The Idea. The Inception. The Product.

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Mari Mitchelson is the inventor and founder of the Leafhopper Hauler.

After years of working in her yard—planting, trimming, raking, and hauling—Mari began to feel the physical toll of constantly bending down and standing back up to transfer yard debris into bins and bags. Living with severe scoliosis and blood pressure issues that caused lightheadedness with frequent movement, she worried that her passion for gardening might be coming to an end.

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Determined not to give up something she loved, Mari spent years experimenting with different ideas to reduce the strain. After many failed attempts, inspiration finally struck in the middle of the night: diagonal straps with simple Velcro closures.

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The very next morning, she cut down an old blue tarp to a 4' x 4' square, added two straps, and created the first Leafhopper. The design was simple, functional—and it worked. Friends and family quickly saw its value, and demand began to grow.

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What started in her basement while her kids were at school soon turned into a growing business. As orders increased, Mari secured manufacturing support and even earned an exclusive spot on QVC, bringing the Leafhopper to a national audience.

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After years of persistence and dedication, Mari was awarded a U.S. patent in 2012.

Today, Leafhopper continues to grow, with a focus on innovation, simplicity, and making yard work easier for everyone. As the company looks ahead, one of Mari’s goals is to bring manufacturing back to the United States—staying true to her hands-on roots while expanding the brand’s impact.