Florida Hardware Store Chain Sues Home Depot Over Advertising Slogan

Sunshine Ace Hardware, with four locations along the southern Gulf Coast of Florida, has sued Home Depot for violation of trademark. The lawsuit, as filed in a federal district court in Florida, asks the court to bar Home Depot from using the advertising slogan, “You Can Do It”¦We Can Help.”

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the slogan is an integral part of Home Depot’s current ad campaign. The newspaper reports that the parties have tried to schedule a voluntary mediation to resolve the lawsuit.

In business for more than 40 years, Sunshine Ace hardware has two locations in Naples, one in Bonita Springs and one in Fort Myers. The “You Can Do It”¦We Can Help” slogan appears prominently on the company’s Web site, www.sunshineace.com.

Founded in 1978, Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement retailer and is the second largest retailer in the United States. The company reported fiscal year 2002 sales of $58.2 billion. According to its Web site, Home Depot has more than 1,500 stores throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, with a new store opening on average every 43 hours.

For more information, go to www.homedepot.com or www.sunshineace.com.