Lee Posted July 11, 2019 Report Share Posted July 11, 2019 Some ideas flop some you can get mileage out off. take a look at my facebook http://www.facebook.com/cobblees and take up the 5p challenge. Enough shared nationally and it might put leather sole repairs in the public thought process Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibsjo(SCO) Posted July 12, 2019 Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 Hi Lee brilliant idea how you finding repairs? they seem to have dipped nationally, we get lots of "shitty" wee jobs to do stitching rivets buckles elastic and so on but all in all, not the same as it used to be. we seem to be doing that many other things. i feel we have priced ourselves out of a job. for to put a pair of rubber soles and heels on a shoe now is £20 - 30 because of the materials being used and most dont want to pay that the idea of doing soles and heels for £10 using cheaper materials doesn't work as they come back and complain about wear quality. whats everyone else thoughts on this is this the start of the end? carry on! kobblers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Muppet Posted July 12, 2019 Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 I was thinking the exact same thing yesterday. ill be happy to see the days when our shops are opened without shoe machines and just take loads of money of keys and watches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted July 12, 2019 Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 20 minutes ago, Count Muppet said: I was thinking the exact same thing yesterday. ill be happy to see the days when our shops are opened without shoe machines and just take loads of money of keys and watches. Just done a pair of ladies heels that was our second shoe repair job this week along with a pair of mens stick on soles and heels. Got rid of all sewing machines and just do basic repairs anything else is not worth the time or effort to make any decent profit anymore. If it would not mean dismantling half the shop and having to remove the front door to get rid then i would have done so years ago but saying that the finisher is in use every day just not for shoe repairs, we use it for finishing brass padlocks after re pinning and all sorts of other jobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellsy9 Posted July 12, 2019 Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 I am same here. My patcher is in the garage at home as I don't have space for it in the shop. Most of my work now is engraving, keys and watch repairs. All the shoe repairs I get in are the crappy moulded soles/heels. I too would get rid of the finisher if I did not have to dismantle the rest of the shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simes Posted July 12, 2019 Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 Our shoe repairs are up, especially quality shoes. My biggest problem is that we don't have sufficient shoes coming through the door yet to justify the huge investment in a quality outsole stitcher so we contract out the stitching. The quality is not the best unfortunately. Would love my own machine, but it takes a lot of gents shoes to justify the price of one of those machines when there are some many other places we can invest that sort of money and be sure of a decent return in a relatively short space of time. But Lee's repairs are something to aspire too. In the meantime, our customers seem happy with our repairs and keep coming back so we much be doing ok. What I would say is that I spend time with my customers educating them with regard to what a good quality pair of shoes is and make recommendations. Now I'm getting customers coming in behore making a purchase of shoes to ask me what they think before they buy. These will become lifelong customers I hope. If we want to repair quality shoes then we can do something about it. Just take some time with your customers. They will keep talking about you and keep coming back. Bren and pdr 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDTL Posted July 12, 2019 Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 if i relied on shoe repairs i would have been gone a long time ago, most of the stuff now is not worth repairing, best thing i done was go into more related products inline with key cutting i.e locks padlocks etc grahamparker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLENGRAVING Posted July 12, 2019 Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 use the opportunity when taking out the front of the shop to squeeze in a big ol' CO2 laser that's my plan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted July 12, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 My repairs dropped year on year from the mid 2000’s but plateaued about 5 years ago giving me half a loaf instead of a full one, that was when I left administration of this sit because I realised the rest of the day I was on here. i focused on doing bike repairs and now find I’m doing 2 days work every day! I’m flat out again. I seem to spend half the day doing the shoes, watches engraving and the afternoon/early evening doing bikes. robinsons 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x minit uk Posted July 13, 2019 Report Share Posted July 13, 2019 Flat out on shoe repairs ATM. Keys are more unpredictable, mainly because I am surrounded by Simpson shops , watch batteries etc are consistent. Leather goods have made a bit of a come back too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdr Posted July 13, 2019 Report Share Posted July 13, 2019 On 7/12/2019 at 9:43 AM, Simes said: But Lee's repairs are something to aspire