Swapna Tarafdar
Shop till you drop? But, who will carry your shopping bags?
CarryMen, a shopping assistance service has been created to support shoppers in crowded markets.
“We help customers carry shopping bags, move comfortably through busy areas, and focus on their shopping without physical strain,” claims the startup on its website.
At present, they are offering their service in Delhi’s Central Market. Those interested to use the service can book directly through Website/WhatsApp or through the booth in the market.
“No one is offering this kind of service either in India or abroad,” claims Kanishka Malhotra, a co-founder of this startup.
She and her friend Ritu Kandari who launched this startup came up with this idea after having faced the same problem while shopping.
In Lajpat Nagar, you can now pay ₹119/hr for someone to carry your bags. The charges differ with shopping time. There is a 30-minute package, two- , three- and four-hour shopping package respectively. For a thirty-minute shopping package, the pricing starts at Rs 79.
“Ab wife ko husband ki jarurat nahin hogi shopping bags uthane ke liye aisa facility aur bhi cities me hona chahiye,” a user posted on X while another wrote, “The best tool for a strong, independent woman.”
“We have already launched a Business partner/dealership programme and in a single day, we’ve got around several queries from Chennai, Kolkata, Assam, Bengaluru etc,” Kanishka added.
The service is ideal for those who indulge in bulk shopping and need someone who can carry their bags without any worries. “Our assistant will handle your bags and accompany you till the parking area or metro station gate. Our employees are happy doing their job as it is nothing stressful. We plan to offer similar facilities in malls. This type of end-to-end service is new to the country.”
The start-up provides add-on services but there are extra charges for that. This includes taking care of your shopping bags while you enjoy a quick bite at a restaurant/street food vendor or taking care of your kids in pram.
“We have received both good and bad reviews. Some were happy, others gave feedback that we have to improve on certain aspects of the service. We accepts all reviews in good spirit. The idea is to keep improving every day as we run this start-up.”
Snigdha, who availed the service said, “I would never shop beyond a point as it meant carrying a lot of bags. Now, I shop to my heart’s content. I know I can book the service in advance and shop knowing that there is someone who will be carrying the bags until the cab arrives or I wait to hail an auto.”
Rashmi, another user commented, “Shopping in open markets is difficult during summers but with this facility, I hope this will be a new experience for all of us.
The start-up plans to extend to other markets in Delhi. “Our next phase is Chandni Chowk, Sarojini Nagar market and malls in Delhi,” Kanishka said.
Kanishka said that the shopping assistants are well-trained. “The assistants have been hired after undergoing internal verifications, identity checks and other onboarding process before serving customers. All CarryMen assistants are wear uniforms with ID cards for safety and trust. The service is being offered keeping Indian shopping habits, crowd patterns and customer expectations in mind.”
