Witness History

The invention of the shopping trolley

Mar 4, 2025
Sylvan Goldman, an American supermarket owner, revolutionized shopping in 1937 by inventing the shopping cart. He creatively introduced 'folding basket carriers' to encourage customers to buy more. Through captivating clips from a 1977 interview, the discussion highlights how this innovation transformed consumer behavior and reshaped the grocery shopping landscape. The podcast also explores the excitement around the trolley's debut in Oklahoma City and reflects on its lasting impact on modern supermarkets.
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ANECDOTE

The Birth of the Shopping Cart

  • Sylvan Goldman noticed shoppers only bought what they could carry in baskets.
  • He invented the shopping cart to increase sales, initially calling it a "folding basket carrier".
ANECDOTE

Initial Resistance and Clever Marketing

  • Initial consumer reaction to the shopping cart was negative: men found it effeminate, women likened it to prams.
  • Goldman hired people to use the carts in stores to demonstrate their utility and encourage adoption.
ANECDOTE

The Shopping Cart's Impact

  • Sylvan Goldman's invention changed how people shopped and propelled the supermarket business.
  • Charles Kuralt, reporting from a supermarket, humoursly noted, "Nature abhors an empty shopping cart."
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