Learn the story of My Trolley Mate

The idea for My Trolley Mate came to Sharon during a frustrating shopping experience in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. As ever, she headed off to the supermarket armed with her shopping bags and mobile phone. Wearing a mask and juggling the shopping trolley, handheld scanner and her smartphone which she used for her shopping list, she was left searching for a practical way to keep her phone accessible. Annoyed by the constant screen locking and the inconvenience of repeatedly stopping to check her list, she decided it was time to do some research.

Sharon surveyed approx. 800 people through the egg facebook page to understand the shopping habits of similar minded women. Over 60% of those surveyed reported using their phones while shopping, with 75% relying on them for shopping lists. Many also expressed feeling self-conscious about checking their phones in-store, particularly during the pandemic, when face masks made screen unlocking more difficult.

In response, My Trolley Mate was designed as a lightweight, portable clip-on holder to keep phones accessible and secure while also featuring a space for a trolley coin. Unlike bulkier alternatives made for bicycles or prams, the device uses MagSafe technology – a magnetic attachment system developed by Apple – allowing the phone to attach quickly and reliably. To ensure compatibility with all devices, the holder includes a self-adhesive MagSafe ring that can be applied to any phone case.

Sharon was born in Edinburgh and has worked in IT for 25 years. Her roles have been in Technical Support which is where she has continuously looked for solutions to problems. My Trolley Mate is an extension of this work as she strives to make shopping simpler and hassle free.