| Author | Message | ||
| Armando Dominguez (Adominguez)
New member Username: Adominguez Post Number: 11 Registered: 6-2007 |
I have been repairing since was 8yrs. old and i started to re-sole and heel at about 15 when i got tall enough to operate the landis k curb-needle. My dad also started just repairing and never turned anything away; once a friend came to him with a rotten tooth and asked him to pull it with one of his "fancy pliers" and he took care of that. So, now that i'm getting further and further behind on my boot orders i want to just make custom boots and refuse repair except on my boots. There really isn't enough repair to hire someone full time to do it, besides, it seems to come in spurts. Like now there is very little but when school starts i could get a bunch. I raised my prices for repair and that has slowed it down some. I guess some would say: i wish i had your problem, maybe; but, i think that dealing with the horrors of some of the off-the-shelf boots out there is a terrible distraction for a person who is tring to produce $750 and up boots. Anyway, i'm just having a difficult time letting go of that quick cash fix i can get with repair. Also, i am in a store front right in downtown Bukburnett Tx pop. 10,000; i've considerd getting out of that situation where only my custom boot customers could find me. My wife says i'm enough of a hermit as it is. Thats my story. Armando | ||
| Tex Robin (Tex_robin)
New member Username: Tex_robin Post Number: 1240 Registered: 1-2004 |
Armando, I know what you mean..I started doing shoe repair when I was 15...the old guys would ask my father: Are you going to let that kid fix my shoe? He would say , yes he can do it as good as I can! About a year and a half ago I moved to Abilene and put my shop in a 3 car garage..My old shop in Coleman was in a large old Baptist Church bldg. I sure had to throw a lot away...but I don't miss the walk in repair I was turning down even before I moved. I am beginning to like it the way it is. I am in the phone book as a custom Bootmaker but I don't have people calling asking me to repair their sandals! I love it...I will do soles and heels on cowboy boots but my price is high enough to discourage a lot of it...Move, you will never regret it....TR | ||
| Armando Dominguez (Adominguez)
New member Username: Adominguez Post Number: 12 Registered: 6-2007 |
Thanks tex. That's probably the best way for an individual to make boots. A big move like that is a bit scary for me, but i'm preety sure i'm heading in that direction. A | ||
| Brian C. Thomas (Brian_c_thomas)
New member Username: Brian_c_thomas Post Number: 713 Registered: 1-2004 |
Armando, I too started in a repair at a very early age, I decided when I opened my shop and started making boots that I would only do “limited” repair. I only do the following repair on cowboy boots that I consider worthy of my repair, “Heels, Soles & Heels, Tree boot tops. Like you that’s about all I have time for with my boot orders. I have turned repair customers into boot customer with the quality and service of my repair work. For me I could not start making boots at my house and be discovered so I rented a building. Perhaps someday when I have enough clients then I will consider a private workshop. And if you put a Boot sign on a street in Texas everyone, decides you area shoe repair shop. “Riding for the Brand” Brian C. Thomas | ||
| Armando Dominguez (Adominguez)
New member Username: Adominguez Post Number: 13 Registered: 6-2007 |
Hey Brian, just saw your post. I hear you man, it is a business an we need to be smart about it. It can be a juggling act. I don't plan to ever stop repairing my boots, it really shows me what is working and what is not on my boots. And it keeps me humble. Take it easy. A | ||
| Brian C. Thomas (Brian_c_thomas)
New member Username: Brian_c_thomas Post Number: 727 Registered: 1-2004 |
Armando, I am still repairing everyone else’s boots. Here is the count for repair on Brian Thomas Boots: Soles and heels 1 pr. Heels 4 pr. Sole guards 4 pr. I would say I am using top notch material shop open 3 3/4 years  "Sole Saven & Heelin for the Brand" Brian C. Thomas | ||
| Brian C. Thomas (Brian_c_thomas)
New member Username: Brian_c_thomas Post Number: 732 Registered: 1-2004 |
Typo that's 2 3/4 years "Correction for the Brand" Brian C. Thomas | ||
| Lonnie Clippard (Ccboots)
New member Username: Ccboots Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2008 |
Hey folks, newcomer to the forum here. We have been operating a partnership boot and shoe repair shop in a small southeast Missouri town for close to 30 years now and I must say that through good times and bad, it would have been impossible to make a living with just one aspect or the other. Right now, I think the repair operation is doing more than the custom side, especially with the economy going down the tubes. | ||
| Mark W. Fletcher (Bronbo)
Member Username: Bronbo Post Number: 934 Registered: 1-2004 |
Lonnie, Welcome. Don't forget to introduce your self in "My Profile." About how much of your business is repair, and are you seeing less and less boots and shoes that are repairable? Mark | ||
| Walter Hayman (Navysuede) New member Username: Navysuede Post Number: 8 Registered: 9-2008 |
Speaking of repairs,I couldn't survive without it. It's quick it's easy and for me it's more money and I can find more people who can actually do the work with a total of four locations to pull from.However this type of business can produce alot of headaches as well.For the up and coming bootmaker it is a great chance to get some practice on the equipment and develop your skills as a whole.Maybe one day soon my focus could be more on the making side but currently with thiseconomic situation I'm not so sure..I understand that some on this forum are not to keen on the idea of taking in more repairs for one reason or another..I say great..I simply can't wait to be in that situation,besides if the customer is willing to pay my rate then I'm golden anyway. |