From a distance, most shopping carts look identical. Upon closer inspection, however, you’ll find that different carts can come with a variety of attributes that distinguish them from the rest of the pack. One cart might be more shallow, another might be wider, and another might be built from unique materials. Every business has different needs, so the best cart for your store might not be the best match for someone else’s. The key to providing the best experience for your customers and maximizing sales is to select carts with features optimized for your situation. With that in mind, let’s go over some of the most important shopping cart features to consider when investing in a new fleet for your store.

Shopping Cart Features to Consider for Your Store

Shape and Size

Carts come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. It’s no secret that larger carts can carry bigger hauls. That said, bigger carts aren’t necessarily better than smaller ones, nor are they always the right choice for a given store. If your store’s space is limited and you mostly sell smaller items, larger carts might constitute a waste of space (they’re also more difficult to maneuver). If, on the other hand, many of your customers regularly make large purchases and need plenty of space to gather all their stuff, the more capacious your carts, the better. Some stores invest in at least two types of carts to suit different types of shoppers. It’s also important to keep in mind that many carts offer additional space for items underneath thanks to a lower tray – these features offer a nice compromise, providing extra capacity without taking up too much space.

Material Composition

What should your shopping carts be made of? The two main materials that make up most carts are metal and plastic (though different types and sources of metal and plastic can be used). A cart’s composition has a bearing on many other factors, such as cost, weight, appearance, repairability, and durability. In our previous blog, “Steel vs. Plastic Carts,” we broke down these differences, concluding that neither cart type is inherently superior. Rather, businesses looking to save money and enjoy simpler repair jobs might opt for metal carts, whereas plastic carts are better for stores that prefer more customization, less noise, and a longer shelf life for their assets. Of course, most carts are composed of multiple materials – the basket might feature a plastic latticework but the shopping cart wheels might be surrounded by sturdy metal bearings. 

Customization Options

All carts are similar in some respects – they must feature a basket, wheels, and a handle. Beyond these basic components, however, a shopping cart can differentiate itself in a number of ways. Customizing your carts is a great way to reinforce your brand. Depending on the manufacturer and composition, the carts you select can feature the color scheme of your choice as well as strategic logo placement. These custom elements come at an additional cost, but the benefits are often worthwhile. Investing in customized carts improves your business’ brand cohesion – it also reduces the likelihood of cart theft, since your assets will be easy to identify wherever they end up.

Ease of Storage

Shopping carts must be large enough to store significant hauls. As such, these vessels take up space, whether or not they’re currently in use. If you run a smaller operation, you must carefully consider how many carts you can reasonably store inside and/or outside your location. Moreover, you should seek carts that offer optimal storage capabilities, nesting into one another to save as much space as possible. These storage considerations apply to mid-sized and larger stores, too, since these can often afford to invest in bigger fleets. The key is providing an adequate number of carts for all your customers without obstructing foot traffic. Installing cart corrals in your parking lot can create additional storage space, facilitate cart turnover, and secure your assets so they don’t roll away after use.

Kid-Friendliness

Families are bound to make up a significant portion of any store’s customer base. Everyone benefits when small children are well-accommodated at your store. Kid-friendly shopping carts feature plenty of space for little ones to comfortably sit throughout the shopping journey. Key features to look for in this regard include comfortable leg holes, durable back support, and sturdy safety belts. You might even invest in a small fleet of miniature shopping carts for mobile kids to use and so some play shopping. Whatever the case, keeping the kids in mind when re-stocking your store’s shopping carts will improve the customer experience and build brand loyalty. The more family-centric your customer base, the more important these kid-friendly features become.

Finding the Right Shopping Cart Features List for You

Every shopping cart serves the same basic purpose, but there are countless configurations of these vessels. In order to find the right shopping cart features for your business, you must consider your store’s size, your brand, who you serve, what you sell, and what you wish to get out of your fleet. What you come up with might not be the same as what anyone else lands on. Fortunately, Good L Corp. manufactures a wide variety of shopping carts and baskets to suit virtually every need.

Good L Corporation delivers innovative shopping cart and basket solutions for retailers on a global scale. Good L Corp. can configure the right carryall strategy to boost your retail business, from a fleet of new custom carts to launch your store opening to replacement baskets that supplement your existing shop supply. Let’s get started! Contact us today for a no-pressure sales quote!