SPOKANE-- Many small businesses are struggling through this economy.
Some have even considered closing up shop because of slow sales, but a national trend hopes to curtail those closures and help these businesses stay open. Owners are learning that a large group of people all together can have a big impact on a store’s bottom line.
Flash mobs have come and gone in Spokane before, but now people are gathering together not to dance, but to spend their money.
“It really was the difference between opening and closing. Without it, we wouldn’t be here,” Ronnie Ryno of Glamarita Clothing & Accessories said.
Ryno owns the shop in the Garland District. She says the winter slump for retailers almost put her out of business. When friends heard she was in trouble, they organized a cash mob. They rounded up a group of people to head down to Glamarita for a day of shopping.
“That day were packed from open to close, and then even after,” Ryno said.
Customers spent twice as much money as she expected. The increase in business is keeping her open months after the event. The effect even trickled over to other stores across the street.
The Garland Drinkery extended its hours that day and saw plenty of new customers. More than two months later, this stretch of Garland continues to see and increase of shoppers.
Now organizers want to find the next business to mob. They created a Facebook page to get suggestions and hope to make two more stops by the end of the summer.
For more information, click here.
