Meet up and show some love to a local merchant.
That's how Cash Mob Connecticut describes itself on its Facebook page, and that's what residents will be doing Saturday at Books & Company in Hamden, which was voted the choice for Cash Mob Connecticut's Hamden pick recently.
And Books & Company owner Linda Mooser couldn't be happier.
"I was very pleased," she said Thursday, "though the others nominated we consider our friends -- similar kinds of small businesses."
And some of those small business owners will be on hand Saturday at Books & Company to share in the festivities, including Urbanminers owner Joe DeRisi, who will be playing guitar at 1 p.m.
And he won't be the only entertainment that day. At 3:30 Another Octave chorus will be performing, and Mountain Dulcimer will perform during the afternoon.
"There will be free balloons for the kids -- we are trying to make it a party atmosphere and enjoy it," Mooser said. "January is so cold so bleak, so I'm sure it will be a good day on many fronts, including the bottom line."
And in this economy, the bottom line can use some help, she said.
"We have a loyal, broadbased following, and everyone assumes we are doing well because it's a fun place to come to," she said.
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But in addition to the recession, the advent of the ereader has made it tough on everyone who sells books for a living, she said. More and more people are turning to the digital technology and forsaking the written word on paper, she said.
"It's made an enormous difference in the number books we sell," she said.
But for some books, like the enormous art books on display in the front store windows, ereaders couldn't do them justice, Mooser said.
"There are so many things that ereaders won't work for," she said. "But the problem is when you have strong readers and someone decides get them an ereader and they find it a convenience for them, it does cut in into our business."
To combat that, Mooser has branched out into other areas. She makes her own beaded jewelry, she said, and has other gift items -- "kind of a little bit of everything," she said. And teaming up with Legal Grounds, the coffee shop located inside Books & Company, and Le Petit Gourmet next door, the three businesses combined offer a complete shopping experience, she said.
They are located at the corner of Whitney and Putnam avenues in the Whitneyville section of Hamden. There is free parking in the rear of the store, as well as behind the Board of Education offices at 60 Putnam Avenue, a half block away from the store.
So there's no excuse not to go out and support Small Businesses in Hamden, which is the goal of Cash Mob Connecticut: Make a positive impact on the businesses in our community. Grab $20 and head on down to a local business to show your support for the merchants in our community who make a difference.
