The Mob’s Coming to Town

The latest small business craze is coming to Wickford Village this week as one lucky local merchant will get the “cash mob” treatment Thursday evening.

Not to be confused with flash mobs, cash mobs are a trend that's sweeping the country and aiming to increase sales at select small businesses. Using platforms like Facebook to orchestrate the gathering, event organizers set a rendezvous point for shoppers at a specific date and time. From there shoppers, armed with at least $20 to spend, “mob” a local business. The identity of the business is kept secret until eager shoppers arrive at the rendezvous.

“It’s a really great way to promote local business and is just a lot of fun,” said event organizer Alexandra Miller, owner of in South Kingstown.

Miller was part of the first cash mob in Rhode Island s. At that mobbing, owner Jennifer Dowell served an estimated 40 to 50 customers in a matter of 45 minutes and generated more than $800 in sales – nearly four times what she pulls in on a typical day.

“I’m sure they were at max occupancy capacity there according to the fire code,” said Miller.

A North Kingstown resident and frequent Wickford shopper, Miller decided to bring the craze to the historic village. According to Miller, the business has already been chosen and notified of the impending cash mob.

“Normally we try to give them a heads up,” said Miller. “With smaller stores, if you’re going to have 20 to 25 people converge on you, we’d want them to be prepared for it and have proper staffing.”

Though only one business will host the mob, Miller says that the benefits can spread to neighboring merchants, too.

“The bigger benefit is that you’re getting people to this location who may not otherwise come down,” said Miller. “You expose them to other stores in the area at the same time.

The mob will meet in the parking lot behind in Wickford at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 5. Check out their Facebook event here for more information.