15 Apr 2013

Starting a shoe repair business requires some acumen.

It is a hard to sell business as many people do not even consider having their shoes repaired. Finding an academic course on how to repair shoes may also prove quite challenging, as shoe repair is not a common trade.

One’s best bet in getting shoe-repair training may be to find someone who knows the trade and who is willing to impart their skills to a third party. To become proficient enough at shoe repair and be able to start own business, professionals suggest a five year apprenticeship.

Ms Keitshephile Maphorisa (31) of Tutume, however, earns a living through the shoes repair business. In an interview, Ms Maphorisa said she started the business in 2009 after one woman from Changate sold her the idea.

The single mother of three children said at first she was engaged in selling vegetables in her home village, but the Changate woman showed up and said, “I have a business idea to sell to you but the idea needs somebody who is not shy but should be confident in her community.”

Ms Maphorisa said she was eager to know the idea and the woman murmured shoes repairing business, which she said had a lot of money than selling vegetables. After considering and adopting the idea, the woman brought her big machines the following day to teach her the skills of how to sew and cut the sole shoes free of charge.

“It took me two days to learn the skills and to me it was an easy job,” she noted. Ms Maphorisa said the woman was into the shoe repairing business for more years operating in Gaborone. Thereafter, Ms Maphorisa switched to this business and is currently experiencing some problems as she has no place to keep her equipment. She is renting a Village Development Committee (VDC) house, which she pays P100 on a monthly basis.

She is operating her business under a mophane tree in Tutume central and earns between P2 000 to P3 000 every month. Ms Maphorisa is the only woman who repairs shoes in Tutume.

She said she needed big machines to fix more shoes that would offer a complete shoe repair service. “I can carry out a full range of quality shoe repairs, ranging from basic sole and heel repairs to shoe build ups and modifications,” she added.

Her well-equipped shoe repair equipment enabled her to do most shoe repairs on the same day. If her customer is in a hurry, she can repair their shoes while they wait. ENDS