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As many as 800 people flooded Emery's 5 & 10 Friday in Knoxville, Tenn., driving thousands of dollars in business. "It's beyond our imagination," owner Ron Emery said.
Emery's 5 & 10 is believed to be oldest family-owned five-and-dime store in the U.S. But the store is struggling, the victim — like its neighboring businesses — of the economy and a bridge construction project that has diverted traffic away and turned the stretch of Chapman Road in Knoxville, Tenn., into what the mayor himself acknowledges is a "ghost area."
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NBC stations KNSD of San Diego; WBIR of Knoxville, Tenn.; WGRZ of Buffalo; and WJAR of Providence, R.I., contributed to this report by M. Alex Johnson of msnbc.com. Follow M. Alex Johnson on Twitter and Facebook. |
Then came last Friday.
Beginning at 10 a.m., nearly 800 people streamed through the doors at Emery's 5 & 10, ringing up 526 sales — many multiples of the store's usual take. The checkout line wrapped through the store, leaving barely enough room to move, said owner Ron Emery, the third generation of Emerys to tend shop there since the business opened in 1927.
"It's beyond our imagination," Emery said.
It was Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett's doing. Recently, Burchett was watching late-night TV and saw a report on "cash mobs" — flash mobs that organize to drive customers to struggling locally owned businesses — and the light bulb went off.
"Somebody was doing something at a hardware store in the Northeast, and I just thought: 'Dadgum. We ought to do that right here in Knoxville,'" Burchett said in an interview with NBC station WBIR.
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Suggested cash mob rules 1). The mob date must be announced at least a week in advance via Twitter. 2). The location at which to meet will be announced, but not the specific business to support. 3). The amount to spend will not be more than $20, although people can spend more if they wish. 4). The business must have products for both men and women. 5). The business must be locally owned. 6). The business owner must give back to the community in some way. 7). The business owner must approve the CashMob before the mob is announced. 8). The business must be within one block of a locally-owned watering hole. 9). Cash Mobbers must join us for celebratory drinks after the successful mob. 10) The cash mob will occur during the evening on a weekday or on a weekend. 11) Pictures will be posted to the blog after the CashMob. 12) Parking or public transportation must be available. Source: cashmobs.wordpress.com |
"We need to focus on our small businesses," Burchett said, so "some big-box nationally based corporation" doesn't come in and replace "our mom-and-pop locally owned businesses with a $10-an-hour greeter."
Cash mobs are a very recent phenomenon: The first took place in August at City Wine Merchant in Buffalo, N.Y., organized by Chris Smith, an engineer who also writes for ArtVoice, a Buffalo arts blog.
Since then, the idea has spread to cities like San Diego, where cash mobbers planned to converge Monday night on Fiesta De Reyes, a mall in a state historic park; Warwick, R.I.; Cleveland; Columbia, S.C.; and Austin, Texas. The unofficial rules are laid out on the Cash Mobs blog, which sprang up in Cleveland in November.
"To see our store full of people who are looking and shopping and admiring is fabulous," said Annie Jackson, co-owner of Anything Goes, a gift shop in Warwick where a dozen people were lined up at the cash register during a cash mob last week.
"It's what you dream of when you open your small business," Pam Goes, Jackson's partner in the business, told NBC station WJAR of Providence, R.I.:
"There are a lot of independent local businesses that are having a hard time trying to creatively figure out how to pay the bills," said Tim Hudyncia, a chiropractor who organized the cash mob as part of the Let's Buy Local Business Alliance of Central Rhode Island, which was formed in November.
Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts is backing the campaign.
"A shift in your spending of just 10 percent has the power to create hundreds of jobs and add millions of dollars to Rhode Island's economy," Roberts says in a promotion produced by her office.
The cash mob Monday night in San Diego is the third to have been coordinated by Lauren Way, an HIV researcher at the University of California-San Diego.
While the money helps stores, the mobs are more about changing the way people view local businesses, fostering a culture shift in which consumers are more inclined to shop where their money can make it into the hands of their neighbors, Way told NBC station KNSD of San Diego:
View more videos at: http://nbcsandiego.com.
"If one person goes into a local business and spends $20, that's great. That's $20 that went to a local business," Way said. "But if 40 people go into a local business and spend $20, that's $800 that just went to that local business."
Burchett, the mayor of Knox County, said the only drawback to the idea is that some people have a falsely sinister image of flash mobs, a small minority of which have gotten out of hand and driven outsize publicity.
"People get nervous that they're going to take off their clothes," he said. "Of course, that could make a bigger crowd."
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
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Small “MANUFACTURING” in America has suffered the most and may never recover!
Better these than the stupid, fat 1%...
One problem. Most of the stuff is made in China.
Cash mobs are a great idea, but we all need to do a better job of looking at the labels and buying Made in USA whenever possible. Locally sold and locally made is best. Its hypocritical to sit there complaining about the sluggest recovery of the US economy when you buy 90% of your stuff made in other countires. Might cost a little more, but if we all make a point of it, we can turn our economy around. Lord knows we can't wait on Congress to fix it, because they won't.
As the operations manager of a small manufacturing company I can tell you that we have struggled for the past 6 years. After 40 years in business we had our first ever lay-off last year. The good news is that we are recovering. In the past two months all of our employees that were laid off have been called back and we have added 80% to our work force to meet the current orders.
Our company's survival wasn't without sacrifice. The owners cashed in their kid's college fund savings to keep things going for an extra month prior to the lay-offs. It was a scramble, but we didn't give up. It's difficult to compete against lower quality imports that are produced by people making $3 a day working in government-subsidized factories.
We need measures in place to protect American jobs and businesses. To hell with the WTO. We need to impose tariffs on goods entering the country - ESPECIALLY goods produced abroad by so-called American companies (headquartered in the U.S. with all their manufacturing done overseas). And the American people MUST start supporting American businesses and manufacturers whenever possible (and it is easier than some would have you believe).
I only hope that the people who showed up that one day will continue to make purchases at those stores. It should be more than simply a fad - it needs to become a way of life. Support your neighbors - support your locally-owned businesses - support America.
I think this is a great idea.
As to the numerous comments re: offshore product sourcing: Sure, I agree, but that is pretty much the reality and it isn't the fault of these mom and pop stores. Go try to find anything electronic that isn't built outside the US! Joe's 5 & Dime on the corner didn't cause that.
The massive offshoring comes from the big boxes/corporate monoliths, and shareholders (including US) who have come to expect and demand big returns on investment in the market. I'm as guilty as the next person.
So who's ready to put the brakes on the offshoring? Ready to pay a little more to bring production back here?
In the long term it's very likely in everyone's financial best interests to rebuild our economy.... even if we pay more in the short term.
Meanwhile, hats off to the cash mobs and keep it up. Keep reminding people that small business matters.
For the last 3 years we have done everything we can to buy American made. We shop online a lot but there are still items it is impossible to find. I just spent a 3 months looking for a tea kettle and in the end I had to get a "vintage" kettle.
Both Sally in Chicago and Living in Reason beat me to it. It seems to me, that Dollar stores, and 5 and 10 (Five and Dime Stores) stock goods mostly made in China, food stuffs not withstanding. I do however, believe that the idea of these "Cash Mobs" is really a great idea, especially the way that the US economy has been since 2008. My thought is, when organizing this type of event, make sure to patronize stores that promote America itself, not just the community that the store is located in. I have found, sadly, that a lot of smaller local businesses in my area seriously don't care about the "locals" or the community, as long as they get theirs. Why, or who, in their right mind would pay 3 to 4 times as much for the exact product just to keep a local business in business? I understand that a business owner is in business to make money, but I also understand that my dollar will only stretch so far, and I refuse to be fleeced by a so called local business, just because it is in my town. I do like the idea of this movement though.
To Sally in Chicago,
Let's get the customers in the local stores first, then change the product lines, because that's exactly what the mega retailers did, first they changed the products, from being made here in the USA to made in China, then, there went our jobs.
We were all lured, including myself at the beginning, by " Cheaper products ", then at about 5-7 yrs ago many of Us started backtracking, because we saw the effect in our labor market, and local stores every time a Wall-Mart opened in a new town, and specially in rural America the effects were devastating.
By the time everybody realized all over the country what had happened, it was too late ( last 3yrs to Present Day ), the system was fully implemented.
So it is the opposite now, first get the people back into the local stores, then demand products made in the USA next.
It's a process, and it will take anywhere from now up to 7 yrs, to rebuild, but it can be reversed.
You want to save American business then you need to stay out of Walmart. Forever. Otherwise, I might be forced to join the viners who tend to point and laugh in just such a situation, when it is you who is out on the street. Walmart is largely to blame for shifting from buying strictly American to buying strictly Chinese. Ignore them maybe they will disappear. Their prices have risen to market average on nearly everything they sell. There selection is less than ever. If you are a staunch capitalist, use your feet to vote for American businesses. If you are OWS wake the f up and realize why (other than your great affinity for camping) you are without a decent paying job. Every huge corporation, by virtue of absconding with the power constitutionally reserved for government has become a cancer on this nation. Small business must be propelled into the forefront, big business just has no place, unless you wish to be a slave to some corporation to which you have no agreed relationship. Shopping at small, local mom and pop stores should not be a fluke. Let's start by getting rid of Walmart, like we have gotten rid of so many malls.
Boycott the Big Box
This is the America I grew up in. The the bizarre, dysfunctional. never-ending pissing contest, driven by hate radio and Fox News.
Americans are good people. They love their country. They love their home-towns and their home-town businesses. THIS is AMERICA!
Stop your bickering, enough with the talking points. It's time to roll up our sleeves and save AMERICA by doing what we do best, coming TOGETHER in hard time, COMPROMISING and looking out for our neighbors and our fellow Americans.
