Click here to subscribe today or Login.
By JERRY LYNOTT jlynott@leader.net
Tuesday, March 04, 2003 Page: 1C
TUNKHANNOCK – Donna LaBar no longer toys with the idea of keeping Homes R
Us name as part her Century 21 real estate franchise.
After 11 years of wrangling with Toys R Us over allegations she infringed
on the giant toy retailer’s trademark, LaBar gave in. Her real estate firm now
goes by Century 21 – Sherlock Homes, with offices in Clarks Summit and
Tunkhannock.
There’s no need to worry about a repeat of the name problem, she said
Monday. A trademark search cleared her firm to use the word play on the
fictitious detective’s name.
“Our new name has been well-received by the public,” LaBar said. “Maybe
even more than Homes R Us was.”
The change was made late last year and took months to complete the
paperwork and licensing.
LaBar has begun clueing in the public to the switch. Announcements sent
last week to area reporters arrived in white boxes accompanied by toy plastic
giraffes – a la the Toys R Us mascot, Geoffrey the giraffe.
The change might have happened sooner, maybe even years sooner, had she not
been so determined.
LaBar still believes she was right, but the fight was taking time, energy
and money – she hired an attorney – away from her business.
“They just wore me down,” she said.
Toys R Us would not negotiate. The company would only tolerate a name
change, despite LaBar’s business having nothing to do with toys. “They said
we confuse the consumer by advertising.”
Toys R Us did not return a message left Monday with the corporate
communications department.
The problem began in 1990 when LaBar contacted Toys R Us about leasing the
former Jewelcor building along U.S. Route 6 near Scranton. “Once they had our
letterhead that was the end,” she said.
At the time, LaBar had used the Homes R Us name for two years. The business
was licensed with the state, and no one raised a concern about the name at the
time, she said.
LaBar acknowledged she was afraid to change her business’ name and worried
about the impact on the public and the 30 agents associated with the business.
She went ahead, hoping to remove any cloud of impropriety from over her
head and the franchise’s.
“I’m totally relieved that I did it,” she said.
Jerry Lynott, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7237.