Cash mob concept giving summer boost to local businesses
The summer time can be a bit slow for local businesses in Palm Springs, with the hot weather keeping the number of tourists down. However a group of locals are looking to change that.
A cup of cappuccino is being made at Gre Coffeehouse and Art Gallery. One of many cups the store has made for customers, although not as many during the summer time with business slowing.
“From about June to September, it literally cuts in half. It’s not more than what we’d have in the season from March through April,” Kelly Segre, the shop’s owner, said.
However, a group of locals are looking to change by having a cash mob, organizing on social media through a Facebook group, Palm Springs Eats, by getting people to visit local restaurants or coffee shops and bring their business there. New businesses are chosen every week.
“The idea was to try and help a local business, especially a new business, small business, who struggle in the summer time because the clientele thins out,” Victor Yepello, an administrator with the Facebook group, said.
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For Segre, she loves the idea, nd appreciated being chosen as a cash mob target.
“It makes me feel kind of special. People will recognize that this place is not just your everyday regular coffee place.”
“Just got my first cappuccino and it’s delicious,” Robert Cooper, a customer, said. “I love it.”
The cash mob concept led to him enjoying his cup of cappuccino, and understood it’s importance.
“They actually rely on us, the full-time locals to shop in those stores and that’s what we try to try to do.”
Segre says she’s already seeing a bump in customers, curious about her coffee shop.
“Yesterday we had quite a few people come in,” she said. “They got to try our drinks and they got to go to Tipper’s which is right next door to us.”
With this local initiative, there’s optimism that businesses like will be able to grind it out for the summer.
Yepello said there were plans in the works to potentially expand the cash mob concept to retail businesses in Palm Springs in the near future.
