MERCHANT MARCH: What’s this you ask? The Boothbay Register and the Wiscasset Newspaper, in coordination with local businesses, will be promoting an entire week in March encouraging folks to shop locally. March 21 through March 27 is the week! Then Saturday, March 28, the first ever local Cash Mob will take place. The goal of the week-long event is to support local businesses that support our community programs and charities throughout the year.

MERRIMENT: Yes, go out and have fun! Business owners and their employees will be greeting their customers with a warm welcome after a very, very long winter. Some may offer up refreshments or a special deal, and others will just be open and glad to see your smiling face. So, smile and join in the fun!

MONEY: It has been an extremely long, cold, snowy winter and sales are off for local establishments. Generally, local merchants struggle in the off-season without our friends “from away.” This particular year has been very difficult. Snow, snow and more snow does not equal many customers and sales.

MERCHANTS: Merchants include all your favorite local establishments: shops, services, dining, etc. Frequent the places you like to shop and dine. Visit the places where you get services done: think massages, hair products and things like that. Buy a membership to your favorite nonprofit. Loving the idea, but reading this from your warm winter home in Florida or other parts afar? Try visiting your favorite business’ website. Order from away on the Internet. Pick up the telephone and call your favorite store, restaurant or service provider and order something! How about a gift certificate? Buy now, use later.

MOB: YES! A CASH MOB! Participating business names will be placed in a hat at the Register. One business will be selected from the hat to be designated host of the first ever, local Cash Mob event to be held March 28.

Participating shoppers, The Mob, will need to purchase a ticket prior to the event. Tickets may be purchased at participating local businesses, at the Register, or starting at noon at the Register on the day of the drawing – March 28. Ticket price is $20.

The winning host business name will be drawn from the hat at 1 p.m., March 28 at the Register office in Boothbay Harbor. Shopping participants, The Mob, will then travel to the host business and utilize their ticket to purchase items, food, services, or gift certificates offered by the host business. If you are a shopper from away, you can still participate by purchasing a ticket and contacting the winning host business to convert your ticket to a gift certificate.

Mark your calendars. Saturday, March 28 starting at noon at the Boothbay Register office – 97 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor. Fun, right?

MULTIPLY: Share this with everyone you know. Multiply, multiply, multiply. Email it, text it, Facebook, Tweet and Instagram it. Heck, talk, about it! Merchants will be appreciative of your support.

PARTICIPATE: Merchants contact sales at the Boothbay Register/Wiscasset Newspaper for $25 promotion fee. MOB purchase $20 tickets starting, Thursday, March 19, 2015 at the Register or at participating businesses (stay tuned).