Cash Mob Invades Gulfport Business

Cha-ching! That was the sound of the cash register at Kozy Kazual Wears during the Cash Mob on Saturday.

One by one, people marched into the shop, just off Beach Boulevard, and picked out t-shirts, flip flops, accessories and more at the newly opened local business.

"I feel very honored. This is terrific. I hope people embrace their businesses more," Shop Owner Jeff Moore said.

Moore opened the casual clothing store on March 31 at 3007 1/2 Beach Blvd. Moore sells and personalizes casual clothing and is the distributor for Peace Frog merchandise in the Tampa Bay region. Until now, Moore was an online retailer. He says it's taken him 10 years to get to this point.

"It lifts the spirit of the business owner, it really does," Jeff Moore said.

To say thank you for coming out, Moore donated 10 percent of the proceeds to Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay.

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Kozy Kazual Wears was chosen for Gulfport's first cash mob after being nominated through LocalShops1.com.

"This is great, we braved the storm," Ester Venouziou with LocalShops1.com said.

The Cash Mob was the fourth event organized by LocalShops1.com and Awake Pinellas. The local groups teamed up this year to invigorate local businesses and create awareness about shopping local by organizing Cash Mobs.

"We want to let people know they are investing in their local businesses," Kofi Hunt with Awake Pinellas said.

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Supporters weren't limited to Gulfport or even Pinellas County; shoppers from Tampa and Lakeland took part as well.

Gene Brown from Lakeland drove nearly an hour and a half to come out and see how orgainzers put the mob together. Brown is planning a Cash Mob in Lakeland by the end of this month.

"I just want to get involved with the community and help stimulate the economy," Brown said.

Brown is in the early stages of creating a Cash Mob group for Lakeland, Bartow, Winter Haven, Plant City and Auburndale. He's created a Facebook page called "Cash Mob of Central Florida."

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LocalShops1.com and Awake Pinellas are taking nominations for future Cash Mobs. Check out the "Cash Mobs" tab on their website to nominate a local business in Pinellas County.