NORWAY — The region's first "cash mob" enticed about 135 people into the downtown and raked in $2,800 in revenue for Books N Things on Thursday.
About 135 people attended a cash mob in Norway on Thursday, spending $2,800 at Books N Things and $400 for Ari's Pizza and Subs, according to organizer Tim Dillmuth.
Kim Davis of Oxford Federal Credit Union, Erica Jed, owner of Books N Things, and Michael Newsom, president of W.J. Wheeler Insurance, stand by the Norway bookstore, which brought in $2,800 on Thursday in the first Oxford Hills Cash Mob.
Attendees were asked to bring $20 to spend at a local business but weren't told where they'd be asked to shop. At 6 p.m. Thursday, they learned the answer at the gathering point behind the Fare Share Market.
Customers streamed out the door and into the street, and the inside of the bookstore was soon packed. Michael Newsom, president of W.J. Wheeler, sponsor of the cash mob, said they were hoping for about 50 people.
In recent cash mobs in Lewiston, Portland and Bangor, 30 to 80 people has been the norm, so more than 100 in the small town of Norway was a major victory, Newsom said.
Janet Brogan of Paris and Wendy Penley of Norway each left with two books from the George R.R. Martin fantasy series “A Song of Fire and Ice,” the basis for the HBO TV show “Game of Thrones.”
Brogan said she'd started watching the show and was reading the first book on her iPad, but wanted to read it on paper instead. She said she was happy for Books N Things. “There's over 100 people, and I'm so excited for them.”
Brogan and Penley had stopped by the store on the way to the cash mob, where they were informed quietly that the store was about to be mobbed. They came back to make their purchases with the “mob.”
Afterward, shoppers were treated to food at Ari's Pizza and Subs, courtesy of Oxford Federal Credit Union and W.J. Wheeler Insurance. They received vouchers at the checkout at Books N Things.
According to event organizer Tim Dillmuth of W.J. Wheeler, Ari's made about $400.
“I'm so grateful to the community for the support of our bookstore,” Books N Things owner Erica Jed said.
Organizers plan to hold more cash mobs in the future with different businesses and ending with refreshments at different eateries.
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Fantastic!
I love when the community comes together to help out the locals! :D
I agree with Steve Dosh: it's time the guv'nah do what is right for Mainers by releasing the bond money intended for each community in Maine. Even the tourists want to see some change!
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I love this!
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Personally want to thank the 135 cashmobbers who joined us last night, plus Erica Jed and the staff at Books n Things, Chris Farrar and the staff at Ari's Pizza, plus Oxford Federal Credit Union, Park Street Press, Zizi Vlaun, the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce, Norway Business Association and Norway Downtown for their involvement in this event.
W.J.Wheeler Insurance has been locally owned and operated since 1864 and we're pleased to support these local businesses via a cash mob.
Isn't it great that the people of the Oxford Hills could put on the largest cash mob to date in Maine?
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Mike ?
A; Yes •
That ws a - g r e a t - arts show the other weekend , too
Tell your Governor to release the community develpoment block grant funds
/s , a tourist
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