Expo Review - Wisconsin Grocers Association

UP CLOSE WITHShoppingWritten Exclusively forthe Wisconsin GrocerBy Sharyn AldenCartsDon’t takeshoppingcarts forgranted.That’s themessagebehindgivingcustomersthe bestshoppingexperienceat yourstore.In the not too far off future, your shoppingcarts may come with small computers thathelp shoppers keep track of their grocerylists and tally items as they shop.While the technology is being tested at some storesin the U.S., most grocers are content with cleanattractive carts in good working order that are easyto maintain.Shopping carts are “calling cards.” The way theyare stacked in a neat row or scattered throughout aparking lot, how they look and perform, if theyare in tip-top shape or have creaky wheels that pullto the left or right, all add up to a great ortarnished shopping experience.In the Midwest, keeping carts in good shape canbe challenging because of environmental factorslike ice, snow and salt on roads and parking lots.Stores that designate employees to bring in cartsfrom outdoor corrals are ahead of the game whenit comes to presenting a good shopping experiencefrom the moment shoppers enter the store.Positive shopping experiencesHow shopping carts have evolved and changedover the years! Hansen’s IGA, affiliated withSupervalu and Affiliated Foods Midwest, has sixlocations in Wisconsin, and has seen manychanges in shopping trends and carts over theyears. Greg Hansen, partner and director on theWGA board, is always on the lookout for lowmaintenance carts.Each of Hansen’sstores has about 50carts.“One of our newestcarts which orderedthrough RW RogersCompany is a low maintenance model with apermanent child seat that doesn’t collapse,” hesays. “It only has two moving parts—the wheelsand a lift gate that easily push into the next cart.Its low maintenance got my attention. It costsabout 10 percent more than standard carts withchild seats, but it will easily pay for itself over thelong term due to ease of maintenance.”26 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com