I love this, we need to see more of it. The OCCUPY movement can pave the way. Get on board America, save our country from the nay-sayers and delayers.
It is not so much about "Buy American" as it is, buy quality made products. And unfortunately, so many American companies don't care about quality versus the bottom line. I hear so much about how the unions and the workers demanding so much more money for doing less work(have driven jobs out of the country, yeah, that's what really happened), but truth be told, with out the workers, the ceo's wouldn't have a job. And the ceo's are making multi-millions upon millions, whether the company goes belly up or not. How many more companies can lay off 10 to 20 thousand people because they "cost" too much, and then turn around and give the ceo a $90 million dollar severance package, or keep him on, and give him the same $90 million a year in cash, stock options, bonuses, etc. etc....Yes, support local as often as possible, as long as local supports you back. Why should the working poor, make a neighbor a millionaire, when that neighbor millionaire doesn't give the first flying F*** about the working poor?
Cash mobs work and are a great thing for local businesses. I organized the first cash mob in RI in Wakefield at the end of January. We mobbed a small chocolate shop. The owner was so grateful, and is now paying it forward with doing another in March for another small business. The one that was done in Warwick was a direct result of the organizer hearing about and attending the one we did. Now they are planning another. It's about helping those businesses in your community that are run by neighbors and friends and give back a hundred fold compared to big box stores that send there money out of state or even out of the country.
Its about getting people to think about how and where they spend their money. For every dollar spent at a local, independent retailer, 75% of that dollar stays right in your town in the form of taxes, rents, shopping at other small businesses, donations etc.
@Sally in Chicago-its not all made in China. Anything Goes, the store mobbed in Warwick RI is a gift shop that carries the hand-crafted work of over 50 RI artists. By purchasing something there, people not only impacted the owners, but also supported 50 other RI families. The chocolate shop I mobbed, makes there product on site, you can watch her do it. Many small businesses make an effort to bring in American Made products.
The big stores have a lot of crap made in China too.
I can't afford to buy American. You want to know who drove manufacturing off shore? Look no further than the unions. It should be cheaper to buy things made in America. Lower transportation cost, no Tarrifs, etc. But because we have to pay an assemply line guy $30/hr and provide pensions and medical and pay triple time etc. it actually costs more to buy things made here. No one should expect to make 6 figures working a blue collar job, yet I know many union people who do.
Xina,
You must be joking,very few products made and or used to be made in the USA are/were on "union" jobs. The bottom line Xina is I guess you want an American worker to make $2 per day, otherwise we/you cant compete with the overseas worker. It doesnt matter if you make $12 an hour making Wrangler(some are made here/some not) jeans or $25 an hour in an auto plant, you still dont compete with the guy in China making 25 cents an hour.
The unions of today are not what they were 50 years ago,they dont control anything,but they do give the employees a collective voice in bargaining their wages and benefits. Higher end workers(tv,radio,sports,many business men,etc.) all have agents that do this for them as well. So I guess your the guy working at Sonic or Wal Mart and your ticked off because you dont have any input to your employment package.
The bottom line Xina is that it doesnt matter where you work in the US or if you make $10 an hour or $30 an hour manufacturing said product,you can compete with Ling Ling in China at 2 bucks a day. Stop complaining about Unions and being hateful if youe neighbor makes a decent wage,and turn your attention to the Chinese Explosion started by Wal Mart that has been a burden to this country. Not only that by putting money in the hands of the Chinese and their government we have created a huge growing economy that competes with us for raw materials like oil all the way to pecans,thats why its all went up 300% or more.
Do you know who worked hardest to kill small manufactoring? FDR. It was his rationing of raw materials that did it. Small manufactoring companies could not get the raw materials they needed so they went under. Then when WW 2 was over Truman and Eisenhower worked to make sure that small manufactoring companies could not start up again. JFK and LBJ (especially LBJ) expanded the Federal Regulations so that it became too expensive for small manufactoring to operate and the final nail was hammered home.
Hunt up what was going on and see why there is no small manufactoring companies in the USA.
The OWS movement should organize some cash mobs to promote small business
First, Mom and Pop stores do not pay more than Big Box stores.
They pay less and have no benefits.
Second, Mom and Pop stores get their merchandise from the exact same suppliers as the Big Box stores (Frequently China). They main difference being they don't buy in volume, so they pay more - and pass that higher cost on to their customers.
So the main two points about their benefits are really not true.
And there is strong evidence that the savings delivered by the big box stores have allowed Americans to have a higher standard of living when you look at what a dollar can actually get you.
As for the flash mobs - hey, you are free to shop where you please, buy what you like.
But there is a reason articles like these never have any evidence to back up their claims about the benefits of mom and pop stores to a community. As much as people don't like to hear it, the big box stores pay their employees more, and charge their customers less. That has a huge benefit to a community.
Amen, Robin Steele! Run for office, my friend!
