What it means: We know all about the flash mob, whereby a group of people – summoned via Facebook or Twitter – gather at a designated spot with a common purpose, whether to party, protest or simply make a postmodern statement.
In these straitened times, however, a new type of gathering has come into vogue: the cash mob. They may appear at any shop at any time, but their purpose is not to cause civil unrest; they’re simply there to spend money and support a local trader.
When a small retailer is in trouble, the sudden arrival of a cash mob can be just the tonic needed to boost business.
Where it comes from:The cash mob concept took off last summer, when Buffalo blogger Chris Smith organised a cash mob, targeting a local wine shop. More than 100 people arrived at the store and paid full price for their vino. Since then, retailers around the world have been instigating cash mobs to inject a bit of life into a dying retail trade. Big chains are out of bounds, of course; it's only locals stores and products that should get the cash mob dig-out.
How to say it:"Kenny's getting desperate – he's trying to start a cash mob to descend on Dublin and buy up all the Nama properties."