to How do you even get that good!? Can that level of excellence even be taught Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Friend Posted July 14, 2019 Report Share Posted July 14, 2019 I think you need the OCD mind that will only allow perfection, practice and then practice and if nothing comes in for a while practice before doing it live. Lee is one special guy he never does anything that's good enough - it is either perfection or excellent. keithm, kobblers and pdr 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithm Posted July 15, 2019 Report Share Posted July 15, 2019 On 7/12/2019 at 9:43 AM, Simes said: Our shoe repairs are up, especially quality shoes. My biggest problem is that we don't have sufficient shoes coming through the door yet to justify the huge investment in a quality outsole stitcher so we contract out the stitching. The quality is not the best unfortunately. Would love my own machine, but it takes a lot of gents shoes to justify the price of one of those machines when there are some many other places we can invest that sort of money and be sure of a decent return in a relatively short space of time. But Lee's repairs are something to aspire too. In the meantime, our customers seem happy with our repairs and keep coming back so we much be doing ok. What I would say is that I spend time with my customers educating them with regard to what a good quality pair of shoes is and make recommendations. Now I'm getting customers coming in behore making a purchase of shoes to ask me what they think before they buy. These will become lifelong customers I hope. If we want to repair quality shoes then we can do something about it. Just take some time with your customers. They will keep talking about you and keep coming back. I suggest you keep an eye out on our website for some second hand machines as we always have a good turnover in these, in fact we have one at present, extra 10% off for Forum members It's not even on the Website yet but will be later today. PM me if you wish to find out more Mick Friend, kobblers and Simes 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinh Posted July 16, 2019 Report Share Posted July 16, 2019 Slightly off topic but not by much. I have received a request from someone not involved with our trade who has asked if SOMSR can provide any information or statistics on the total revenue, number of shops, number of people employed specifically in the shoe repair sector. The information is to be used to help individuals or small businesses looking for entry into our trade. The onlyinfo I can find is from ibisworld (?) who reckon that the UK turnover in shoe repair shops is 83 million pounds. I am assuming that this figure, if accurate, includes the shoe repair figures from both independents and multiples ( whoever they may be) Does anyone have any more detailed info they would care to divulge? Robin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
da miller Posted July 16, 2019 Report Share Posted July 16, 2019 as always only those that can repair bought machines that do the job that,s the decline in our trade we forgot about it because keys and watches were easy money and less hassle and less cost Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 9 hours ago, da miller said: as always only those that can repair bought machines that do the job that,s the decline in our trade we forgot about it because keys and watches were easy money and less hassle and less cost In a lot of cases if we didnt cut keys there would be hundreds even thousands less repairers still going today for most shoe repairs are now a sideline no matter how good you are. Even what i would call craftsmen would struggle to survive today by just doing shoe repairs only as 'easy money' makes the world go round especially with what has happened since the market crash back in 2008. If you invested say £35k in new machinery for shoe repairs or £35k in key cutting machinery (Triax + Unocode) i can guarantee the second will make you the most money in a lot quicker time and you will still be operating for many years to come and employ more people. Simes, kobblers and simon1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simes Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 7 minutes ago, grahamparker said: In a lot of cases if we didnt cut keys there would be hundreds even thousands less repairers still going today for most shoe repairs are now a sideline no matter how good you are. Even what i would call craftsmen would struggle to survive today by just doing shoe repairs only as 'easy money' makes the world go round especially with what has happened since the market crash back in 2008. If you invested say £35k in new machinery for shoe repairs or £35k in key cutting machinery (Triax + Unocode) i can guarantee the second will make you the most money in a lot quicker time and you will still be operating for many years to come and employ more people. That’s the sad truth. I would love to be able to justify investment in new shoe repair equipment. But there is zero financial benefit that I can see. It would make my job easier, it would result in improved repairs, but in reality as much as I would like to believe otherwise I might never get the money back, especially at my age But I am going to educating my customers on the merits of good shoes and getting them repaired and maybe, just maybe demand will increase and things will change. We live in a world where recycling is the hot topic. Shoe repair is one of the oldest forms of recycling. The Goodyear welt was invented for the sole (forgive the pun) purpose of making shoes daily recyclable/ repairable