OK, someone out there with the clout to make this happen.
Home Depot, Lowes, Wal Mart, Costco etc. etc. Have a Made In America Section of the store. Make it easy for us to buy American without reading all the labels.
xina, agreed that no one should make 6 figures working an assembly line type of job. But union or non-union is probably less relevant than you think. If we all got non-union jobs in a factory making, say, 10 bucks an hour, it wouldn't matter because China has 4 times the population we have, and a lot of them are hungry. India has 4 times the population we have, and they are hungry. What difference does it make if you and I are willing to work for 10 bucks an hour, when for each one of us, there are 8 of them willing to work for 5 bucks an hour? Or 5 bucks a day?
If we want to keep jobs in America, we have to support businesses that are currently in America. And try NOT to support corporations who outsource our jobs. Right now, we're still the largest consumer, I think, but China is projected to surpass us in a very few years, and then we will have even less economic clout. The time to support American-made products is NOW.
@ryan in TX: -Charging customers less benefits only the individual pocketbooks (of those who had money to spend anyway): it does NOT actually benefit a local community, especially if that community has any economic diversity (so the following maybe doesn't apply to 10 sq mile areas of mcmansions in cul de sacs, but DOES apply to cities and towns):
-- Let's say you buy $5000 worth of stuff at box stores per year, buying 90% items made in china. We do this already: and the results? we have 10% unemployment, foreclosures are forcing housing values down, and there are panhandlers on every arterial intersection in Seattle. Now, let's pretend box stores are legistated out of existance and you now have to spend $8,000 to get the same amount of mostly made-in-china junk as you did before. Smaller stores are providing it, so the inventories are smaller but the retailers are closer to you, saving you time and gas. Gas prices go up, so this will save you $$ in both near and long term, and more time makes your spouse and kids happy. For the bizs - The profits from selling $8000 of crap are still siphoned upward to business owners and to nonlocal manufacturers, but at least those business owners are local: they're not defaulting on mortgages or loans, they're opening up new stores around the area, they're giving their staff raises instead of layoffs, they're spending their 'fun money' here in your immediate area, not NYC, Tokyo or Saudi Arabia. They're hiring. and those employees with raises are happy, those new hires with jobs are happy, and oddly enough, THEY have to buy crap and rent/buy homes locally too. Panhandlers and unemployment go down. Housing values go up. People move in. Schools open to teach those families' kids. Teachers are hired. Firehouses are built. Services increase and just like with walmart, with higher volume, your city's value goes up and its costs go down. Your $8000 actually did something good and useful for THE COMMUNITY and all without even worrying about complex longterm issues like unions or china jobs or the death of USA manufacturing.
Walmart pays mroe than mom & pops??? Maybe that's how it is around where you live, but here Best Buy and Walmart and McD's and Safeway grocery start minimum wage to 10/hr, and only Safeway (unioned) offers real/full benefits. Local places like Hardwick's hardware, Top Pot Doughnuts, Dick's Drive In and Ken's market pay 11 to 16/hour, and Ken's, Top Pot and Dick's offer full benefits PLUS college tuition matching and medical/dental for your family.
Local stores/businesses AGREE to pay more for lower volume wholesale for a reason: so we can service our neighbors personally - the best of us are not here to make the best margin, we're here to CONTRIBUTE and BE PART OF a community. To boost local pride even. Like farmers grow food to feed the nation, like railroaders connect it --we supply it. There's also the satisfaction of getting to know your clients, having fun talking to them and knowing their familes, and when new products come out- being able to anticipate what they might need and make genuine, not profit-driven, recommendations ...something box stores know nothing about.
Even if the big box stores were paying more, the drawbacks are many:
- promoting more gas consumption (no one walks to walmart and best buys arent built on the corner next to the local deli, down the block from your home) - which does 1% to benefit your local community (gas station workers, mechanics) and by far benefits outofstate CEOs and nations who are not our allies.
-cite your "Strong evidence that saving delivered...have allowed americans a higher standard of living" please. Because what I see is that it's propped up a failing middle class on the illusionary 'affluence' of electronics, cheap plastic and sometimes toxic toys, and disposable korean cars. My city used to have twice as many aerospace manufacturing jobs as we do now... and it's obvious the middle class is hanging by fingernails - instead we've got folks who either have $650,000 homes or $180K homes. Explain why there's no inbetween anymore? Explain how box stores HELP the community in that regard?
-Box stores promote the idea that workers dont need to be skilled, lowering intelligence expectations ("why should i graduate HS, I can always work at Target or McD's") and self-worth. With industry and other bizs in town, kids and adults both have a higher bar set for them - and good goals help give people a leg up.
