Shoe repairs

[CDTL]

Ok I am taking a risk now but i have just had my rep round who has been in the business for as long as i have and more, but when I talk to him about how things are in the shoe repair industry his reply is very down beat and almost depressing, I have taken the plunge and gone into other things within the industry which is now starting to pay off thanks to listening too people on this forum, but my question is do we really think shoe repairing will ever come back or should we be strong and say goodbye .

[grahamparker]

12 hours ago, CDTL said:

Ok I am taking a risk now but i have just had my rep round who has been in the business for as long as i have and more, but when I talk to him about how things are in the shoe repair industry his reply is very down beat and almost depressing, I have taken the plunge and gone into other things within the industry which is now starting to pay off thanks to listening too people on this forum, but my question is do we really think shoe repairing will ever come back or should we be strong and say goodbye .

The good days are GONE well and truly it will never recover in my opinion why do you think just about every shoe repairer cuts keys.

Get your money invested and become the best key cutter in your area, buy the best machines you can afford and keep re-investing while also spreading out into retail of Padlocks (a small stand is a good place to start) try and learn about the qualities of padlocks how they withstand the weather/security and keyed alike/master keying possibilities.

I am the only person in the uk that can repin certain Abus padlocks to old discontinued keys and Abus uk are now sending customers to me it's all about knowledge and learning.

Also Euro cylinders are a great way to bring in extra custom much more profitable than bags,wallets and leather goods same with polish and laces keep the big sellers and ditch the rest.

That is what I started about 25 years ago and you will be amazed at some of the things i now sell, electric door closers that retail over £400 specialist euro din cases for steel blast doors that come from Germany with a HUGE price tag. It's all there if you invest in the right way.

So far this year we have sold 7000+ padlocks but we are THE experts in our area and it is all self taught with a lot of hard work and commitment to be the best.

[cobblers.keys]

Engraving, trophies and keys are my main sellers now by far. Shoe repair machine is hardly on just lately. I have reduced my shoe care to clear the wall space for main items. Saying that I have a mate in another town that is still doing well on shoe repairs. ??

[Simes]

21 hours ago, CDTL said:

Ok I am taking a risk now but i have just had my rep round who has been in the business for as long as i have and more, but when I talk to him about how things are in the shoe repair industry his reply is very down beat and almost depressing, I have taken the plunge and gone into other things within the industry which is now starting to pay off thanks to listening too people on this forum, but my question is do we really think shoe repairing will ever come back or should we be strong and say goodbye .

True shoe repairs are down (although my shoe repair sales increase each year.  However, personally though I don't think we help ourselves that much.  Do we try to educate our customers?  The big nationals like Timpsons never advertise they reply on people just turning up and the small independents can't afford a decent advertising campaign.  Shoe Repair is the oldest form of recycling and that in todays more environmentally conscious world should be a message that will get more response than ever before!  But we (as in the trade as a whole) don't get the message out there.  I speak to as many customers as possible about the benefits of investing in good shoes and more are taking my advice and come in with quality shoes they have purchased on my advice (Barker, Cheaney etc).  We do more high end shoes now than ever before because we talk about it face to face, business networking, website blogs and social media.  

[petercoulson]

Would there be any mileage in Cutting edge looking at doing or promoting something like this? 

Whilst visiting Glastonbury Festival this year which is really big on recycling and saving the planet my wife was asked by OXFAM to sign up and pledge not to buy any clothes for the month of  September, which saves loads going to landfill, which she did and a lot of people were, which got me thinking as a trade why we couldn't do this, say for instance January and February they pledge on a Facebook or Instagram, or Twitter or a petition in our customers shops not to BUY a pair of shoes but to recycle them by having them REPAIRED.

By getting the younger people talking about recycling and shoe repairs it might get some into the shoe repair shops it seem every business is big into recycling and saving the planet our trade is sat on its hands where this is a good opportunity for the trade to get publicity or engage with the public.

[Simes]

That sounds like a good idea.  What we could do with is a template that would be used across social media to which we could add our own logo perhaps? It just needs a message and suitable image.  It may even be something the press might be interested in.   Could also do with a suitable catchy hashtag?

[Michael]

Sounds good but......T's turnover goes up along with Sainsburys, Tesco, Morrison's etc. as people flock to the pods and pop into the main store for a couple of bits or coffee while they wait for their shoes to be done!!!

After nearly 40 years in the same shop I still hear "I didn't know you were here, I normally go to T!!"

[Simes]

You have to tell people where you are.  Social Media will do that.  Business Networking groups will do that.  People really want to do business with small local businesses but we have to tell them we exist.  Timpsons do that by parking outside a superstore.  We just have to find a different ways.  But it means going out of your normal comfort zone  to do so.  If you don't know Social Media, pay someone who knows to do it for you.  Much better value for money than Paper Advertising that's for sure.  It's also the right audience for finding new younger customers and selling the idea of repair over new.