kobblers, GLENGRAVING and Mick Friend 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Friend Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 Yes I have to step back a bit and look at the things I do and work out what at my age will continue to give me pleasure, earn a crust, not be overtaken by cowboys charging huge prices for half a job and I conclude- keyboard warrior it is Mike at Vauxhall 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 On 7/12/2019 at 9:05 AM, grahamparker said: Just done a pair of ladies heels that was our second shoe repair job this week along with a pair of mens stick on soles and heels. Got rid of all sewing machines and just do basic repairs anything else is not worth the time or effort to make any decent profit anymore. If it would not mean dismantling half the shop and having to remove the front door to get rid then i would have done so years ago but saying that the finisher is in use every day just not for shoe repairs, we use it for finishing brass padlocks after re pinning and all sorts of other jobs. Can't agree with this Graham. My Singer generates more profit for me than any other machine apart from the cylinder cutter. Yesterday i did a job replacing a 26 inch zip and got £37 for it. Took me an hour and cost about £4 in materials. With the change in weather, this time of year sees all sorts of stitching jobs coming in. Buckle elastics at £14, zip runners £10, golf and fishing bag repairs etc all generate healthy profit as the main cost is my time. Fair enough if you're busy with other stuff and don't have time for the fiddly stuff but with the drop off in 'proper' repairs we see in summer, patching and stitching keeps the till ringing. x minit uk, hibsjo(SCO) and robinsons 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 4 minutes ago, Bren said: Can't agree with this Graham. My Singer generates more profit for me than any other machine apart from the cylinder cutter. Yesterday i did a job replacing a 26 inch zip and got £37 for it. Took me an hour and cost about £4 in materials. With the change in weather, this time of year sees all sorts of stitching jobs coming in. Buckle elastics at £14, zip runners £10, golf and fishing bag repairs etc all generate healthy profit as the main cost is my time. Fair enough if you're busy with other stuff and don't have time for the fiddly stuff but with the drop off in 'proper' repairs we see in summer, patching and stitching keeps the till ringing. Fair enough it might be good for you but my third job this morning was to cut 26 Ultion keys, 10 minutes over £200 + vat profit. Paul my employee spent 15 minutes yesterday afternoon last job of the day cutting 40 keys for a local caravan site again well over £100 + vat profit on that job. Last job this morning was to assemble a ford bonnet lock kit for a local garage 5 minutes no materials at all £20 + vat profit Shoe repairs, zips, patching do not even come close and never will. Bren, kobblers, Auto Key Wizard and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x minit uk Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 19 hours ago, grahamparker said: Fair enough it might be good for you but my third job this morning was to cut 26 Ultion keys, 10 minutes over £200 + vat profit. Paul my employee spent 15 minutes yesterday afternoon last job of the day cutting 40 keys for a local caravan site again well over £100 + vat profit on that job. Last job this morning was to assemble a ford bonnet lock kit for a local garage 5 minutes no materials at all £20 + vat profit Shoe repairs, zips, patching do not even come close and never will. Had a guy come in who was repairing his wife’s shoes with supplied heel tips, he couldn’t get one of the old pins out so he asked me, it took 3 seconds and I charged him a lady Godiva. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 On 7/17/2019 at 11:28 AM, grahamparker said: Fair enough it might be good for you but my third job this morning was to cut 26 Ultion keys, 10 minutes over £200 + vat profit. Paul my employee spent 15 minutes yesterday afternoon last job of the day cutting 40 keys for a local caravan site again well over £100 + vat profit on that job. Last job this morning was to assemble a ford bonnet lock kit for a local garage 5 minutes no materials at all £20 + vat profit Shoe repairs, zips, patching do not even come close and never will. Good stuff. Obviously you're not gonna piss about with repairs as your main business seems to be keys and specialist locksmithery, but for an all rounder like me the fiddly stuff turns a good profit. Me trying to fix a car lock would take at least a week.....!! Mike at Vauxhall, exp121260, kobblers and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciawest Posted August 12, 2019 Report Share Posted August 12, 2019 On 7/17/2019 at 11:28 AM, grahamparker said: Fair enough it might be good for you but my third job this morning was to cut 26 Ultion keys, 10 minutes over £200 + vat profit. Paul my employee spent 15 minutes yesterday afternoon last job of the day cutting 40 keys for a local caravan site again well over £100 + vat profit on that job. Last job this morning was to assemble a ford bonnet lock kit for a local garage 5 minutes no materials at all £20 + vat profit Shoe repairs, zips, patching do not even come close and never will. 26 ultions in 10 mins :O it takes me 15 mins to do just one. what machine do you use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted August 12, 2019 Report Share Posted August 12, 2019 Triax e- code ciawest 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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