All Things Considered The history of the shopping cart
Mar 29, 2025
Discover the fascinating story behind the invention of the shopping cart, created by Sylvan Goldman during the Great Depression. Hear about his struggles to gain public acceptance and his clever marketing tactics. Learn how this simple tool revolutionized grocery shopping and shaped modern consumer behavior, showcasing the importance of innovation in everyday life. Plus, delve into contributions from other inventors that further evolved this iconic shopping essential.
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Goldman's Shopping Cart Origin
- Sylvan Goldman invented the modern shopping cart by modifying a folding chair and adding baskets and wheels.
- Before his invention, people could only buy what they could carry home, limiting shopping capacity.
Shoppers Resisted Cart Use
- Shoppers initially resisted the shopping cart because women felt tired of pushing carts and men saw them as effeminate.
- Goldman hired models to demonstrate the carts and encourage customers to use them.
Shopping Cart Changed Consumerism
- Goldman's shopping cart innovation transformed shopping by allowing easier transport of goods and encouraging impulse buying.
- Increased car ownership and home appliances boosted the cart's success and changed consumer habits.