Shoe Shine Training

Shoe shining can provide a boost to the profits of larger companies as well as a decent living for a small-scale enterpeneur.

You can train to shine shoes in a variety of places like going along to your local shoe shine stall or cobblers, or by viewing the large number of 'how to' videos online. But the most important way of learning is to simply learn by doing. Once you learn the basics and know how to use the right techniques, you can start to get to work as a shoe shiner or even set up your own business. Shoe shining can be an easy and profitable start-up business as well as an effective way to boost profits for larger hotels and stores.

Training

You can apply for a work experience placement with a local shoe shiner, shoe maker or cobblers and this would be an excellent way of learning the ropes as well as gaining a better understanding of the day to day routines and business knowledge of life as a shoe shiner. Alternatively you can ask if you can simply watch them at work for an afternoon to get a basic knowledge of the techniques involved. Although there is a definite skill to the trade, shoe shining shouldn't require too much hard work during the initial training stages.

Setting Up Your Own Business

One of the most important factors of a shoe shine business is location, location, location. Set your stand up in a busy street or near a to a hotel or business district. This will maximize your business revenue and catch those all important impulse buy customers.
You can buy a franchise from a larger shoe shine company in order to give your business a legitimate air but this might be an expensive start-up option.
You could also strike a deal with a hotel or shop to use their premises for a percentage of your profits.

Techniques

There are many shoe shine techniqes. Penny Simmons of Pennyloafersshoeshine.com uses the following: To clean, use a saddle soap and a shaving brush. Next apply a soft conditioning polish with a toothbrush. When you have a live customer instead of just a shoe to polish, insert a playing card between the sock and the shoe, to avoid getting polish on light colored socks. She then takes a lighter and burns off any loose threads hanging from the seams and concludes with with an "Evian spit shine" using a rag squirted with water.

Profits

Shoe shine profits can range from a nice top-up for a larger hotel or department store, to a reasonable income for a self starter.
Pennyloafersshoeshine.com quote a price range of $1 for a "touch-up and buff-up," to a deluxe $5 "premier shine," for a thorough clean, polish and massage.
Shoe shiner Harry Klein started off as a small-time shoe shiner and managed to gross $48,000 in profits thanks to his nifty shoe shine chair creation.

That all-important chair

Using a nice chair for the customer will help to give you a professional air. You don't need to start off with something very expensive, but something that looks comfortable will help the customer to feel at ease.

References

• Penny Loafers Shoe Shine: Shoe Shine Story

Resources

• BBC: Shoe hining