22 Jan 2019

Shoe repairing businesses has  become a common sight in most areas of the country.

One of the shoe cobblers in Bobonong, Mr Gaolatlhe Lewetse, said in an interview that unemployment forced him to turn to shoe repairing.

He shared that he used his savings to kick start the business located at Bobonong mall.

Mr Lewetse said he learnt the craft of shoe repairing on his own.

“Unlike other craft businesses, shoe repairing businesses needed dedication and commitment for it to succeed”, he said.

“I normally repair 10 to 15 shoes pair day but that depended on the condition of the shoes.”

He said he charged P50 per shoe but the prices could differ based on the shoe condition.

Mr Lewetse said repairing shoes was a risky job since he used sharp instruments to do the work. He explained that his business had gained  good reception since its inception and he has serviced people from as far as Semolale, Gobojango and Molalatau adding that majority of his customers were repeat customers.

He stated that he offered craftsmanship of top notch to impress his customers.

Mr Lewetse said he did not spend on travelling cost because most of the tools were available in Bobonong.

Mr Lewetse narrated that there were several challenges faced by shoe repairing businesses noting that many consumers tended to buy cheaper shoes that were probably not worth repairing.

“The other challenge was that shoe repair businesses were not a popular industry for younger generations,” he continued.

Mr Lewetse urged fellow Batswana with talent to stand up and have something to do to better their lives. ENDS