In Yesterdays News: Fire officials say they didnt authorize ad campaign, Local businesses being contacted to invest Katie Landeck News Staff Writer GARDNER — Fire officials are cautioning Gardner businesses against purchasing ads from the company Firehouse Promotions. The company is claiming to be making the calls on the behalf of the Fire Department. “It’s unauthorized solicitation,” said Lt. Mike Boris. The Illinois-based company has been calling local businesses asking them if they would like to purchase ad space on a magnet they say the Fire Department will distribute to local residents, according to Lt. Boris. The magnet would theoretically list emergency numbers. However, the company never asked the Fire Department if they wanted to participate. In fact, the department found out about the scheme from community members. “We had people calling asking if this is legitimate,” said Lt. Boris. Lt. Boris said since learning of the calls, he has contacted representatives from the company and asked them to cease calling area businesses. Firehouse Promotions agreed to stop calling, but Lt. Boris wanted to further inform the community in case the company fails to hold up its end of the bargain. “We don’t want people getting tangled up in this,” said Lt. Boris. According to the company’s website, firehousepromotionsinc, the smallest ad, two by two inches, would cost advertisers $500. The website is basic and looks thrown together. The website also states the only benefit the Fire Department would receive is being able to provide the information to people in the form of magnets. It states “the goal of the memo boards is to save lives, while at the same time providing local businesses with affordable and long term exposure.” Lt. Boris said businesses should not advertise and said the department has been working with the police to end the calling.
Posted on: Fri, 23 May 2014 16:00:06 +0000