Kimberly Meckwood
Kimberly Meckwood (’96, Marketing)
Owner and Inventor
Click & Carry, Inc.
Q. What led you to invent the Click & Carry device?
A. The idea for the Click & Carry device was born out of necessity. I lived in an upstairs apartment and carrying groceries up several long flights of stairs and through multiple doors was a real pain, both physically and figuratively. Then, one night, I had a dream about a boomerang-shaped bag handle and the Click & Carry was born. After developing several designs, I ultimately patterned the Click & Carry after a spring-loaded barrette, found a manufacturer and successfully went through the patent application process.
Q. You started your career in the pharmaceuticals industry, but pivoted to entrepreneurship. How did that transition come about?
A. When the idea for Click & Carry came to me, I was pursuing a sales career in the medical device industry. A good friend from work grew tired of me talking about my idea for the invention and she told me “to stop talking about it and do something about it.” She then introduced me to her neighbor who had access to a 3D CAD printer. I worked through nine different product iterations to find a winner. My sales job in the medical device industry, and later, in the pharmaceutical industry enabled me to continue working on Click & Carry during nights and on the weekends.
Q. When did you decide to exclusively devote time to your own company?
A. After I developed and perfected the Click & Carry, I auditioned seven times for Shark Tank and finally landed a spot on the show as the COVID pandemic began. I continued my position in pharmaceutical sales until November of 2020, when I was notified that my episode of Shark Tank would air on December 11. I knew I was going to be very busy fulfilling orders and fielding calls. The PR from the show provided a huge jump start to product sales and I’m thrilled to announce that I continue to be happily employed by Click & Carry, Inc. as the full-time CEO.
Q. Do you believe women entrepreneurs face a different set of obstacles than men?
A. I don’t believe women entrepreneurs face a different set of obstacles, but I do think we are sometimes underestimated. To me, it is a gift to be underestimated because you’re not viewed as a threat and then you catch your competition by surprise.
Q. Are there any lessons you learned at SDSU that you still use in your job today?
A. Networking is encouraged at SDSU and I interact with fellow SDSU graduates and instructors on LinkedIn to move my business forward. I always read the SDSU newsletter to keep current on the happenings of other alumni and it’s a great source for networking too!
