Cash Mobs!

[TrueNorthTreasures]

I love this article, and love the idea behind it even more. It would be wonderful to see this happen with independent stores all over North America!


CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio (AP) — It began quietly, as an email to 40 friends.


But when a steady stream of customers began coming through the door before the family-owned Chagrin Hardware had even opened for the day on Saturday, it was clear that it had turned into much more than that.


The idea started with Jim Black, a resident of Chagrin Falls, a close-knit village in Cleveland's eastern suburbs that is part artist colony and part bedroom community. Black posted the email to a group of his friends. "Let's show our support for one of our local businesses," he wrote. "I challenge everyone to spend AT LEAST $20 at the hardware on the 21st."


Although his email referred to the idea of a "Cash Mob" or the notion to "Occupy CF Hardware," he really had no political agenda. And it wasn't meant as a protest against the big-box stores that have created an ever-tightening circle around the community.


It was just a way to thank Chagrin Hardware's owners for a beloved shop that has been a fixture in the village since 1857.


To read the full article, click here:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/era-bi...080317993.html


UPDATE: CASH MOB held in HALIFAX Saturday, March 10, 2012. Video posted later in this thread.



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[ginger150]

I love this. Supporting local small business is so important.

[theweave]

But do they accept coupons????

Good idea though!

[gourmetsue]

that is a fantastic story!

[lekate]

I like this story too. I do prefer to shop at small independent stores

[TrueNorthTreasures]

Wooohoooo!

A cash mob was held in Halifax yesterday, and was an amazing success! Word-of-mouth was spread through Twitter and Yelp. Folks met at the Public Library downtown, and then trooped over to support Love, Me Boutique. I am from NS, but currently live in BC. *So* wish I had been home for this!

I love that the organizer of this was entertaining people waiting to get into the shop by asking trivia questions and awarding gift certificates from other small, independent businesses in the city. Love, Me Boutique did more than $3200 business in 90 minutes!

Definitely going to post this to my Facebook page!

Cash Mob - Halifax



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[TrueNorthTreasures]

Great pictures of Saturday's cash mob in Halifax....

http://michelledoucettephotography.c...t-photography/


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[SueZiz]

what a great idea to promote local spending.

[TrueNorthTreasures]

Here is a website that lets you search for the planned cash mobs closest to you, and helps you organize your own.

http://www.cashmob.com/