Heartfelt reading recommendation for you from a bookstore owner: Read "Nickel & Dimed" and "Freakonomics" - they are both short & sweet and fascinating, and cite real science and facts about these issues
The simple fact is that Chinese products pollute way more than american products. The air quality in their factories is totally unregulated, the ships that bring the products here burn bunker fuel, the most noxious stuff you can put in a diesel engine. Just 14 of those ships put out more CO2 than every single car on our highways year over year. There are hundreds of these ships. If we pay more for our products, and we pay people here more to make them, it makes everything we buy more affordable over time , not less. The prices at Wal-Mart anymore are not any lower than anywhere else. There is the way they treat employees like property. At one point, they were taking out life insurance policies on the employees, which they (Wal-Mart) would collect, giving the families nothing. They are a despicable greedy company which has severely damaged American business and the delivery infrastructure for American goods. The voting booth will not get your point across, vote with your feet and with your wallet. If you want a better life, then turn away from Wal-Mart. And as to the suggestion for the Buy American isle, they already have one- it's the candy section in the check out lane.
Business Owner in Seattle -
You have it all wrong right out of the gate. You make the assumption that money is better in someone else's pocket than your own.
The money that the big box stores save people has a real benefit. You are probably too young to remember a time before WalMart, KMart, or any deep discounters.
People couldn't afford much back then. Look at what a middle class person could afford in the 1960's - then compare it to today.
Back then they could only afford 1 car - a house with maybe 2 bathrooms - one TV - they couldn't afford to eat out more than once every couple of weeks.
Their houses would be considered empty by today's standards.
They had no recurring costs like cell phones, internet, cable - they couldn't afford them anyway. Less vacations.
The simple fact is people spent alot more on things back then. SO even if inflation corrected, they had more money - it didn't buy them as much (inflation cannot account for this - inflation itself is poorly calculated).
What was the biggest difference between now and then? The markup of the products. With margins much lower now, people are simply not wasting their money on unnecessary middlemen. Those cost savings allowed more consumption and allowed wages to be less with the same purchasing power.
When workers wages are lower, the final product more affordable. Which is a loop that has resulted in people who think they are "poor" who actually are better off than the middle class in the 1960's.
The key is that it is simply perception.
Americans like to root for the little guy. But if the big box stores never existed, we would all be much worse off (if you measure wages in what they can actually buy).
Good luck to you - but if you are trying to run a business on a 80 year old model - you are really going to need LOTS OF LUCK.
Hell yeah now this Cash mob Flash mob is the ticket. When I buy I first see if it is something I can Buy used. For one reason only. It has been paid for already and it is an AMERICAN I am handing my cash to.
That is better than going to Wally World (Walmart) picking up some cheap China garbage and. And supporting Big Box. Yeah Walmart creates jobs. But it also ENDS SMALL BUSINESS and the level of community we used to have. Second if I cant buy used I buy local or on Ebay from a USA seller.
Only some items like Tech. Are hard to get from America. My dishes Mikasa vintage made in the USA my kitchen knives Vintage Flint Arrow made in the USA. My next car a 1973 Chevy or GMC truck. My stereo Vintage high end Audio. My computer used dell. Already bought by someone else.
I figure it helps to keep those few dollars in an Americans hands just a bit longer. What I miss most form the old school Mom and Pop Drugstore was the Ice Cream cones.
If every American bought 10 things a year strictly from a small business Made in America items or used it would. Keep 3,115,919,170 items from coming in from china. Thats billion
Was reading a comment above and it said FDR killed Small business Manufacturing. Seriously The sitting President during WWII ended small business in America?
Then why did the USA become the Giant we have enjoyed ever since? Why was it when I grew up in the 80's we still had local Mills and a Main street. Thought small manufactures were gone. Why was my bike made in the USA. Or both our Cars. We had many small business's left making useful items. Why where the 1st. computers assembled in garages?
Us Americans choosing foreign made items more and more. Did away with American made items.
Not President FDR.
@D. Appel
What do you make here in America? WHAT DO YOU MANUFACTURE????
Cash is King !
Well then print you some, or better yet, plant a money tree.
Cash is king but an IDEA is the CREATOR!! author ME feel free to quote me ;-)
.... and not one OWSer in the crowd! Nice Job!
I'd imagine there were quite a few supporting local business, and in their own way, snubbin' the big corporate giants that have virtually ruined America and it's small town businesses that were for years the backbone of many communities, and sadly now have virtually vanished. No OWSers you say? I'd say many, just not ones in tents, but in blue jeans, and flannel shirts....people with the same ideas.....save America and it's ideals, it communities, our neighbors and this countries future
This is the American spirit at work! The antithesis of the liberal need for big govt to solve our problems!
Way to turn it needlessly political Ben....
I love seeing the Old South using Yankee ideas. Our plan is nearly complete.
Kelly, to paraphrase Abraham Lincoln (you remember Abraham Lincoln?), you have your facts in order but may have reached the wrong conclusion. I would think OWSers would support this kind of thing. Does everything have to be about us versus them?
old south.
Hey Memphis, care to post validation of your hallucination?
