'Swagger wagon' for kids comes with up to $1800 price tag

'Swagger wagon' for kids comes with up to $1800 price tag

(West Coast Wagons)


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BURBANK, Calif. — Forget the "man pram".

A California woman is dreaming up high-end, specialty children's wagons that will blow your mind — and probably your wallet too.

Tiffany Nelson and her husband built their first custom wagon about 8 years ago for their daughter, who has cerebral palsy and couldn't sit up in a stroller. After receiving numerous compliments, comments, and "wows" from passersby, the mom of three decided there might actually be a decent amount of interest in something a bit more swanky than the traditional Radio Flyer.

"Everywhere we went it was, ‘… Where did you get that?'" Nelson told TODAY Moms. "After you hear that about 500 times, you realize maybe there's a market for it."

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Here's how it works — parents can choose from wagons like the "Yellow Hummer," "Outer Space," "Firetruck Elite," "Princess Jewels," and the "Biker Baby" (just to name a few) that start at around $500. From there, it's all about the accessories.

"It just depends on what you want to do… accessories is what's going to kill you," Nelson said.

Admittedly when presented with the choices, it may be difficult to turn down custom wheels and paint jobs, a DVD player, luxury cushions, canopies, clip-on cup holders — even saddlebags. And these are just the beginning — parents can even choose to personalize the wagon with their child's name.

Nelson told TODAY Moms her biggest sale to date was a souped-up chariot that brought in $1,800. Though the bumpy economy has slowed business a bit in recent years, Nelson said she's still selling a couple hundred wagons a year.

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Many parents seem to be trading in their strollers for wagons these days. Fans of the wagon concept claim it's more convenient, easier to pull and offers more space for kids to play and parents to store.

West Coast Wagons aren't just about the bling. Since the idea originated from the need for a mode of transportation that would cater to her own child, Nelson's created a line dedicated to children with special needs.

"It's nice to be able to help those kids out as well," Nelson told NPR. "Get them out of those wheelchairs, get them out of those predicaments."

Wagons that include a special IV pole holder have been used in the pediatric cardiology unit at UCLA Medical Center.

The Nelsons have a handful of loyal, high-profile customers including Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Adam Sandler, Tom Cruise, Gwyneth Paltrow and Johnny Depp — according to their website.

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Jessica Ivins

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