Small businesses are the spine of any economy. If a small business gives back to the local community, the local community will support it. Finally, the growth of a small business depends on the policy of give and take. To support the growth of small businesses, a group of small business supporters got together to form a new phenomenon called “Cash Mobs.”
What is a Cash Mob?
This is the latest technique, or trend, to support local businesses such as mom and pop shops to tide over the recent economic downturn. The concept of cash mob is simple. Spend anywhere between $10 to $20 at a local establishment on a particular day to support the business in your area.
Cash mob originated in the in Buffalo, New York on August 5, 2011. This event was organized by a blogger, Christopher Smith in a wine shop. It garnered a lot of attention all over America. Later, on November 16, the same year it was officially organized in Cleveland, OH by Andrew Samtoy, an attorney. It became a success in the US after it was publicized on the National Public Radio. This phenomenon has spread to Canada and also as far as Australia.
It is worth mentioning here that “Cash Mobs” is not a political or social organization. The people who organize Cash Mobs are those who are trying to make a positive impact on the local businesses in the communities.
Cash Mob organizers are tapping the power of the Internet and social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to spread the word to friends and acquaintances to announce locations.
Cash Mob Rules
Here are a few rules for those who are interest in organizing a Cash Mob in your area.
- You must announce the mob date at least a week from the actual date through Twitter.
- Though the location of the meet has to be announced, it is not necessary to specify the business to support at that that time.
- The people who are participating in the Cash Mob should spend at least $20. However, if they want to spend more, then it is up to them.
- The business you wish to promote should have products for both men and women and it must be a locally owned.
- The small business owner must approve of the Cash Mob before you make an announcement via Twitter. He must be someone who gives and contributes to the growth of the community in some way or another.
- The business must be within one block of a locally-owned watering hole. The event will occur in the evening on a week day or weekend.
- The organizers should make arrangements for parking space or public transportation.
- The time of the event, cash mobbers must get together for celebratory drinks and for photo shoots.
Details of International Cash Mob Day
International Cash Mob Day will be held on March 24, 2012 in Atlanta. Those who are interested will meet the organizers at the corner of North Highland Avenue NE and St. Charles Avenue NE at 2:00 pm. Look out for the blue sign. From there, the group will walk towards the secret location that will be cash mobbed. Check out Cash Mob Atlanta on Facebook. Pozole’s Restaurant is the local business where the cash mobbers will meet for the celebration drinks. When you present the receipt from the local store that has been cash mobbed, you can get a House Margarita, Tecate Cans and half-off taco plates at a nominal rate.
Cash Mob events not only bring business to the mom n’ pop stores but it is also an opportunity to meet people. Use this chance to broaden your social network circle. Here you are actually bringing business to two locally owned businesses – a shop and a restaurant.
