When Hot Topic was new, expanding from a local california chain of Socks and Accessories stores to a full on national Retail Clothing shop, I worked for them.
I recruited and trained management for them, for stores from Minnesota to New York. Setup new stores. Managed some of their highest volume locations... I designed their #1 selling apparel item of all time, and I was instrumental in the formation of "Torrid", when the former CEO was planning a series of Alternative Lingerie stores like a Goth Victoria's secret I proposed and convinced him that a "Big and Tall" chain was more necessary to the alternative community. They still talk about me around there... Im some kind of legend to them. Heh heh.
I know all sorts of things that go on "behind the scenes" there... and I'll tell you what... those people are pretty damn honest. If they purchased merchandise from a vendor and found out it wasn't licensed, it left the shelves... I have a strong suspicion that if they knew the **** was stolen, and there was proof, it would get pulled. I didn't read the article, and I suppose things could have changed over there... but unless there was a huge turnover in office personel, I would have a hard time believing it.
It would be like saying "Bob runs a pirated version of VB"... It could be possible, but knowing Bob, I would have a damn hard time believing it.
