who could crush us in a minute.

“I just think that the company needn’t be so heavy handed. A phone call to tell me that I needed to change the name would have done it.

“There was no need to get solicitors involved. I would have always complied with their wishes.”

TK Maxx declined to comment.

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