Depending on what your store is selling, where you’re located, and how many shoppers you see per day, you might need any one of a variety of shopping cart types. The good news is that there’s no shortage of shopping carts out there – from metal to plastic to basket carts, tub carts, cargo carts, and beyond. Here we’ll explore the factors you should consider when making the important decision of which type of shopping cart fleet to purchase for your store, and whether zinc metal carts make the most sense for you.

What to Consider Before Buying Zinc Metal Carts

Consider Your Climate

When researching shopping carts, you’ll probably come across a lot of information and a lot of advertising that may not necessarily apply to you. The first thing you’ll want to consider is where your fleet of shopping carts will be stored. Many larger grocery stores, hardware stores, and home goods stores have corrals in their parking lots for customers to return their shopping carts for storage. Smaller stores may opt to keep their shopping carts indoors, depending on the size of their space.

It goes without saying that shopping carts stored inside will likely see a longer life than those exposed to the elements outside. But in any case, your shopping carts will be braving your parking lots – and your local weather – to some extent. Even if you store shopping carts inside, your customers must transport their purchased goods to their cars. 

If you’re located in the snowy, icy Northeast United States, your carts will likely see more inclement weather than, say, sunny Southern California. Think through things like moisture buildup, hail damage, rock salt stuck in your carts’ wheels, and more. If you’re in a high-humidity environment, a plastic shopping cart might serve you best in terms of rust prevention, whereas a durable metal shopping cart may be what you need in a dryer climate.

Consider What You’re Selling

You’ll also want to determine whether the carts you wish to purchase are the correct sizes and shapes for your inventory. If you’re managing a big box store, for instance, you might consider going with a metal shopping cart with wheels as your primary shopping cart model. But you might also need to provide your shoppers with cargo carts for your store’s larger products or those with awkward packaging.

On the other hand, if you’re running a clothing boutique, a smaller shopping cart made of plastic – or even a stack of shopping baskets – might be sufficient for the lightweight, foldable items featured in your store.

Consider Your Customers and Store Layout

The next things to consider are the number of customers you see daily, their demographics, and the layout of your store. You’ll need to factor in the sizes of your carts in terms of maneuverability around your shelves and aisles. You’ll also need to mull over what types of customers are typically shopping in your establishment.

Are you running a large home goods store or toy store where you can expect families with kids of all ages to barrel through wide aisles? Are you managing a pet store where you see high-energy dogs, skittish cats, and cages of all sizes coming through your doors? Or, are most of your shoppers simply looking to pick up a few items and navigating through narrow, tightly-packed shelves?

While smaller rolling carts, shopping baskets, or basket carts may work best in tighter spaces with smaller items, a metal rolling shopping cart might be best for you if you need durability and ample space to fit products. You can scan your options to see which metal carts meet your needs (Good L Corp’s carts feature basket sizes of up to 180L). And, if you do opt for a metal cart, a zinc finish can protect your fleet even more than leaving the steel unfinished, as we’ll explore below.

Consider Cart Materials

Now that you’ve made all of the considerations above, you may have narrowed down the decision to a fleet of metal shopping carts. This begs the question: what kind of metal are shopping carts made of? Well, that depends. Traditionally, metal shopping carts were made of steel, which is durable, easy to repair, generally less expensive than plastic, and lightweight. 

Compared to untreated steel, however, zinc offers even more protection in terms of rust resistance. A zinc finish can extend the lifespan of your carts exponentially, protecting them from oxidation and early-stage rusting. Good L Corporation’s Urban Double Basket Cart, for example, touts double steel baskets finished in a bright zinc finish plus a second coat of clear powder. The design optimizes storage capacity, efficiency, and user mobility. 

Select a Shopping Cart Supplier That Can Deliver

When it comes to durable, affordable metal shopping carts with a protective zinc finish, don’t waste your time on anything less than the best. Work with a supplier who can assess your needs and provide you with the right shopping carts for your customers and products. Good L Corporation is your one-stop shop for all of your business’ needs. 

Good L Corporation uses the highest quality, premium materials in all of our American-made shopping cart and basket products. Plus, our team brings 30 years of industry experience delivering innovative shopping cart and basket solutions for retailers across the globe. Whether it’s a beautifully finished zinc metal cart, a large premium plastic cart, a wire basket, or a combination of these, we’ve got exactly what you need for your store.

Best of all, our carts feature customizable logo panels, so you can choose your brand colors and prominently display your logo to increase sales opportunities and build brand awareness with every use. Add to that our rust-resistant, baked enamel finish and heavy-duty wheel bearings that never squeak, and you’ll see why our clients love our carts and trust the Good L Corp name. 

If you’re ready to order your fleet of shopping carts or baskets – which will ship from our warehouses within 48 hours – contact our team today for a no-pressure sales quote!