Recently I was delighted to be named as a winner in the grandmother section of the MumsClub top 100 mums. As a result I am privileged to be part of the Top 100 mums Facebook group where we exchange knowledge and ideas. I am very much enjoying getting  to know all these lovely ladies and hearing about their achievements.

I am known as rather a night owl and recently, having fallen asleep on the sofa during the evening, I woke at about 4 am. I couldn’t resist just checking the computer. I was very inspired  by the following you tube  clip posted by fellow winner, Karen Mercer.

Imagine my surprise when I reposted on my Wightbuzz members wall and immediately, member Julie Jones Evans was reposting on her wall. Suddenly, Julie and I were having a very buzzy conversation and 10 days later we hosted our first Shock cash mob.We managed to engage much media interest for which we are very grateful. We were interviewed on Vectis Radio, Isle of Wight radio, BBCradio Solent and we have been tweeted and face booked by them. On the Wight, formerly Ventnor Blog, and the County Press have also covered our story. Julie and I are both local independent traders and passionate about flying the shop local flag. The Isle of Wight has particular problems. Like most areas, redundancy has hit hard but unlike other areas, we are surrounded by the most expensive stretch of water in the world to cross. Many have used their entrepreneurial spirit to set up their own businesses. I support many of these via Wightbuzz, my own affordable networking group which has just celebrated its second birthday.

Our first Shock cash mob was a great success. We targeted Trade Winds in Scarrots Lane, Newport and Ian and Sheila Ferguson have reported that they had their best day of the year.
We used social media and word of mouth to invite people to meet us in Newport at a well known spot and to bring £5 they were willing to spend in a local independent trader. Only Julie and I knew the destination.

It was a short walk to Trade Winds. It was so successful that we are planning the next one on Sunday 9th December and our Shock Cash Mob group is growing in numbers.

Many of my Wightbuzz members attended as well as other shoppers. We met in a well known spot in Newport and got into the spirit

The event was a great success. Ventnor Blog and the County Press hailed it a success.

We hope to see lots of people joining us to shop local on Sunday 9th December