Sometimes, good things really do come in small packages. Last Saturday, May 18th, 24 mobbers made their way to Maine Line Products in Greenwood, ME. While the turnout was smaller, together, the mobbers still spent $476! Can you imagine even just 24 people mabbing your small local business?

Although this mob was smaller than our past mobs, it still accomplished the core cash mob goals: a local business received a boost in sales; locals had an opportunity to socialize and meet new people; and a good time was had by all.

Maine Line Products located on Main St. in Greenwood, Maine, offers Maine-made and Maine inspired products. In addition, they specialize in wooden products, in particular Woodman’s Weathersticks and handmade wooden crates.  They also make their own fudge right there in the store, it is said to be the best in town!

 After mobbing Maine Line Products, everyone enjoyed an after party sponsored by Great Falls Insurance. Wraps and cookies were provided by The Good Food Store. Everyone who attended received a free reusable Cash Mob tote bag.

There was a drawing held at the aftermob party where people won gift certificates and other prizes.

We had an awsome time, hope you can join us for the next one, June 22nd!

72 people attended the 4th Western Maine Cash Mob on Saturday. They arrived at the Paris Elementary School as the snow was falling, and the surprise was revealed – they went across the street to do some shopping at the future home of Responsible Pet Care. Sales from the Mob there raised $2,000 for RPC. Matching gifts from an anonymous donor for $1,000 and from W.J.Wheeler Insurance for $2,500 brought the final total to $5500.

The Responsible Pet Care team put together a great craft fair. They have now raised over $100,000 towards their $350,000 goal to purchase the building.  I hope that other local businesses and community members will pledge to support RPC and help them reach their goal. You can learn more about the shelter and its campaign at http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/rpc.html

We run Western Maine Cash Mob to support local businesses, get community members together, and have some fun. I’m so proud of our communities, as our Cash Mobs are among the best attended anywhere in the country. Please like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CashMobWesternMaine?ref=hl to stay current on our next Cash Mob!

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this such a successful Cash Mob!

Cash Mob hitting South Paris, Maine on Saturday December, 1st at 9:30 am. 

We invite everyone to join us at this family friendly event. The Cash Mob will meet at the South Paris Elementary School parking lot at 9:30 am.  At that time everyone will find out the place we will be mobbing!  The event will be indoors so come rain, shine or cold.

Each “Mobster” is asked to bring $20.00 to spend at the chosen place.  There will also be free refreshments and prizes at our “after-mob” party which is sponsored by Norway Savings Bank.

The details of our “cash mobbed” and “after-mobbed” will be revealed at the time and location of our meeting place.

The Bethel community supported its first Cash Mob on September 15th. The event was sponsored by W.J.Wheeler Insurance. 62 people attended and spent nearly $1600 at the stores in Philbrook Place on Main St. At the after-mob party at Café DiCocoa, sponsored by Norway Savings Bank, they were treated to live entertainment from Brad Hooper and homemade gelato and apple cobbler sourced from local ingredients and prepared by chef Kathy Dicocco.

A “Cash Mob” is a “flash mob” with a “buy local” “community oriented” twist. We call it Homegrown Economic Stimulus. Participants come prepared to spend $20 but don’t know the target store in advance. The mob gathered on the Bethel Commons at 3pm as the Harvest Fest was winding down. At that time, the location of the cash mob was announced.

There were regulars who have attended every cash mob in Western Maine to date, and some new folks. Participants were happy to support locally owned and operated businesses. And it was a beautiful day to shop as well.

Without the support of the Bethel Citizen, Norway Savings Bank and the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce, this event would not have been possible. Countless hours and dollars have been poured into the Cash Mob in addition to the money that was actually spent at the mob itself. Thank you to everyone who made this Cash Mob possible!

Stay Tuned for the next one …

Michael Newsom

Everyone is invited to join the Western Maine Cash Mob on September 15th at 3pm.  We will meet at the north end of the Bethel Commons across from the Chapman Inn. We will “cash mob” a local business in Bethel. This is a family-friendly event.

A Cash Mob is a community oriented event designed to support one local business while giving people the opportunity to see old friends and make new ones.  Everyone agrees to bring $20 with them to spend at this local business.  This business is kept a surprise until the last possible moment!

Each “Mobster” is asked to bring $20 to spend at the chosen business and also encouraged to join in the “after mob” at a local watering hole.  Details of the businesses to be “cash mobbed” and “after mobbed” will be revealed at the meeting time and place.

Exciting News! Refreshments at the “after-mob” will be sponsored by Norway Savings Bank and will be free for the Mobsters!  This is our way of saying thank you for coming and supporting the local economy!

Of course, you won’t want to miss the Bethel Harvestfest and Chowder Cook-Off happening the same day. For more info, visit: http://bethelharvestfest.com/ 

The Oxford Hills community supported its second Cash Mob on August 25^th.  102 people gathered to mob the Fox School Farmer’s Market, and they spent close to $1900 at the vendors that were represented there.   The mob first gathered at W.J. Wheeler Insurance without knowing what business they were going to.

Every mobber had a different reason for coming out to the mob.  Some had so much fun at July’s Cash Mob that they wanted to be a part of another one.  Others said that they simply liked to shop!  And one of the mobbers, Cara Billings, expressed her desire to support the community that she lives in.

A Cash Mob is a community oriented event designed to support one local business while giving people the opportunity to mingle with others from the local area.  Everyone agrees to bring $20 with them to spend at this local business.  This business (or in this case the various vendors at the Farmer’s Market) is kept a surprise until the last possible moment!

As the mob marched to the Farmer’s Market, the Oxford Federal Credit Union greeted everyone with food, drinks and bright green bags.  Brad Hooper also walked through the market with his guitar making the mood extremely festive.  The day was capped off with gift certificates that had been donated from area business being awarded to mobbers.

Without the support of the Advertiser Democrat, the Oxford Federal Credit Union and W.J. Wheeler Insurance, this event would not have been possible.  Countless hours and dollars have been poured into the Cash Mob in addition to the money that was actually spent at the mob itself.  Thank you to everyone who made this Cash Mob possible!