Jan 15, 2009 1:20 pm US/Eastern
Angie's List: Shoe Repair
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Even in this struggling economy there are some businesses that are still
doing well. Some you could say are walking down easy street.
In today's Angie's List report, Jim Donovan takes a look at the booming
business of shoe repair.
People spend a lot of money on their shoes.
If you take good care of them they can last for years and with today's
economy we're looking for ways to save money.
Instead of buying new shoes, more and more people are opting to repair their
old ones instead.
"If you go to a shoe repair company they can do things such as resole
shoes. Women's shoes can be re-soled starting as inexpensively as ten dollars,
mens at twenty dollars. They can also stretch shoes to make them more
comfortable, and generally just help you take better care of your shoes,"
said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List.
She says you should think of your footwear as an investment. Well maintained
shoes will offer more value for your dollar, more comfort and better foot
health.
"We talked to several highly rated shoe companies on Angie's List for
suggestions for keeping your shoes in good shape. The biggest suggestion we
heard was to clean your shoes. We clean our clothes, we take care of them, but
often times we ignore our shoes. So wipe down your shoes each time after you
wear them and it will really pay off. Also, take care of your shoes when you
see them starting to break down, your heels that are in bad shape. Take them to
a shoe repair company right away because they can likely fix them
inexpensively," said Hicks.
If the cost of repair is more than half the price of what a new pair of
shoes would cost, you should consider replacing it. As long as the uppers of
the shoe are in good shape, most shoes can always be repaired. It's when you
get into repairing a tear in the leather or stitching, you're looking at a more
costly repair.
What services does a shoe repair store offer?
· Re-soling shoes is probably the most common requested shoe repair - and it
is pretty inexpensive. New soles for women's shoes run about $10 for the pair,
for men re-soling costs about $20 for the pair.
· A shoe repair company can also stretch your shoe for comfort, fit a shoe
to unusual feet, and professionally waterproof a shoe to protect it from the
elements.
· Shoe repair can also alleviate a variety of physical problems. Worn heels
will change your gait. When you are not walking properly, your feet, ankles,
knees, hips and back can all suffer.
Tips to keep your shoes looking great and lasting longer:
· Get to know your local shoe repair stop and take your shoes in on a
regular basis to repair wear and tear. This will keep your shoes lasting even
longer.
· Use cream to polish and protect leather. If you do not take these steps,
the leather will dry out, crack and fall apart.
· Don't stack your shoes on top of one another. Protect your shoes by
keeping them in the boxes or on a rack.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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