EXCLUSIVE Q&A: Drew Ann Long, founder & inventor, Caroline’s Cart
Caroline’s Cart, which assists caregivers of children and adults with disabilities in retail store navigation, is partnering with a leading advocacy group.
Chain Store Age recently had a conversation with Drew Ann Long, founder & inventor, Caroline’s Cart, about the history of her adaptive shopping cart organization and its collaboration with The Arc, a nationwide organization that provides day programs for adults with disabilities.
The carts, which first launched in 2012, have a seat with a capacity to hold 35 to 250 pounds. Target has offered Caroline’s Cart at most stores since 2016, while Walmart plans to equip all Supercenters with two Caroline’s Carts and all Neighborhood Market locations with at least one, totaling about 8,000 carts nationwide by the end of 2025.
[READ MORE: Walmart expands inclusive shopping with specialized shopping carts]
Other retailers that offer Caroline’s Cart in at least some stores include Cub Foods.
What led you to develop Caroline's Cart?
Caroline’s Cart was born out of a need for my daughter, Caroline, who is disabled. When she outgrew the shopping carts retailers provided, I was left with no shopping cart option. The special needs community is the world’s largest minority group, and I knew this shopping cart situation had to change. This began my journey.
How does Caroline's Cart help retailers and their customers?
Caroline’s Cart makes shopping possible for special needs families. Millions of families simply cannot shop without it, and I have received thousands of emails over the years saying just that.
Many families are only able to shop at stores that have Caroline’s Cart available. Retailers that provide Carolines Cart as an option send a message that special needs families are wanted and welcome by making their store inclusive and accessible.
What has retailer and shopper reaction been when the carts are rolled out? The reaction has been life-changing. Shoppers that have never had an accessible shopping option now can shop just like everyone else. Retailers that provide Caroline’s Cart provide inclusion and accessible shopping as well as obtain loyal customers. It’s a win-win for everyone.
What’s happening with Caroline’s Cart’s new partnership with The Arc?
We are having the Arc logo appear on all Caroline’s Cart shopping carts, alongside a QR code for families and caregivers to request the cart locally. This is our very first partnership and my daughter Caroline is an Arc participant in Alabama. Our two organizations serve the same special needs community, and it just made sense to come together to strengthen our brands with a shared commitment to promoting inclusion and accessibility.
Are there any other new Caroline’s Cart programs to share?
The success of Caroline’s Cart would not be possible without the support of families that advocate for their local grocery stores and other retailers to provide a more accessible and inclusive shopping experience.
When thinking of ways to give back to this community, we wanted to do something that rewards special needs families in a way that was special and familiar to our family. So, my family and I founded a scholarship non-profit, Caroline’s Cause, that provides scholarships to college undergraduate students who have siblings with severe disabilities.
