Cash Mobs – organized, roving, cash-wielding, gangs of local-spending consumers – have been in the news several times over the past few weeks. There’s even a blog set up to coordinate efforts, and a self-designated International Cash Mob Day (which we missed – it was last weekend).
These groups have set upon local businesses in several local communities (including Boston) in order to show support for struggling local businesses.
As support for our Villages goes, this is pretty informal and short-term. But we do have Newton Serves coming up on April 29, and all of our fine folks are likely to get a little hungry weeding, mulching, painting, and even cleaning up the remains of a few skating rinks. Maybe a few of these folks might then want to descend upon the villages with cash in hand when lunchtime comes around?
I’ve got an idea along this line Chris — what if City Hall sold “Newton Dollars” similar to what a few other areas have done… The dollars could be printed with a logo for each Village thus encouraging people to save them like some people do with state quarters. You’d buy $10 worth for $8 or so for use at face value. Do you think that would work here?
It’s possible, and I think there might be support for it. A few merchants and other have mentioned it to me as well. Other thoughts have included a Newton “Passport” which allows the bearer a discount of some kind if a certain number of local stores have already stamped off.
I’m sure if we kept thinking along these lines, there’s opportunity. For example, Starbucks along the years has sold very nice collector mugs/glasses with “Boston” embossed and most sizable companies sell company-logo stuff. What if there were Newton Village-ware (and Village-wear) with area specific designs on all sorts of stuff? If an organized effort encouraged credit unions., insurance companies and the like, as well as retail places to sell them, there should be consumer support. It’s not all about profit for the specific ideas — it’s more traffic generation as well as area pride. I think the time is ripe seeing that route 9 traffic and route 128 traffic will have certain delays with big projects, and shop-local makes sense when neighbors lose business in a down economy