[robinh]

Cutting Edge and SOMSR are looking at the proposal originally supplied by Tony Kitchen and outlined above by Peter Coulson.  Coming up with catchy posters that appeal across the whole age spectrum is the key.  I personally don't hold with the trite saying of "Shoe Repairs save money".  it's tired and outdated. Saving money is no longer  the prime mover.   Saving the planet has more urgency and appeal to younger people who are concerned about the destruction of our environment and the lack of consideration for wasting vital resources shown by previous generations.  However we need to educate them to the fact that they can help save the world in everyday ways which don't necessarily include giving donations to Greenpeace et al.

If anyone does have some catchy suggestions, please let us know. 

Whoever suggested "Cobblers to Boris" by the way is possibly not following the main thinking process of our campaign. 

 

[robinh]

Rick..... I do like the second one     Heal the world. Heel your shoes. 

[Simes]

3 hours ago, robinh said:

Cutting Edge and SOMSR are looking at the proposal originally supplied by Tony Kitchen and outlined above by Peter Coulson.  Coming up with catchy posters that appeal across the whole age spectrum is the key.  I personally don't hold with the trite saying of "Shoe Repairs save money".  it's tired and outdated. Saving money is no longer  the prime mover.   Saving the planet has more urgency and appeal to younger people who are concerned about the destruction of our environment and the lack of consideration for wasting vital resources shown by previous generations.  However we need to educate them to the fact that they can help save the world in everyday ways which don't necessarily include giving donations to Greenpeace et al.

If anyone does have some catchy suggestions, please let us know. 

Whoever suggested "Cobblers to Boris" by the way is possibly not following the main thinking process of our campaign. 

 

Our mobile shop graphics.  About 10 years old now and need updating.  But the message is the same 

[x minit uk]

Save your souls by saving your soles.

[Bren]

On 8/8/2019 at 10:32 AM, Simes said:

You have to tell people where you are.  Social Media will do that.  Business Networking groups will do that.  People really want to do business with small local businesses but we have to tell them we exist.  Timpsons do that by parking outside a superstore.  We just have to find a different ways.  But it means going out of your normal comfort zone  to do so.  If you don't know Social Media, pay someone who knows to do it for you.  Much better value for money than Paper Advertising that's for sure.  It's also the right audience for finding new younger customers and selling the idea of repair over new.

Couldn't agree more.

Facebook was bringing me a lot of work, then Timpsons put a unit up at the Asda about 500yds away from me. Facebook local (spotted.) made a post moaning about big business and supporting local shops. BINGO! , a few hundreds 'likes' later and punters are flocking to my place. It's mostly keys but repairs are also growing due to the exposure.

[ironplanet uk900]

Timpsons are still kitting their pods out with shoe repair machinery!

I peronally think Shoe repairs are still there, and will be for a long time to come.

You've got to compete for the work. Dont forget there are lots of add ons with shoe repairs, Bags repairs, equestrian repairs, luggage repairs, etc etc.. remember there's good money to be made with this stuff & not many of you embrace it??

[cre]

I know this is a general feeling within the industry but if we knock shoe repairs on the head what is our trade defined as? We aren't locksmiths, watch repairers or cordwainers, we are Jack's of all trades and in my opinion that is what  defines us.

I'm happy to take on all kinds of work but the most expensive work I take on is still shoe repair. I have plenty of customers willing to pay £130-£150 for welt down rebuilds of their favourite shoes or boots, they don't choose to spend this money out of some kind of altruism or a moral obligation to save the planet, they're sentimental about their footwear and simply want to work with tradesmen who are both willing and able to fulfill this kind of work. Unfortunately our numbers are dwindling but the other side of this coin is that the competent cobblers can change their customers accordingly. 

[Lee]

I’ve been pretty steady on shoe repairs the last three weeks, pretty much a 50/50 split with bike repairs. It’s been good.

[cre]

On 8/13/2019 at 1:37 PM, robinh said:

Cutting Edge and SOMSR are looking at the proposal originally supplied by Tony Kitchen and outlined above by Peter Coulson.  Coming up with catchy posters that appeal across the whole age spectrum is the key.  I personally don't hold with the trite saying of "Shoe Repairs save money".  it's tired and outdated. Saving money is no longer  the prime mover.   Saving the planet has more urgency and appeal to younger people who are concerned about the destruction of our environment and the lack of consideration for wasting vital resources shown by previous generations.  However we need to educate them to the fact that they can help save the world in everyday ways which don't necessarily include giving donations to Greenpeace et al.

If anyone does have some catchy suggestions, please let us know. 

Whoever suggested "Cobblers to Boris" by the way is possibly not following the main thinking process of our campaign. 

 

This would probably be something we could all get onboard with because otherwise I get the feeling that our independent repair businesses are very fragmented, with different levels of service, quality and priorities, depending on what the shops local communities want, need and indeed can afford. Something that could unite us would definitely be beneficial. Also a network by where we could refer customers to other independents who perhaps provide services that we can't or indeed won't offer could help spread the knowledge and money around, perhaps through post in options? I know it feels strange to send a customer somewhere else and you might feel this undermines your own business, but from the perspective of the trade as a whole this viewpoint is incredibly parochial. A rising tide raises all ships.

As an aside, I'd like to thank you for dropping my name to Tony. It was a very nice gesture, Robin, much appreciated.