Yes the American people eventually will wake up, and disgourge the Obammy corrupt Marxists out of the WH and save America. It starts with CORRECT movements like this. Go CRUSH the Occupy crowds.
This is exactly like Occupy Wall Street. OWS is a Grass roots organization that was calling attention to the power inequities that almost ruined our economy . This grass roots group is helping locally owned sole proprietors, they pump money into the local economies where the money flows around. Small businesses make up 70% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and more of the money stays in the community. Big corporations suck up money and a lot of it gets dammed up in financial accounts. Profits are lapped up by the 1% while the rest of us have to be satisfied with whatever they "trickle down" their chins.
Both are American citizens that are willing to stand up and make a difference.
I think most people are wising up to the political shills-in-the-crowd that post hate rhetoric are merely mouthpieces for the powerful people that have a financial interest in squelching OWS or any movement (or president) that threatens corporate profits.
Ignore the shouting shills in the crowd. Shame on them and shame on any Americans that fall for dirty political tricks. Don't let them try to tell us what to think.
Wow. Do you have your facts backwards, Memphis Kelly.
One of the big "actions" OWS encourages is for people to move their money from the big, corporate banks into local credit unions and banks that help your local community and neighborhood businesses.
So really, this is just an extension of the OWS ideals. It seems you agreed with OWS without even knowing it.
If you put down your Rush approved talking points long enough to check it out, you might find you (and the Tea Party) have more in common with OWS more than you realize. Starting with the fact that both organizations are absolutely furious about the trillion dollar George Bush TARP bailout....
Renee - Oh, I see plenty of liberals that do nothing but bash conservatives every chance they get. I'm somewhat of a conservative myself, and I absolutely believe we're all in this together, and find people that constantly attack their opposite ideology to be counterproductive and generally lacking of intelligence.
Not to point out the obvious, but aren't republicans the party of big business, and don't us tree loving liberals buy locally grown organics, shop at locally owned businesses, and buy American, namely locally made goods when possible ? I am positive its because, and I am quoting tools like yourself, because we are stupid ad you are smart for shopping at Walmart.
But now that tools like yourself are starting to realize just how toxic Box stores are, we are branded once again, by the tools like yourself that are always wrong, as being what, Big Government. How original, and more importantly extremely inaccurate. But don't worry, it's not like anyone thinks this is your thought, just another tool recycling what they are told without any sort of thought of filtering.
And as mentioned, the occupy movement is totally about anti-mega corps and their influence over our government.
I don't believe any of the occupy folks have the cash to participate in such an endeavor. More likely they would really like to have a cash mob visit them....! Isn't that the point of obama liberalism?
Sorry, George. But even though I work and really am a millionaire (and so have enough cash to participate), I also support and march with OWS, just as I know some working teachers who do the same. Your perception of what OWS is sorely in need of correction.
Nice. Very nice to see a politician organizing something that doesn't end up costing the business more money in the long run. What an excellent idea.
I would love to do this... I live in a fairly large metropolitan area. I'll be watching Facebook for the opportunity to participate.
journal journal - Why don't you take the initiative to organize it? If we all wait for someone else to do it and then "hop on board", it'll never get done!
Exactly, go out and find a store that is in need of help and get your own cash mob going, don't wait for others to do it for you. You can post it on that blog site linked in the article: http://cashmobs.wordpress.com/near-you/
.
At least this 'mob' is actually helping someone, as opposed to the narcissistic flash mobs who are only screaming "Look at me!"
A Double Win:
Help out a small, privately owned American business and irritate republicans who prefer to see failure. Gotta love it!
Oh, so only liberals are interested in bettering our country? Please, be more of a political troll...
Hey Nevadan, which one of Harry Reid's idiot sons are you?
All you Repubs are so jealous, and threatened by Harry Reid that it is completely hilarious to listen to you cons(ervatives) try to put Harry down. He has done more for Nevada then any 100 repubs put together. If Harry was a repub, he would be the King Repub, and you guys would have to retire the so called "Holy King leader himself(and wrongly so), Ronald(bad actor and politician) Regan. Oh, did I type that outloud?
still amazes me we have to teach this stuff. " hey shop local " it helps our economy. Really? Do we have to teach that to our citizens?
Yes CheeseHead we do! Too many of us have been shopping at the mega giants or big box stores to get the best value for our buck, we dont want to slow down enough anymore to take a stroll and see what our great cities have to offer. There are some wonderful deals and experiences that come out of shopping locally Friendships can be made and its nice to go "Where everybody knows your name!"
Boycott Walmart.
Actually, this is the Republican way......we help each other, rather than expect the government to do it.
Sorry Rob, but that is not altogether true. Most republicans I know, sadly believe that if "they can do it" so can every one else, unless those others are a different religion, race, creed, sexual orientation, different political party, etc. etc. Have you ever met a person of a different race or religion or sexual orientation that you liked? If you said yes, your most likely a liberal, if you said no, well, that only leaves one narrow minded point of view now, doesn't it.
