'Cash Mob' Kent to Support Small Businesses

Two local women are hoping to kick off the holiday shopping season with a boost for Kent businesses on Small Business Saturday.

Nichole Catalano-Miller and Angela Barzizza-Young are organizing the Kent "Cash Mob" to coincide with the national event, which is "dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year," according to SmallBusinessSaturday.com

Catalano-Miller said they wanted to do something "flash-mob style" to get people to shop local and support Kent retailers.

The goal is to get people to spend at least $20 each doing their holiday shopping in downtown Kent.

"We plan on gathering in front of at 4 p.m. on Saturday and then deciding on our 'target store," she said in an email. "If we can get even 50 people to spend $20, then that is $1,000 in one night for a local business — and our local economy. The 'mob' will then continue their shopping downtown, finally hitting a local food and drink vendor to celebrate supporting our neighborhood businesses."

The Kent event coincides with the second annual Small Business Saturday, a national advertising endeavor sponsored by American Express to encourage people to shop at local, small businesses.

Twenty-nine people have registered as attending the "Cash Mob" on the Facebook page created for the event.

Catalano-Miller said they got the idea from a similar event held recently in the Cleveland area.

"The more people that attend, the more money is pumped back into our community," she said. "Plus, we get some of our holiday shopping done early. It is a win-win for everyone."