The owner of a small dog day care business in Stow fears a competitor’s erroneous radio advertisement will take a bite out of business.
The radio spot apparently said that Double Dog Day Care in Stow had closed, said Double Dog’s owner, Nancy Brown.
The ad was barking up the wrong tree.
Double Dog Day Care is alive and well, operating as it has for nearly three years in a shopping plaza at the northeast corner of Fishcreek and Graham roads.
In late December, Brown was alarmed to hear of the radio ads from a customer, as well as a man passing by her store. The ads were aired by a competitor that is part of a national franchise.
Brown said the ads, on WNIR radio, mentioned her business had closed and suggested that dog owners might now want to patronize the competitor’s business. The competitor is not being named because it could not be reached for comment.
On Thursday, Brown said she has worked fast to let loyal customers know that Double Dog remains in business.
“But the ads could impact a lot of people who were thinking about coming here,” she said.
“As my brother said: ‘We’re the little dog in this fight.’ ’’
Brown noted that the competitor is part of a fast-growing national franchise.
Brown said an official with WNIR (100.1-FM) has assured her the ad is no longer running.
Brown talked with the radio station official on Dec. 23, soon after learning of the ad. She said the station official “sounded genuinely contrite,” and has offered to air free ads for Double Dog Day Care. The official told Brown the commercial did not air after Dec. 18.
Bob Klaus, WNIR president and general sales manager, did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Brown noted that she had been thinking about going out of business last fall.
But the ads aired after she decided to keep the business open and had sent out an email to customers letting them know of her decision.
Brown said she made the decision to stay open after some customers stepped forward last fall and offered to invest in the business. Since then, business has been strong. Details involving the potential investors are still being worked out.
Double Dog is a reference to a line involving a “double-dog-dare” in the movie A Christmas Story.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com.