Cash mobs boost local businesses

Some people may have heard of flash mobs, where people appear to randomly gather and break into song and dance routines. But, now a new craze, “cash mobs,” is spreading across the country.

Cash mobs are a phenomenon developed to support a community’s businesses while at the same time exposing participating shoppers to the business products and services. So instead of breaking into song, members of the cash mob open their wallets to spend money with local businesses.

Cash mobs are a way for people to help make a positive impact on the business in their community and have fun while doing it.

Cash mobs are primarily promoted through Facebook and electronic media to attract a mob at a designation location to “mob” a predetermined business. “mobbers” gather and descend on the business and spend $5-$20 on their purchase.

The cash mob activity is just another way of celebrating local businesses and what they do for their community. The activity provides the opportunity to introduce people to the products available locally and has the potential to introduce new customers to Havre businesses.

Cash mobs started a few years ago and have become a national trend of supporting local businesses. The trend is perfect for the Chamber Ambassadors, champions of supporting local Chamber member businesses and rallying around community events.

The Havre Area Chamber of Commerce's Ambassadors staged their first cash mob last week, and they plan on repeating this to help support local businesses. A crowd gathered, spontaneously generated through messages on various social media, and descended on Stromberg’s Sinclair for a blitz shopping spree.

Havre’s cash mob allows for people to experience new and different Chamber members businesses. A Chamber member business is selected at random by the Ambassadors by drawing a business name out of an envelope containing all current Chamber members.

The Chamber’s Executive Director, Debbie Vandeberg was excited with the participation for the first mob.

“Not only did the group get to explore Stromberg’s Sinclair the activity also created some fun and camaraderie at the same time,” she said.

Stacy Mantle, co-chair of the Chamber Ambassadors and publisher of the Havre Daily News, said people should “be sure to follow the Havre cash mob on Facebook to find out when and where the next mob will happen and help support Havre businesses by participating in a fun activity.”