Hits Vs Hitz

Posted by
Filed in Fashion
August 25, 2006

I got my very first pair of skate shoes at Hitz Boutique. If my memory serves me correctly, it was grade 8 and they were Etnies. Although I might have outgrown skateboard culture, there was always a soft spot in my heart for the sticker-covered little shack. That's why it was to my great disdain that I learned a dirty little secret at a party the other night. I hardly noticed, but 'Hitz' on Robson all of a sudden dropped the 'Z' and became 'Hits'. But wait, didn't I see it with a 'Z' at a new location in Gastown? Was this a case of semantics, or was there something more sinister going on?

Alas, it was no mistake. You see, when Hitz was forced, for whatever reason, to move locations after years at the corner of Granville and Robson, some people decided to cash in. The owners of the space, who also own the diamond shop next door, decided to have a grand "re-" opening. They duped all of Hitz Boutique's suppliers into selling them merchandise, and continued as if nothing had happened, save for some minor renovations.

I met the Hitz owners at a party the other night, but they seemed to upset to talk about it. They're just sick of the whole situation. I figured it would be an easy win for a lawyer, but they assured me that they had explored their options. The problem therein lies with establishing damages. How do you prove that 'Hits" is taking business away from Hitz?

The whole thing just makes me evermore cynical of capitalism. Lie, cheat, and steal. Dog eat dog. May the best man win. Survival of the fittest.

While locals may start to become aware of the situation, I fear that tourists with open wallets will not. I wish there was something I can do. In the meantime, I might just go down to the "original" Hitz (316 West Cordova) and buy a T-shirt or two.

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My loose understanding of the situation was the original owner of Hitz decided to get out of the game and handed the biz over to some employess...who then decided to move shoppe down to good old gastown. Never heard the forced out side of things. At any rate! suppliers are smarter than that, reps know who runs a shop, they have to show them the products etc and this is just a case of reps flooding the market with their products and not having any integrity. Integrity can be a bitch when you are in sales, you eat what you kill. So who is to blame? The suppliers and their reps. If you are worried about who to support, go to Antisocial. Hitz/Hits is, was, and always will be for poseurs!

Posted by: yep at August 25, 2006 10:11 PM | Quote Comment

Its a real shame they didn't incorporate their buisness, otherwise it would be really easy for Hitz to stop Hits from using a simillar name, as a corporation your name is basically your trademark and you could easily show that you own the rights to said name and you profited from that name and in being forced to move and another shop taking up the name "hits" they are infringing on your brand and causing damage.

Now I don't know much about ole proprietorships or limited/general partnerships but I would have imagined there would be some way to protect your name and its likeness, I honestly think they haven't actually looked deep enough into the subject, but if that is the case let it be known to everyone that the price to incorporate is mere pennies to the lost buisness when something like this happens.

Posted by: Jeremy at August 26, 2006 1:00 AM | Quote Comment

Yhea yep, The sales people don't have to sell their product to hits. In fact I would be suprised if they did? I think they would only do that if they didn't like the original people at Hitz.

Posted by: sarah at August 26, 2006 7:15 AM | Quote Comment

What the fake Hitz (HITS) is doing is that they circumvent the rules/law by ordering their stock under the name of the diamond store next door. So officially, their store is Diamond & Co as well but just coincidentally have HITS on the wall outside. But I mean, barring all judgement on HITZ (the real one now in gastown) their selection, even at a glance is far superior to HITS (the fake one)

Posted by: tobius at August 26, 2006 10:30 PM | Quote Comment

I have a question, does HITS sell Etnies skate shoes?

Posted by: hmm at September 3, 2006 1:50 PM | Quote Comment

If you want anything that you like at the Hits location (on Robson) - go to the ORIGINAL Hitz which moved down to Gastown on Cordova Street next to deLuxe Junk Co.
SUPERIOR product and staff. Simple.
The originators, NOT the imposters.

Posted by: bubba at December 5, 2007 2:03 PM | Quote Comment

Posted by: bubba at December 5, 2007 2:04 PM | Quote Comment