Footwear Facts
Invest in
Shoe & Boot Repair and Care
Footwear isn't just part of your wardrobe, it is an
investment. Spend your money wisely and the return will be more value for your
dollar, more comfort, better foot health and even a sense that you are helping
the environment.
As with all investing, it is wise to have a counselor to
make sure your money is well spent and continues to pay dividends. In the
footwear arena, that counselor is your local shoe care professional.
Shoe & boot repair and care make sense for several reasons.
First, shoe repair adds value to your footwear investment.
Quality, well-maintained men's shoes can be resoled seven
to 10 times at a fraction of the cost of new shoes. With new soles and heels,
and reconditioned uppers, the shoes will look like new, yet retain that
broken-in, comfortable feel. It is not uncommon for a man to get 30 years out
of a good pair of shoes. Quality women's shoes can be resoled three to five times.
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.
Improper fit causes calluses, corns and bunions. Shoe
repair shops offer stretching services and fitting aids to alleviate those
problems. Typically, they can stretch a shoe from a D to a EE in width. They
can also add more space for toes or raise an instep. They can even stretch the
calves on boots. If your shoes are too loose, you can pick up heel grips,
tongue pads and insoles to create a better fit.
Another reason to have a shoe repair and shoe care
routine is your appearance. Do you want to get ahead in the workplace? A
nationwide survey showed that 89 percent of business recruiters rate good
grooming as very important to becoming a senior executive. The most common
mistake for men, and the second most common for women, is unkempt shoes.
On a personal level, two out of three young female
professionals say unkempt shoes suggest negative characteristics about men in
social situations. Half of the men feel the same about women with sloppy
footwear. The most frequent negative character traits suggested were
sloppiness, indifference to good grooming and to detail in general, and
carelessness.
Shoes & Boots are a reflection of their owner's personality.
That's what both personnel professionals -- who have been known to observe
people closely -- and white collar workers (the people they usually observe)
said. Well kept shoes stand for professionalism, attention to detail, ambition,
efficiency, conscientiousness, organization, confidence and even friendliness.
Finally, shoe & boot repair is among the oldest forms of
recycling. Each year, the shoe repair industry keeps some 62 million pairs of
shoes out of landfills and on consumers' feet. So next time you invest in
footwear, get some advice from a shoe repair professional.
Adding
Comfort to Your Life
