Business & Tech

'Cash Mobs' Plan Johnston Events

Two groups are planning to boost local business by gathering participants for 'cash mob' events on June 10 and 11.

 

You may already have heard of 'cash mobs' — those hastily-organized groups of shoppers who descend on a local business and help boost the day's receipts.

Next week, two cash mobs are planned at as-yet unspecified locations in Johnston.

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On Sunday, June 10, Mona Lucy Design is hoping to gather 50 people for its in the parking lot of Sovereign Bank, 1414 Atwood Ave. (in front of Super Stop & Shop).

And on June 11 starting at 5 pm, the is planning a cash mob to meet at the , 1291 Hartford Ave.

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The rules are simple: gather at a common location, learn the destination, and plan to spend at least $20 in the local business.

Chamber President Deb Ramos said during a recent interview that she was inspired by reading about the success of other such events.

"I've been following cash mob stories that have been in the news both nationally and locally," Ramos explained.

Most recently, the National Education Association of Rhode Island organized a "Unions Buy Local Campaign," which .

While the local efforts aren't affiliated with NEA-RI's campaign, Ramos said they all share the common goal of helping locally-owned companies stay afloat.

"We're looking for people who like to shop, who are interested in helping small business, want to commit to spend $15 to $20, and want to help bring some revenue to these small businesses that are, in some part, suffering," explained Ramos, who added that she'd "like to see about 30 people" participate.

Like McKay, Ramos declined to identify the business to be mobbed on Monday, though she did hint that "it's about five minutes from our meeting place" at the senior center.

As a relatively new phenomenon, cash mobs are still a popular way to generate local sales, Ramos said in explaining why she decided to capitalize on the trend.

"While there is some excitement about it, it's certainly something to get involved with and promote — there are lots of small businesses that can use this," she said. "Anybody and everybody can walk into any store and spend $20 in a heartbeat — so why not go and do it [with a cash mob], get something out of it, and help one of our local businesses? We want to try and stop business doors from closing."

For Sunday's cash mob, register with Kay McKay at monalucydesign@cox.net or call (401) 935-0330.

Reply to the Chamber's cash mob invitation by calling (401) 349-4674 or resgister online at www.ncrichamber.com by June 8.


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