'Cash Mob' hits small town of Myrtle Creek

MYRTLE CREEK, Ore. -- While there have been a lot of recent news reports in bigger cities about 'Flash Robs,' one small Douglas County community has been doing something a little different.

It's called a 'Cash Mob.'

The Myrtle Creek Chamber of Commerce just held their second monthly cash mob. The idea is to pack a group of locals into a local store and boost their business by buying merchandise.

The event was deemed a success. Belinda Legg, along with her husband Steve, own the Treasures of the Heart shop in Myrtle Creek.

They were the latest 'victim' of the cash mob. "I didn't really get to look at anybody, it was so full," she said.

In one forty minute shopping spree, the cash mob brought them about $650 in sales.

The cash mob isn't a free for all. There are three rules: spend $10, meet three new friends and have fun.

Organizer Paulette Jones puts her money where her mouth is. She even bought the poster board for her cash mob signs at the Dollar Store in Myrtle Creek, where the first cash mob was held.

She says people often tell her that everything is closing up. "They say it's getting so empty and there's no jobs here and all this stuff, but people are taking their money outside of town," she said.

Steve told KPIC News, "When the community's prosperous, then business is usually better. When you have people losing their jobs, then it affects the small businesses too," he said. "And then you would like to hire, you know, more, but you can't," added Belinda.

A community can turn that around if they peruse their neighborhood stores instead of traveling elsewhere.

If you buy local and stay local, the cash mobbers think people will be surprised at the treasures they find.