You all realize it's only a matter of time until Walnutmart usurps this idea, right?
Hey Nevadan, we did the same thing in our town and guess who organized it. Yep Republicans you dipstick.
See, right here. Now, say that you are a local business man Girty, and you come on out and say the crap you just did, and say, 70% of your local town leaned towards liberalism tendencies, why should, or why would, we want to support your typical negative views and attitudes of the rest of us who may not think exactly like you? It is attitudes like yours, calling people names and what not, thinking and acting like you are better than every one else who isn't in your circle jerk of friends(the republican way of thinking) that is destroying this country. If company A is in Detroit, but puts out a crappy product, and company B is from say, Japan, and puts out a superior product, and makes it right here in the U.S. of A. why should I spend one thin dime on the crappy product, only to make some already rich scum bag, richer..... Just saying..... I just threw some stones of my own there.......
Bryan,
Please don't sit up there on your soap box and act like BOTH sides don't resort to name calling (DIPSTICK is probably the most non-offensive name I've seen someone been called on here). BOTH sides shun the other for "not think[ing] exactly like you". BOTH sides think they are better than the other (including you yourself btw...you make it quite obvious in your posts you think you are better than republicans/conservatives). It seems that you're looking at the faults of the other side, and can't see your own in the mirror. Some of the things you hate the other side for so bad it seems, you do yourself. You just ignore the fact you do them. As for your post #9.4, it is extremely ignorant to assume anyone who is conservative does not like anyone of a different race/creed/sexual orientation. I don't know a single person who dislikes someone based on any of those criteria, and being from Houston, I know A LOT of conservatives/republicans. And they are like nothing you describe in your fantasy world.
Looks like I am ahead of my time!! A Few years ago when I learned that the largest employer in the US is Wal Mart I decided I was going to buy more local, which means overall I am buying less but I don't really feel deprived. When I buy local I actually feel better about the experience. With all due respect the the smart phone apps, we just have to let go of this mind set that if it's cheaper at the big box store 20 miles away that we must get it there instead of the local 5 & 10.
This is one of those feel good stories. And then someone had to bring in the stupid political idiocy. Thanks for spoiling another good story!
You can't only look at the surface D. Expand your mind.
If the bailed out banks(Bush) would've loaned money to small business as planned, we wouldn't have people everywhere hurting. Instead they stock pile it and give huge Campaign contributions to the likes of Mittens, hoping He wins the White House enabling Him to continue to beat down the middle class. Strike down the "Citizens United Decision" so the Democrats have a fair playing field. The GOP hate small business and these anti middle class, anti-Americans need to go. Vote Democrat across the board for the chance at the AMERICAN DREAM.
The whole 'trickle down' theory fails us time and time again, and yet there are average Americans out there STILL voting for GOP policies. It's unbelievable.
That's because trickle-down works for us much better than the trickle-up policies of the Dems. How's that great society reform of the sixties working? More poverty and government dependence now than ever.
Rob Scan, and since the Reagan trickle down, the middle class has all but disappeared. Yep trickle down sure works great. For the rich.
make sure the foundation is strong and benefits the people now and generations from now.
This is great to see but we need to follow up with changed shopping habits. We need to keep shopping at the small local businesses. We hurt ourselves because we place more importance on getting the absolute cheapest price. Small businesses can't offer prices as low as the huge corps that can buy in volume. Maybe if we all cut back in some of the worthless junk we buy, we could afford the slightly higher prices charged by our local small businesses. It is worth it to all of us to support our neighbors. They are more responsive and the money goes directly into the local economy.
We're sort of in a catch 22. Economy's bad, need to save money, but also by supporting small businesses we support our own community. The other day I went to a local craft store, not a chain, and picked up some things for my sons' Pinewood Derby cars. When I was there, I bought a bottle of cleaner. Very next stop was lowes, who sold it for nearly 40% cheaper. I decided not to take back the bottle, but that instinct of "Gotta get the best price" jumped out like a reflex and I had to consciously fight that urge.
All of you Dems and Repubs piss me off with your constant bickering and finger-pointing. If even just ONE of you could come up with a full plan - or even a single idea - that didn't include gouging the other side - it would be a better day for the rest of us who stand outside your political coliseums.
As it is, you sit in your arm chairs and bellow forth your gibberish and slams - and contribute absolutely nothing to the discussion of any value.
My plan is to re-elect President Obama, retain the Senate and take back the House. Then we can actually get things done in Washington for the struggling 99%.
There ain't no "we" dude. "We" does not exist in Obama's vocabulary. The key word is "I" (meaning him, and him only)
Yes, tryreality. It worked so well during Obama's first two years....let's try it again.
Funny how Obama comes up with all these good ideas in election years.
Shop the small businesses. There are fewer chances of viewing a 400 pound person's buttcrack while it searches for fried lard on the bottom shelf.
You spoiled my appetite.
