shoe repair for a business ??

[T77911S]

there is only one shoe repair place around here that i know of and it is 30 minutes away, further for the people south of me. my wife has about 10 pair of heels that need new heels put on, but we just dont go up that way to drop them off. would a shoe repair place be a proffitable place to open? would it take a lot to be able to do just heels and soles?
i was thinking if i could get people to drop shoes at my wifes scrapbook store, i could do the repairs at home. i might even just start out with womans heels since they seem to be easier to fix. we have bought heel studs for the wifes shoes and i was replacing them at home in the past. but what would i need to do just those repairs?
i just started searching on this but have not really found much that tells about what machines do what or what i would need just to do heels and/or soles.

another slow day at work.

[red-beard]

No reason not to hang a new shingle at her shop. You could do it part time to start.

[Joe Bob]

Dirty nasty work....but...go for it....

[herr_oberst]

shoe repair shops always do well in bad times . . .

[widgeon13]

I view excellent shoe repair as an art. Top price and quality shoe manufacturers are now taking back shoes for repair, such as Allen Edmonds, will recondition shoes and offer a warranty I believe. They come back as good as new, not inexpensive but it's worth it unless you have a talented cobbler.

Supposed it is different w/ women's shoes.

[Rikao4]

I have shoes..
somewhere..
have about 10 pair of boots..
boots I'm wearing are at least 10 yrs old..
buy good..take care of them..
a service (heel and sole) about 70 bucks..
my place does saddles,belts & boots

women don't repair shoes..
they buy another pair

Rika

[The Gaijin]

Yes, a dirty business with nasty glues, solvents and airborne dust. If you learned to do it right - I bet you could make some money..

[tabs]

We are we going to spend $40 to repair a pair of shoes when you bought them at Wallmart for $25? Throw them away and give a Chinaman a job.

[Bill Douglas]

A friend has a number of "Keys and Shoe" places and does well. Always going on expensive holidays if that's any indication of what profit margins would be. It looks like a franchise type place with eveything clean and new looking.

[myamoto1]

I don't think there's a lot of money to be made in shoe repairs, but any little bit helps. I say go for it. However, as Rika pointed out - most women are more likely to buy a new pair, than have an old pair fixed. If you can get into sole repairs, I think you'd have a better shot. The shoe repair shop down the street from me does all of the reconditionings for Redwing shoes, which is what I think keeps the shop afloat.

[T77911S]

Originally Posted by red-beard

No reason not to hang a new shingle at her shop. You could do it part time to start.

thats what i was thinking. make a place in my new garage when it is done and just do it part time.

[MT930]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

shoe repair shops always do well in bad times . . .

Not any worse than working on your car, at least shoes don't leak oil.

I have shoes & boots resoled all the time. Wading shoes re felted @ $45 a pair thats like $60 an hour.

I't go for it, if you like the work and have little overhead.

[PorscheGAL]

Originally Posted by Rikao4

women don't repair shoes..
they buy another pair

Rika

Hey now, I repair my shoes. I buy good quality shoes and have the leather boots shined and reconditioned before every winter. I have had heels replaced by a cobbler. I have had 1 pair of boots for 10 years. Between having my husband's shoes shined, having them resoled and having mine reconditioned I am on first name basis with my cobbler.

[Gogar]

I've been to a shoe repair shop ONCE in 38 years, FWIW.

[Joeaksa]

Take mine in all the time to get repaired, but then I spend the money for good ones up front.

Have several pairs of cowboy boots that are for the most part at least 20 years old. Hand made by a old gent in El Paso. Made for my feet, not just the size. All of them have been re-soled several times and look like new except being broken in.

Bought a pair of Mesphisto shoes a few years back. Expensive as hell and a bit ugly but comfortable as can be. Going on the second pair of soles and will keep doing it.

A good pair of shoes or boots last you a very long time. Cheap chit you can toss. I do not buy cheap chit as its a good way to waste money.

Joe A

[Tobra]

It is a dying art. Joe, if your old bootmaker is still alive, you should go get another pair.

[MikeSid]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

...
A good pair of shoes or boots last you a very long time....

Joe A

I've had a pair of Church's since '97 and a pair of Alden's since '05. The Church's have seen at least 4 new soles. The Alden's I reheeled this July for the first time.

I've had the same cobbler for 15+ years. He used to have about a 4 day turnaround. This past July it was 2 weeks. He had shelves of new work stacked and waiting for him.

I don't know how much money he's making, but he's certainly not hurting for work.

[924slover]

I think shoe repair is disappearing. people don't really think about fixing shoes once they are old they just buy a new pair.

[Dottore]

It depends where you live. In major urban centers there will always be people who spend big money on shoes, and who have them maintained and repaired.

But as someone else said this is an art—and I don't think you can just pick this up overnight. All the good shoemakers I've gone to are very old, and learned their craft many years ago.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by Tobra

It is a dying art. Joe, if your old bootmaker is still alive, you should go get another pair.

The good news is that while he is getting old (he is an old smuggler, gave it up 30 years ago) his son and family have taken over the place, so its still going. I already have something like six pairs now so am trying to hold off buying more. The first pair I bought, some tan ostrich (for $275!) in 1985 are still going strong. Other thing is that they are showing no sign of really wearing out, and I will be 57 in two months so how many do I need at my funeral when I give out?

You can still give them a ring, as what kind of skins they have on hand and order ANY boot you want. Then 2-3 weeks later its ready and sent to you. What ever type of heel, toe or tops you want and they will stitch it fancy or plain. All of mine are pretty plain but have my initials in the middle of the tops, so that when you cross your legs someone who is sharp will realize they are hand made.

All of this for $50-100 over the price of a generic boot that is not made for your foot. Once you have worn a hand made boot you will never go back. I even called them a couple of years ago and told them to make me one 1/2 size larger so that I could wear winter thick socks. They fit like a glove first time I put them on and I wear them all the time. Worth every penny.

Mingo Boots Co - Google Maps