Florida Chain Store Kash & Karry to Stock Bag Carrying Tool
According to an article in The Journal News, Mark Eichenbaum had previously struggled to assist his grandmother haul groceries from the car to her apartment. He then hit upon a good idea.
Last year, he set about turning his idea into a reality. Presently, his invention is hitting the stores, and he is about to quit his job as a longtime car salesman.
Eichenbaum invented the Baggler – an ergonomic handle with hooks that makes carrying plastic bags a lot less cumbersome. Daniel Becker, store owner and manager of the Jefferson Valley Pharmacy, said he almost sold out of the 24 packages he started with a few weeks ago. They retail for $4.99.
Eichenbaum came up with the idea five years ago when taking his grandmother grocery shopping. She would get very frustrated with all the plastic bags that were flimsy and ripped. He went home and came up with an idea that he sketched and put away. However, a year ago on New Year’s Eve, he took the drawing out and made a resolution to make the Baggler come to life.
Taking the drawings he had worked on with a friend to a patent attorney, he determined that the had an invention that surpassed existing utility patents and design patents. He experimented with materials, making sure to use latex-free materials, because some people are allergic to latex.
Eichenbaum has invested about $40,000 and now it’s paying off.
This month the Baggler will be sold in all 158 of Hannaford Supermarkets in New England and New York. The device will also be sold by the Sweetbay Supermarket and Kash n’ Karry chains in Florida.