The History of the Shopping Cart

' 'The shopping cart was conceived in 1937 by Sylvan Goldman, one of the original self service grocery retailers who, in observing the shopping habits of his customers, realized he could provide better service and sell more groceries if only he had some means of helping them carry more merchandise. From this simple observation the shopping cart was born, along with the tremendous growth in self-service mass market retailing that continues today. The first prototype was constructed from a folding chair. It utilized two wire hand baskets to carry merchandise.  When not in use the carriers were folded and stored against the wall while the hand baskets were stacked to conserve space. Sylvan Goldman founded a company to manufacture his new idea and called it Folding Carrier Basket Company after the design of the first cart. As with most new concepts, the shopping cart was not immediately embraced by the public.  Early on, some retailers even resorted to hiring models to shop with grocery carts as to "model" the behavior desired for customers. Early versions of the cart were quickly refined to better meet the needs of retailers and shoppers.  The basket portion became permanently attached.  At this point the cart was constructed from strap metal and generally painted green.  With the baskets attached it was important to develop nesting carts to save valuable floor space.  The basket soon became made of welded wire mesh and the frame made from tubular steel. In 1947, designers grew more aware of the children who rode the carts while mother selected merchandise from the store shelves.  They designed a child seat for youngsters to sit safely out of the way as purchases were piled high into the shopping cart basket.  In 1952,  a plastic piece of plastic to close off the tiny leg holes was developed for the childless shopper who used that section of the cart for purchases.  By 1956, the leg hole cover had become automatic on the Folding Carrier Corporation carts.  It would now return to the closed position automatically when nested, allowing the use of the child seat section to be used for small items without fear of merchandise falling through the leg holes and on to the floor. 1954 brought the availability of color coordinated cart handles with personalized store names making carts easier to identify in the parking lot and reminding shoppers which chain they were shopping at as they wheeled down the aisles. The first use of sealed wheel bearing came in 1955 which eliminated the need for lubrication and ensured smooth functioning throughout the life of the cart.  In 1959 the first unitized frame was patented.  In 1960, the first non-marking rubber wheels were used.  Sealed swivel casters were first used in 1961 solving the same problem for caster as it did for wheels a few years earlier.  In 1962, a modified acrylic coating was used over the chrome finish to insulate the chrome from harsh environmental elements thereby extending the life of the cart. The shopping cart has undergone many more changes as time has progressed.  The shape has changed as ergonomic considerations were taken into account.  For the most part, carts are bigger to hold more merchandise, thus enabling more sales.  Today, retailers also have more choices.  For instance, now shopping carts are available with wire or plastic baskets.  Some changes have come because of changing trends in the retail industry.  With the rising value of retail floor space, carts are stored outside in the elements more frequently.  This has driven the search for better plating and alternate finishes. The retailer can choose between nickel chrome, zinc, or a  rust resistant powder coated finish.'