Not to put my own state down, but you must have been shopping at Alabama Wal-Marts before!!....lololol
YellaHammer -
You're gonna have to stand in line. Statistically I believe Texas "weighs in" above all others!
Bigger is better! :) :) :)
And - for what its worth - I put my money where my mouth is. I shop the local grocery. Prices are a bit higher than in-town. Two miles to the local. 17 miles to the national chain. Selection isn't a buffet. But, I get everything I need from that store knowing the money spent helps to keep this rural town alive.
Nothing sux more than Walmart. I do appreciate what Sam Walton started, but not in it's current form. Stores are too big, lines too long, parking hundreds of yards away, and CHEAP CRAP on the shelves. Much like that crap that is produced from those Corporate Auto manufactures in Detroit.
I prefer the smaller shops as a customer. Much like my 4 Toyota's I don't mind paying a bit more for quality, service and reliabilty.
Anybody remember when WalMart was the flagship of "Made in America"??? Seems they gave up on "Made in America" to focus solely on the American dollar...
Old Sam Walton is surely rolling around in his grave.
Sam Waltons model for success was insuring that all products sold were American Made right down to his Soda Pop, then Greed took over after he passed on and Chinese made Products flooded the stores.
capitalism=greed - the idea of walmart, etc, is to steal business from all the other stores and eliminate the competition. the capitalists are the ones who eliminate the jobs in the USA and send them abroad to increase their profits. the capitalists are not patriotic, they are selfish and greedy.
In marked contrast to what some other certain inner city flash mobs do, huh?
These Cash Mobs are such a great idea, and the people who attend are the best.
While most of the Flash Mobs are looking for attention, at least it's innocent, and they mean well. Sure
beats some of the mobs in Philly, Chicago, Dc., etc.
Liberal need? Republican irritation? North vs. South? Are you for real?
Wakey wakey......we're goin down as one ship, in case you hadn't noticed.
Buy Made in America and employ our own Children!
it may be difficult to find made in usa products but it can be done. i have shopped thrift stores for many years. salvation army stores have quality merchandise in excellent condition and i have found ll bean -levi-with made in america labels. it's a creative way to support a worthy charity and save money.
I have to give the credit to Obama for pointing out that we need to see more made in America, and everyone who supports it! come to think of it Obama was the one who took the risk to save the American car companies to!!!
Yeah, but God forbid the GOP give any credit to where it's due. Imagine the situation we'd be in if Bush 43 was left in office for another eight years......scary.
Imagine the situation we'll be in if Obama gets another four years. We would have been better off applying the money we spent on the auto bailouts paying off debt. Ford survived didn't it? Proves that GM and Chrysler could have as well. If they couldn't, they should have closed. Almost all of their workers would have gotten jobs at the surviving auto companies.
ROB SCAN-the money given to Ford has been repaid and a vital company is thriving. cash for clunkers was a brilliant move---give credit where credit is due. obama saved Ford---that is a fact.
Rob- just wondering how many do you think the one company Ford, could have hired? It is after all it's your idea. And I almost forgot, I don't know how old you are but for the most part the cars parts are put together here - not really MADE here, I just thought I'd mention that.
Granny, Ford didn't take the money. GM and Chrysler did. Ford made it on its own.
Sorry Granny, Enough is correct. THAT is why I own two Fords.
i stand corrected--thanks---but i still say ''cash for clunkers'' was a brilliant program and it helped all car companies. obama gets credit for that one.
Granny
I'm sorry you are so poorly informed , about "cash for clunkers ".
It didn't get rid of any old clunkers , but cars that were only a few years old . Wrecking the used car market . Wrecking the cars needed , to be put in the junk yards . The used parts needed for repairs .
Wrecking the used car market . Running the cost up on any used cars .
I should know . While buying a used pickup truck back in December . I was told the cost was more by about 50% , because of cash for clunkers .
Sure the car sells soured for about two months . Then were flat for nine months or more .
We as tax payers will be paying for "cash for clunkers ", for many years .
Your President is an idiot . He knows nothing about business , and has advisers who know less than him .
Only a blip on the radar unless people change their spending habits.
While I can certainly appreciate the sentiment - and I would prefer to buy from local merchants - the fact of the matter is that I must be fiscally conservative with the financial resources I have - and 99% of the time, that means that local merchants are out.
Sorry folks, but when your small business charges me a 10%+ markup on an item that I can get elsewhere, I'm not going to buy from you. It sucks, yes, but I have a responsibility to my family to ensure that I'm using my resources where they make the biggest impact.
Once local merchants can start competing, I'll be happy to give them my business. But most of them have no clue about supply chain management, or inventory control methodology, or really any technology or methods that would help them lower their prices. Until small business comes into the 21st century, there's not going to be much hope for them.
I wish some Multi Billionaire would open a Chain of Stores that sold Affordable American Made Products only. I would shop there all the time and the Billionaire would become a Major Success!
It would be like the Walmart Sam Walton dreamed of and made a reality...
I would shop there too