'Cash Mob' to give local business boost

OXFORD HILLS —  Inspired by the "flash mob" phenomenon, one lucky locally-owned business is sure to get a boost during the region's first "cash mob," July 19.

The event will begin in the Norway Municipal Parking Lot behind Fare Share Market in Norway at 6 p.m. Everyone is invited to join.

Similar to a "flash mob" –  a group of people who assemble suddenly in one place –  participants will be encouraged to at least spend $20 at one of several local businesses – all at once. 

According to Tim Dillmuth of W.J. Wheeler insurance, organizer and sponsor of the event, a "cash mob" is a "flash mob" with a community-oriented twist.

"I work with a lot of small business owners in the area," he said, "and ever since I started I've been real impressed just with the dedication and hard work and uniqueness that we see in this area.

"Whatever we could do to help the small businesses ... I wanted to do," he said. 

Dillmuth said that he was inspired by the successes all over the country and even in Portland, ME. "I thought that we could do something like that here, and that it would be very successful in our area," he said.

It would be the first cash mob in Western Maine, he said.

The only thing is, participants have no idea where they will be shopping, said Dillmuth. That way, he said, the event feels spontaneous, even though it's already been planned.

Business owners involved, however, have already been warned so that they will be open and have enough people on staff. Even businesses that are not normally open on Tuesdays will be open for the mob, Dillmuth said.

While the first cash mob on July 19 will only serve businesses in Oxford Hills, the official name, "Western Maine Cash Mob," will allow it to expand across the region in the future, he said.

"We have no idea how many people will come," he said, "but the idea is that, if a good number of people come and spend $20 at this local business, that's a huge boost for that business."

Dillmuth said that if the first mob goes well, another one will most likely take place in August.

He hopes that the attention it brings the area will benefit other businesses in the area as well.

The event is also sponsored by Oxford Federal Credit Union, which is paying for food and drinks for the "after-mob" to take place at a local eatery, where there will be give-a-ways for participants. 

"It's a free after-party," he said, "very similar to a Chamber [of Commerce] after-hour event, but for the community."

"Our area has such a strong, buy-local community spirit, and people that care about the community," he said.

"We are trying to bring more awareness to locally-owned businesses, and encourage people to spend their money right here in the Oxford Hills."