Guest lee. Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 The recent collapse of Woolworths now means that the ever popular : range of Do it yourself Shoe repair products are no longer available to the Public, I am sure we have all had Shoes in that the customer has had a go with themselves , often with poor results and requests to "just stick the sole down " when YOU do the Heels . Apart from eBay the only place these DIY packs are now sold is at the Wilkinsons chain of Hardware "supermarkets", however i have it on very good authority that these lines have just been "de-listed" by Wilko's and when shop stocks are gone that is it =D> . Could be that we will be getting more people in asking if we SELL soles and heels , i know we have had a few in over the past few days . Managed to convert a few of the Hard Core DIY fans already , offered Gents Heels at £4 ( in line with Woolies)a pair with nails , or we can do the job properly for £6 . May be the time to stock up on DIY packs , or expect a few more "mend and make do " customers through the door . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 I normally tell them that I will sell them a pair to do themselves (normally sos) but I will charge the same price as if I was doing the job properly. £6 for mens heels Have you read the price survey http://www.shoerepairer.info/index.php?ind=downloads&op=entry_view&iden=131 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lee. Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Yes fully aware of Price Survey , but have you got a Shoezone outside selling Mens Shoes for a Tenner !. and Ladies for £8 Customers still say "thats expensive " we we ask £4 for Ladies Heels or £6 for Gents , and our prices include VAT as well ! . We are in a Poor part of Birmingham , Shopping centre is now half empty ( or half full depends how you look at it ! ) , just lost Woolies, Rosebys, Officers Club , HPI Jewellers, Shoe Express, Adma , and now the Tote Close at the end of the month . Just have to be gratefull for wht we get Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 I'm in a small market town of about 40,000 people. Lots of old people and young non-workers. I also have a shoe zone selling shoes at these prices as well as a multiple repairer about 50 yards away and a Timpsons just opened in the out of town Sainsbury's.Woolies has just closed and was the biggest shop in the town centre, but I wont undervalue my skill and knowledge as a competent repairer just to get work. Things are a little quiet at the moment due to so many different factors but I still price my work to what I think it is worth. A wise old, old man once said " don't be a busy fool " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny King Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 I hate Shoe Zone. We too have one near us. Yep we get how can you charge £16 for sole and Heel and they sell shoes for a tenner Makes my blood boil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 A wise old, old man once said " don't be a busy fool " Planet uk900 said a little while ago..... you mark my works Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Sorry Planet, too many olds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 you have to remember, that yes companies like shoe zone sell shoes cheap, but a lot of shops sell shoes at higher price brackets & these are your "main" repair clients. If you paid £100 for a pair of shoes & the heels where £10 that would be 10% of the original cost. If your customer paid £10 for the shoes, you would never do the heels for the same 10% or £1.00 so forget about being cheap enough to compete with shoe zone & start being competitive for your key customers, who may be thinking "why is he so cheap, these cost me £100!" With brands like the windsors & shoe zone, you'll still pick up repairs for comfort factor & ease alone. Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithm Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 I concour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Spelling it differently dont change anything ,Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithm Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 And you spotted it before I could edit it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lee. Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 We are not trying to compete with Shoezone and the like , just trying to earn a living ,after all we are in the mending buisness not the retailing side. We get lots of customers who buy "cheap" shoes and pop stright round to have Metals on stilletoes, Grip Soles on Shiny plastic Boots , and 1/4 tips on mens heels etc. Not everyone can afford £100 shoes where we are , most are either on benifits or the minimum wage . the Customers we get that do buy these type of Shoes come from the better off areas afew miles away and often travel the few extra miles using the free bus pass to come to us to get them Heeled . It is ok if your only competition is a Multiple , when you are trying to trade with other independants , often in low rent locations , close to the city centre or Key Cutters that offer this as an "add on" to the main buisness ( often Hardware or General Store) then it is a different matter . We keep our trade by offering a quick efficient service , reasonably priced and using good quialty materials , the shop has been here 25 yrs serving many genreations of the same families. Seem to have gone a little off my original topic , hopefully someone will lead us back that way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Charles Birch had the DIY sos in there last catologue but I could never get them. Used to get lots of customers ask for them but they were always left off the order. Not sure if they still do them.... Just a little off topic p.s......Why is my post count going down instead of up...are you deleting posts Lee..if so could you bloody well leave mine alone.Delete some of Keiths "I concur" replies,should take him back to about 50 posts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Think ascaps deleting all the waffle, to save space on the server..... Hugh candoit will have to rejoin lol only kidding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lee. Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Our CB rep was in yesterday , seemed to think they were out of stock , however we will be offering DIY kits at our normal repair price , with Free fitting ! lets see how they like that one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny King Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Mine has gone down too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 quite a few of you will have to rejoin yes, i'm deleting old posts and images to free up space but nothing that contributes knowledge or useful info will be discarded. rick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 yes, i'm deleting old posts and images to free up space but nothing that contributes knowledge or useful info will be discarded.rick. THAT'S ME FCUKED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithm Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 You make a very good argument Smulti with some very good points. But if I may make a few points Shopezone are in most high streets nationwide, so I would say that almost every member on here is 'competing' with them. But I would hazard a guess that you are one of the cheapest repair outlets here. In addition, give this some thought. Assume the customer pays £20 for his shoes from Shoezone and has a stick on sole attached, total cost around £28-£30. That shoe would last longer because of the 'new' sole that you have put on, therefore it enhances the shoe and adds value to the customer. If you can educate some of your customers to think this way, you may just find that they not only appreciate your advice, but bring you more work on the back of it. Afterall, they are still only paying £30 or less for a pair of shoes and now they have some that will last, well until the upper falls apart, but you get my drift Keith Just food for thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 We are in a Poor part of Birmingham , Shopping centre is now half empty Everywhere is poor at the moment smult the way things are going in 6 months the centre may be shut........ The only company so far to show increased profit is Sainsburys....they are winning thier battle to dominate all retail in this country, along with all the other superstores.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 You make a very good argument Smulti with some very good points. But if I may make a few points Shopezone are in most high streets nationwide, so I would say that almost every member on here is 'competing' with them. But I would hazard a guess that you are one of the cheapest repair outlets here. In addition, give this some thought. Assume the customer pays £20 for his shoes from Shoezone and has a stick on sole attached, total cost around £28-£30. That shoe would last longer because of the 'new' sole that you have put on, therefore it enhances the shoe and adds value to the customer. If you can educate some of your customers to think this way, you may just find that they not only appreciate your advice, but bring you more work on the back of it. Afterall, they are still only paying £30 or less for a pair of shoes and now they have some that will last, well until the upper falls apart, but you get my drift Keith Just food for thought I konker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Don't you bloody start... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 some customers are crafty b'stards, i have sold stick on's to the general public from my repair stock in the past but i now keep a separate tread style for DIY's i had one crafty sod bring back a pair he had done and told me my repair had failed !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Question for you guys, Is it cost effective to sell the S-A-Soles and heels as a retail item.? If it is and you think that there is a good market for them now woolies have closed why not pressure your wholesaler to get them for you from the manufacturer that sold them to woolies complete with adhesive and packaged. Different design to yours so easy to spot. Just a thought!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 good thinking that hugh rick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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