Business & Tech

"Cash Mob Stoughton" a Hit for Local Businesses

While the word "mob" might have a negative connotation, the goal of "Cash Mob Stoughton" is positive—it is to support locally owned, small businesses in town.

, who just won a five-year seat on the Redevelopment Authority in the , is also becoming a mob boss of sorts in Stoughton.

But there’s nothing illegal about what Vargas is doing.

The Stoughton resident and business owner has helped to organize a “cash mob,” with the goal of funneling support (and money) to local businesses.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

The first “cash mob” event was last Thursday, April 12 at the on Wyman Street. This Friday, April 20, the “cash mob” will hit the on Canton St.

The concept is simple: residents are encouraged to visit a designated locally-owned business on the designated “cash mob” day, helping to boost sales or revenues for the small business.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Vargas said last week’s mob visit to Stoughton Bakery went “very, very well.” Bakery owner Ann Azul told Vargas that Thursdays were typically her slowest day, but her sales were up 25-percent on April 12 as a result of the “cash mob,” Vargas said.

He said the motivation is to “get new people in the door” of these businesses.

But it’s not to overwhelm the business owners or their employees, which is why you can participate in a “cash mob” any time the business is open on the designated day, as opposed to a specific hour of the day.

The Stoughton Bakery took out an ad in the Pennysaver thanking the mob participants for their support.

Ed Wormald, owner of the , said he hopes mobsters will “leave happy and full.” His restaurant (at the former Best Pals and Stoughton Coffee House location at the corner of Canton and School Streets) will be open from 6 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Friday. He’ll be giving out Stoughton bracelets to any “cash mob” participant.

Vargas got the idea for a Stoughton “cash mob” after a reading an article in the Boston Globe, he said.

The “cash mob” supports small local businesses as opposed to big box stores or national chains.

In researching the success of “cash mobs” Vargas said he found that 73 cents out of every dollar of revenue from a small, locally-owned business stays in the community, as opposed to only 43 cents out of every dollar at big box stores.

Vargas is spreading the word of the Stoughton Cash Mob through social media outlets, like Facebook. In fact, the Stoughton Cash Mob has its own Facebook page (link here).

Vargas, who has a Stoughton office of Vargas & Vargas Insurance at 4 Cabot Place in Stoughton, also has an office in Dorchester, and is organizing a “Cash Mob” there as well.

He plans on running these cash mobs “until it loses steam.”

Next week’s Stoughton “cash mob” location will be determined by a Facebook vote.

“It’s just a little way of giving back,” Vargas said. “It’s beating the drum about the great places we have.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Stoughton