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Get ready to celebrate Shopping Cart Day on June 4th! This day may seem like an unusual holiday, but it actually has a fun history behind it. It was first established in 1937 when inventor Sylvan Goldman introduced the first shopping cart at his Humpty Dumpty supermarket in Oklahoma City. Since then, shopping carts have become essential to our everyday shopping experiences and have undergone many improvements and changes. So let's take a moment to appreciate this convenient invention and make sure to thank the next person we see pushing a shopping cart!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1937</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Invention of Shopping Cart</div><div class='timeline-text'>Sylvan Goldman introduced the first shopping cart at his Humpty Dumpty supermarket in Oklahoma City.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1947</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Shopping Cart Patent</div><div class='timeline-text'>Goldman issued a patent for his shopping cart design, marking the official invention of the shopping cart.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1953</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Nested Shopping Carts</div><div class='timeline-text'>Shopping carts adapted to feature nesting capabilities, which made it easier to store them and move multiple carts at once.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1975</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Shopping Cart Safety Debates</div><div class='timeline-text'>Safety concerns around shopping carts led to initiatives for legislation to improve safety standards, resulting in safer designs with seat belts and safety instructions.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1996</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>E-commerce and Virtual Carts</div><div class='timeline-text'>The first online shopping systems, known as "virtual shopping carts", were introduced in e-commerce platforms.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2015</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Smart Shopping Cart Debut</div><div class='timeline-text'>The first smart shopping carts enabled with technology for automatic product scanning and mobile payments were introduced, further revolutionizing the shopping experience.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Have a shopping cart race</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather some friends and head to a nearby grocery store or parking lot for a shopping cart race! See who can push their shopping cart the fastest or come up with fun obstacles to add to the race. Don't forget to wear helmets and have a prize for the winner.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Donate to a food bank</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>In honor of Shopping Cart Day, donate non-perishable food items or toiletries to your local food bank. You can even make it a group effort and organize a donation drive with your friends, family, or coworkers.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Have a shopping cart decorating contest</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Get creative and have a shopping cart decorating contest! Use paint, streamers, and other craft supplies to transform your shopping cart into a work of art. Have a panel of judges and award prizes for the most creative, funniest, and most colorful carts.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Organize a shopping cart scavenger hunt</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Create a list of items that can be found in a grocery store and have teams race to find them using shopping carts. This is a fun and unique way to celebrate Shopping Cart Day and get some exercise in the process!</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Watch a movie or TV show featuring shopping carts</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather some snacks and settle in for a movie or TV show that features shopping carts, such as "Supermarket Sweep" or "Jackass 2." It's a fun way to relax and celebrate this unique holiday.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's a reminder to be grateful for modern convenience</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Before the invention of shopping carts, people had to carry their purchases by hand or use baskets, which could be heavy and awkward. Shopping Cart Day celebrates the innovation of this everyday item that has made shopping trips much more efficient and convenient!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It makes shopping easier</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Shopping carts make it possible for us to buy more items in one trip without straining our arms or hands. They also allow us to shop longer without getting tired, making them essential for big shopping trips or when buying heavy items like groceries.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's a symbol of community</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>When we see someone struggling with a heavy load at the store, it's common to offer them your shopping cart or help carry their items. Shopping carts represent not only convenience but also coming together as a community and helping others in need.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The first shopping carts were inspired by a folding chair</h3><p class='facts-content'>Sylvan Goldman, got the inspiration for the shopping cart when he noticed a folding chair in his office. Initially, he designed a small cart where two metal baskets could be placed one above the other, and the entire assembly could be folded like a chair when not in use.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Goldman had to hire models to demonstrate shopping carts</h3><p class='facts-content'>Initially, shoppers were hesitant to use shopping carts. To overcome this resistance, Goldman hired models to use the carts while shopping and male greeters to explain its benefits, which eventually led to a cultural shift in shopping habits.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Shopping carts transformed commercial strategy</h3><p class='facts-content'>Before the invention of the shopping cart, stores kept their products behind counters, which required clerks to gather items for customers. Shopping carts facilitated self-service shopping, allowing for larger store layouts and encouraging impulse buying.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Goldman's shopping cart company became multi-million dollar enterprise</h3><p class='facts-content'>Goldman's Folding Carrier Company, which produced the first shopping carts, quickly grew into a multimillion-dollar enterprise, highlighting the importance and demand of this useful invention.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Many shopping carts end up as accidental public bench art</h3><p class='facts-content'>Around the world, particularly in urban areas, it’s fairly common to see abandoned shopping carts. These carts, intentionally or unintentionally left behind, have even transformed into a form of public bench art or commentary on consumer culture in some communities.</p></div></div>
Shopping Cart Day is celebrated on June 4 every year. In 2024, Shopping Cart Day will fall on a Tuesday.
2023
Jun 4
Sunday
2024
Jun 4
Tuesday
2025
Jun 4
Wednesday
2026
Jun 4
Thursday
2027
Jun 4
Friday
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