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ST. GEORGE -- There's a growing trend involving social media that's exciting small business owners.
It's called a "Cash Mob" and it starts when someone sends out Facebook or Twitter messages that tell people to meet a locally owned restaurant or retailer and spend at least $10.
Saturday, Janet and Chris Hawkins, owners of Russo's New York Style Pizza in St. George, were surprised by a cash mob at their pizza joint.
"We found out maybe about 30 minutes (before)," Chris Hawkins said. "That was about it. So we were scrambling."
Dan Deceuster was the organizer of Saturday's cash mob. He had seen it done in other parts of the country, so he set up a website and a Facebook page, taking suggestions for local businesses to support. The date, he decided, would coincide with the day dubbed "International Cash Mob Day."
"The goal is spend money at a local business, try to all show up at the same time and have a big impact that way," Deceuster said.
The cash mob at Russo's was the first one Deceuster has organized and he hopes to do a couple each month. Part of the fun for participants and businesses, he said, is that the time and place of the event isn't known until the last minute.
"We want it to be a surprise, but a good surprise," Deceuster said. "Not to overwhelm them in a bad way."
It wasn't long after the 2 p.m. meeting time Saturday before a line of nearly 50 people snaked through the dining area and enjoyed their pizzas, salads and drinks.
"Looked at it and said, ‘what a cool concept to be able to just mob a place with money,'" Said Ryan Bolton, a participant. "Just kind of spike their sales for one day."
The cash mob concept is simple, but the incentives go beyond supporting local businesses. For the customers, it's an opportunity to meet people and also feel good about helping a local business. For the owners of the business, they are helped and enjoy the atmosphere, too.
"This was just the coolest thing ever, I loved it," Janet Hawkins said. "I had so much fun. Everybody was so cool."
