With high import costs, rising inflation and the popularity of overseas online shopping, the retail climate in Bermuda can be challenging.

For example, the latest Retail Sales Index figures show that sales volume for apparel stores fell 3.8 per cent in September compared with the same month the previous year, while selected overseas declarations increased 38.3 per cent.

Entrepreneurs Kim Roberts, Thea Furbert and Stacy Hill have something to help: a flash mob.

In September, the group started a charitable initiative called Bless A Business Bermuda.

“The objective is to bring community members together so that we can flash mob unsuspecting businesses and fuel funds into those enterprises.”

They held their first flash mob in early October at Lookie Lookie on the ground floor of the Washington Mall.

On an otherwise sleepy afternoon, a group of 30 to 40 loud, cheerful people descended on the store. Owner Kimwana Eve and her staff looked on in astonishment as the unexpected shoppers virtually picked clean the store, buying 167 items and making $4,467 in sales in an hour.

Everyone taking part in the flash mob was tasked with spending at least $10. Some people spent much more than that.

“It was really fun,” Ms Roberts said. “We had fewer people than we were hoping for. Imagine if we had 100 people.”

Some people came back later to buy Christmas presents.

“One customer can make a difference between a business success and failure,” Ms Furbert said. “It is rewarding to seamlessly merge an unsuspecting business with a giving customer for the benefits of a thriving community.”

They are now preparing to hold their second flash mob on Saturday. The identity of the business being helped is kept a secret until the mob turn up, from the flash mobsters and the business owners.

Ms Roberts explained that they do not benefit from the flash mob in any way. In fact, they use their own funds to provide gift certificates to participants and pay for professional photographs for their Instagram account.

“We just want to raise awareness of how important it is to buy locally,” Ms Roberts said.

They are hoping to do it every ten to 12 weeks.

The trio were inspired to start the project last September after American social media influencers Nehemiah Davis and David Shands saved a business in Atlanta, Georgia, from closure with a flash mob.

“They cleaned out the shelves,” Ms Roberts said.

Bless A Business Bermuda will not limit its activities to retailers. They would like to help other types of businesses such as beauty salons, but are still figuring out how that would work. They also do not want to limit themselves to the City of Hamilton. St George is on their radar.

They are looking for businesses that sell a wide array of items and could use a boost.

To take part in the latest flash mob, meet on Saturday at 1.30pm at 23 Parliament Street in Hamilton outside the old Magistrates’ Court building.

• For more information, see their Instagram page @Blessabusinessbda