First Oxford Cash Mob is "hit"

OXFORD — The very first Cash Mob occurred on Saturday, November 24, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Express Yourself Gifts & Baskets on Main Street.  The date was significant in many ways.  It was on the heels of Black Friday, on Small Business Saturday, and also the start of the Christmas shopping season.  It turned into a wonderful experience as the community came out to support one of their own local small businesses, and where community-members were also able to donate a toy to Toys for Tots.  Sharon Day, the owner of Express Yourself Gifts & Baskets, was thrilled with the outcome.  

The cash mob is a somewhat newer marvel popping up all over Massachusetts and the country.  You may have heard of flash mobs where a group of people meet and begin dancing spontaneously to a routine. The concept of a cash mob is fairly similar; using social media to organize the “mob.” People gather at a designated local business on a designated day and time to shop and support the business by spending a minimum of $10.  Many people often spend more and this is one of the many things that our struggling communities really need right now in these tough economic times.

As word spreads, more and more individuals, businesses, and chambers of commerce are joining the movement.  "The most difficult part of starting this group in Oxford has been spreading the word about it," says Rae Lynn Glispin of Oxford.  "The group has been slowly growing, but we really rely on word-of-mouth to help get people involved in this movement."

Ms.Glispin has set up a Facebook group for those who would like to join the “mob,” called Cash Mob of Oxford, MA (http://www.facebook.com/groups/CashMobOxford/).  You can also follow them on Twitter at @OxfordMACashMob.  For those without Facebook accounts, you can email the mob at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and request to receive an email when a mob is being arranged.