Today we’d like to introduce you to Nichole Clark.
Hi Nichole, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
About three years ago, my son Jonah fell out of the shopping cart onto his head. The mom-guilt after that experience haunted me. Three months later it almost happened again, and that’s when I found out that 250,000 kids in the U.S. every year are hurt in shopping cart accidents. 24,000 of those kids go to the ER.
I started thinking, praying and sketching. 14 prototypes later we finally developed what we call the Buggie Huggie – a shopping cart tray for children ages 1-4 which helps secure them in the shopping cart while increasing their options for entertainment. We are working hard to raise awareness about shopping cart safety while providing a resource for parents to give them peace of mind while they shop.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The first challenge we overcame in developing the Buggie Huggie was creating an adjustable tray that could fit the majority of retail shopping carts. Like I mentioned earlier, it took 14 prototypes before we got the perfect tray which now fits almost 90% of all retail shopping carts!
The greatest challenge, however, was that we launched the Buggie Huggie right when the country was shut down due to the pandemic. Although we are seeing people slowly return to the stores as before, there are still many who are just not taking their kids out or are instead using options such as pick up or drop off. The dynamics have shifted for parents in grocery stores, but we aren’t letting it stop our momentum because we truly believe the Buggie Huggie will help decrease the number of shopping cart accidents and will give parents the much needed peace of mind while they shop.
We’ve been impressed with The Buggie Huggie , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Parents want to shop, but kids want to play. This creates a constant struggle that often leads to a total meltdown (sometimes for both of you) in the grocery store. The Buggie Huggie was created to help keep toddlers safe and entertained so that parents can shop in peace. Our brand is focused on shopping cart safety and decreasing the number of annual trips to the ER from shopping cart accidents with children, which is currently 24,000 a year.
We are proud to be the world’s first shopping cart tray that is adjustable, easy to carry, collapsable, and dish-washable. In addition to the tray, we have a phone holder that firmly attaches to your Buggie Huggie providing even more opportunities to occupy your child while you shop.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The biggest lesson we’ve learned from Covid-19 is to be innovative and flexible. Launching a new product during a global pandemic took us for quite the ride, but it’s also taught us to never give up, to push forward despite what people say, and to always be flexible.
Pricing:
- The Buggie Huggie Shopping Cart Safety Cover / Activity Tray – $39.95
- Shopping Cart Phone Holder – $14.95
- The Buggie Huggie + Phone Holder Bundle – $49.95
Contact Info:
- Website: buggiehuggie.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuggiehuggie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebuggiehuggie
