"New and improved" cash mobs return - first one is Thursday at Black Lab

“New and improved” monthly cash mobs will continue in Bluffton in 2015, according to the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce. The project is in cooperation with a downtown merchant’s planning committee.

Cash mob fans have two events this month – (thanks to lousy January weather, the first mob was moved to February).

The first cash mob is Thursday, Feb. 19, at The Black Lab. The second – delayed from January – is the following Thursday, Feb. 26, at The Dough Hook. After this there will be on cash mob per month.

The intent of the program is to encourage shopping local and highlighting items and services available in Bluffton businesses.

Last year was an experimental year for the concept, which highlights one business on one afternoon each month. That business, in turn, offers special discounts to customers.

Here’s some of the fine-tuning that shoppers will find in this year’s cash mob:

• Cash mobs take place on the third Thursday of each month from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. (In 2014 these were held on the final Wednesday of the month.)

• Each host business is a chamber member.

• Each cash mob offers a drawing for one $50 gift certificate to be used at the host business, drawn at the conclusion of the event. The chamber provides $25 of the prize and the host business provides $25 of the prize.

• The host business will be announced each month primarily on social media outlets.

• Discounts or promotions will range from “buy-one, get-one free,” to 40 to 50 percent off services or store merchandise.

Here is this year’s cash mob schedule:

Feb. 19 – The Black Lab
•• Delayed from January – Feb. 26 – The Dough Hook
March 19 – CG Pro Bikes
April 16 – Town and Country Flowers
May 21 – The Curling Iron
June 18 – Book ReViews
July 16 – Spectrum Salon
Aug. 20 – Greg’s Pharmacy
Sept. 17 – Ten Thousand Villages
Oct. 15 and Nov. 19 locations will be announced soon.

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