Cash Mob surprises Ottawa business owner with thousands of dollars

Lucky Ottawa business showered with cash CTV's Dave Charbonneau tells us about the 'Cash Mob' for small businesses as shoppers are given money to spend.

On this rainy day, it was raining cash at one local business in Ottawa.

Suzanne Quintal didn't know it at first, but the owner of Honey Hi Boutique on Bank Street was in for a big surprise. A cash mob, organized by Meridian Credit Union, gave her thousands of dollars.

"Just trying to raise the spirits of local businesses here in Ottawa," said Yasser Ghazi, Meridian Director and Team Lead of Commercial Services. "We're actually doing a Cash Mob, where we are spending about $1,000 in store and then we're giving the rest in a cheque."

"So what we've organized is we've got a group of people that are all going to go into these businesses, they're all going to spend about $80," explained Joel Ayotte, Meridian Senior Manager of Marketing Lines of Business.

About a dozen secret shoppers entered the store, two at a time to not be too obvious, made their purchases and then left.

Once everyone had their items, the entire group went back in with a giant cheque for $3,000.

"Honestly, I'm a little overwhelmed right now," said Quintal, owner of Honey Hi Boutique. "At lunchtime shopping definitely has gone up because people are looking for something to do. But that, with Meridian, having like 30 people in there at once. I was like, 'Oh, maybe it's the rain. They want to get out of the rain.'"

All of the secret shoppers pulled it off perfectly without Quintal suspecting a thing.

"I think it's really great. I was talking to the owner of the store and she seems absolutely fantastic. She was telling us where everything is from. I think she's really deserving of everything too," said Amanda Robyn, one of the secret shoppers.

"I like that we were able to surprise small business owners and encourage them. So I'm definitely going to be coming back here to shop for my friends and my mom," said Raphael Ezema, another secret shopper.

As for Quintal, the $3,000 is a boost to her business and spirit.

"It's nice to be appreciated for sure. It’s a lot of hard work."