If you’ve ever gone shopping in Delhi markets, you already know the drill. One hand holding three shopping bags. Another hand balancing food packets. Phone slipping out of your pocket. Sweat. Crowds. Someone yelling, “Bhaiya side!” every two seconds. And somewhere in the middle of all this chaos, your mother is still saying, “Bas ek last shop aur (just one last shop).”
Welcome to the full Delhi shopping experience.
Whether it’s Lajpat Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, or Chandni Chowk, shopping in these iconic markets has always been equal parts exciting and exhausting. But now, a Delhi-based startup is trying to change that – and honestly, it might just save thousands of tired husbands, annoyed boyfriends, overwhelmed moms, and exhausted shoppers.
We are talking about CarryMen, a shopping assistance service that basically says: “You shop. We carry.”
The idea was born out of a very relatable frustration. The founders, both Delhi locals, grew up accompanying their families to crowded shopping markets and realised that the fun of shopping often disappeared under the weight of endless bags, long walks, food queues, and physical exhaustion.
“People love shopping, but they hate the physical stress that comes with it,” says a spokesperson for the startup. “We wanted shoppers to enjoy the experience instead of worrying about carrying ten bags while eating momo in the middle of a crowded market.”
For Rs 149 per hour – with options for 2, 3, or 4-hour packages – shoppers get a trained assistant who accompanies them throughout the market. The assistant helps carry shopping bags, navigate stores, wait in food queues, assist customers till parking areas or metro gates, and even help them find places to sit and relax. In short, shoppers finally get to enjoy the market with free hands and a lot less stress.
The service becomes even more useful for people who genuinely need support while shopping. Take pregnant women, for example. Walking through crowded markets while carrying bags can become physically draining very quickly. One customer reportedly booked the service specifically because she was struggling to move comfortably through the market while shopping for essentials.
Then there are parents with toddlers, arguably one of the toughest shopping combinations known to humanity. One hand on the stroller, another holding bags, while the child decides this is the perfect moment for a meltdown near the chaat counter. The startup also offers stroller rentals along with the assistant at an added hourly charge.
Most bookings so far have come from elderly shoppers, especially women shopping for clothes, curtains, bedsheets, and household items. The founders noticed that many older customers were not necessarily looking for luxury, but simply small comforts – a place to sit and rest, someone to carry their shopping bags, assistance with ordering food, or help while waiting for a cab. To make the experience easier and more comfortable, the team even introduced portable camping chairs for shoppers to use during long market visits.
Yes, really. If a customer feels tired, the assistant can literally set up a foldable chair in the middle of the market so they can sit and relax comfortably. Umbrellas for heat and rain, mobile charging support, power banks, and hydration assistance are also part of the experience.
“It’s not just about carrying bags,” the spokesperson explains. “It’s about reducing stress and making markets more comfortable for everyone – especially families, elderly people, and women.”
The weight limit is upto 12 kg though. For anything beyond that, you can hire another assistant.
The startup officially launched in April and has already completed over 50 bookings within its first month. Interestingly, the concept has spread mostly through word-of-mouth and organic social media buzz rather than expensive influencer campaigns.
For now, the service operates in Lajpat Nagar, but expansion plans for Chandni Chowk are already in motion.
So the next time someone says, “Chalo Lajpat chalte hain (let’s go to Lajpat),” maybe you won’t immediately start mentally preparing for shoulder pain, lost shopping bags, and relationship-testing levels of patience. Because sometimes, a little practical help is all you need to make shopping feel enjoyable again – while still keeping the people you love right beside you.
Having said that, some of our sweetest shopping memories are tied to the people who accompany us. A father quietly carrying bags because he simply wants to spend time with his family. A brother who may dislike shopping but still tags along as the designated “coolie.” A husband patiently waiting outside trial rooms for an hour, not because he enjoys it, but because he knows it matters to someone he loves.
Startups like these may help ease the logistical stress of shopping, but the emotional comfort of having your loved ones beside you is something no service can truly replace.
