shoe repair cobbler using brush on bottom of leather dress shoes

Why Shoe Repair Beats Buying New

/26 Comments/in , /by Mary Hunt

Have you ever considered repairing your shoes instead of replacing them? If your answer is no, you’re not alone. But here’s the thing—shoe repair isn’t just some old-school trade; it’s a smart way to save money, reduce waste, and keep your favorite footwear looking (and feeling) brand new. I recently spoke with expert cobbler Randy Lipson, and let me tell you—good shoe repair shops do a lot more than you’d expect.

shoe repair cobbler using brush on bottom of leather dress shoes

To some, a cobbler is a warm, fruit-filled dessert. To others, it’s a nearly forgotten trade. But for those who know the value of quality footwear, a good cobbler is a lifesaver.

The Shoe Service Institute of America (SSIA) reports that the number of shoe repair shops has plummeted—from 100,000 in the 1930s to just over 3,100 today. While the industry may seem to be fading, the reality is quite the opposite—business is booming for the cobblers who remain.

According to Randy Lipson, a third-generation cobbler and owner of Cobblestone Shoe Repair in St. Louis, shoe repair shops nationwide are seeing a 20% to 45% surge in business. Why? Because people are learning that repairing their favorite shoes is not only more affordable than buying new but also better for their feet and the environment.

I had the chance to sit down with Randy, and what I learned surprised me—not just about the benefits of repairing shoes but also about the incredible range of services a great shoe repair shop offers.

Why Shoe Repair Matters More Than Ever

SSIA, founded in 1904, is dedicated to educating consumers on the financial, physical, and environmental benefits of maintaining quality footwear. Their members include retail shoe repair shops, wholesalers, and suppliers—all working together to keep the craft alive.

Cobblestone Shoe Repair is a perfect example of that dedication. Family-owned since 1938, their philosophy is simple: Do the best job, with the best products, for the best price. Over the decades, they’ve continually updated their equipment, expanded their services, and even trained in orthopedic and pedorthic courses to help customers with foot issues.

The truth is, most of us don’t think about what our feet go through every day—taking 7,000 to 10,000 steps, absorbing pressure, and bearing our weight. A good shoe repair shop doesn’t just extend the life of your shoes; it helps keep your feet (and your wallet) happy.

Shoe Repair: A Smart Investment

Shoes aren’t just something you throw on your feet—they’re an investment. And like any good investment, you want to get the most value out of them. Choosing to repair rather than replace means more mileage for your money, better comfort, healthier feet, and even a smaller footprint (pun intended) on the environment.

Every year, the shoe repair industry keeps 62 million pairs of shoes out of landfills and on people’s feet where they belong. That’s a whole lot of savings—for both your budget and the planet.

Are Your Shoes Worth Repairing? Here’s How to Tell

Before you toss those worn-out shoes, ask yourself one simple question: Do they fit like a dream? If the answer is yes, repairing them is almost always the smarter move. A well-loved, well-fitting pair is hard to replace, and with the right repairs, they can last for years.

Here’s something most people don’t realize—shoe repair materials are often three to four times better than what the manufacturer originally used. Whether you paid $50 or $450 for your shoes, a good cobbler will use the same high-quality materials to bring them back to life.

And the best part? Once repaired, your shoes will likely be better than new—more durable, more comfortable, and ready for many more miles. From dress shoes and boots to even Birkenstocks, a skilled cobbler can work magic on just about anything.

Common Shoe Repairs That Save You Big

The most common fixes? New heels and soles—for both men’s and women’s shoes. But a skilled cobbler doesn’t just slap on a new sole and call it a day. A full reconditioning involves repairing weakened areas, replacing worn-out components, and restoring your shoes to their former glory.

If your shoes are made of leather, the transformation can be downright stunning. And no, this isn’t just a quick polish. Think of it like refinishing a heirloom-quality piece of furniture—the old layers are stripped away, the leather is deeply conditioned, re-stained, and finished to look brand new.

Now, let’s talk cost vs. value.

  • A heel replacement might run around $20, depending on your location.
  • A full reconditioning could cost up to $100, but if you’re restoring a $300+ pair of shoes, that’s money well spent—adding another 10 to 15 years to their life.

When you break it down by cost per wear, repairing instead of replacing is a smart investment. Plus, most cobblers use higher-quality materials than many manufacturers, meaning your restored shoes might just be better than new.

More Ways a Shoe Repair Shop Can Save You Money

A good cobbler does far more than just soles and heels. Here are a few ways they can extend the life of your footwear—and even your other leather goods:

  • Stretching shoes for a better fit
  • Waterproofing to protect from salt and stains
  • Replacing heel tips with non-skid rubber for better traction
  • Adding protective soles to increase durability
  • Replacing eyelets and hardware for a fresh look

Even brand-new shoes can benefit from a quick visit to a cobbler.

  • Apply protective soles for slip resistance and extended wear
  • Dye shoes if a color change is needed
  • Stretch tight shoes up to a quarter size for extra comfort
  • Swap out plastic heels for more durable, slip-resistant rubber
  • Weatherproof shoes for added protection

And it’s not just shoes! Many repair shops fix zippers, shorten belts, repair handbags, luggage, jackets, and even re-lace baseball gloves.

How to Find a Reputable Shoe Repair Shop

Not all cobblers are created equal, so how do you find one who truly knows their craft? Start with the Shoe Service Institute of America (SSIA)—their online store locator can help you find a trusted shop in your area.

But before handing over your favorite pair of shoes, do a little detective work:

  • Ask to see their work. A skilled cobbler takes pride in their craftsmanship, and you should be able to inspect finished repairs waiting for pickup.
  • Check their experience. A long-standing shop with a steady stream of loyal customers is a good sign they know what they’re doing.

So, before you toss that beloved pair of shoes with worn-out soles, take a second look. Could they be saved? Chances are, a skilled cobbler can work some magic.

Need expert advice on shoe care or repairs? The SSIA Facebook page is a great place to ask the pros. Find an SSIA member repair shop near you here, and start saving your favorite shoes today.

Question: Be honest—do you repair your shoes, or do you toss them at the first sign of wear? Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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26 replies
  2. Marla says:

    I grew up using a local cobbler who did fantastic work. My subsequent experience over the past 40 years has been hit and miss.

    Some lessons learned, many of which echo others:
    1) Look for a long-standing business. That place that has been around (and often in the family) for 100 years is golden!
    2) Many repairs can be done at home. YouTube has some great videos.
    3) Buy quality shoes even if they cost more. My health and the ability to repair are with it.
    4) Repair sooner rather than later. Heel taps (or a ShoeGoo layered version using clear packing tape for a mold) applied early saves future time and money as well as avoiding pain.
    5) If going to Guatemala or another country that still has a repair tradition, take your loved items for a less expensive repair.
    6) Share what you have learned with your kids (and others if they like your repaired items). My young adult son purchased a high quality cowboy boot that he maintains religiously and plans to resole. I recently showed him how to repair worn heels on his Nike high tops (previously I mistakenly just did the work for him).

    Reply
  3. jd wolfe says:

    i’m a fan of the cobbler – but there’s plenty you can do yourself with a tube of SHOE GOO. you can waterproof your own sneakers (several pairs with one tube) rather than pay the higher price for the waterproof version. you can repair and seal shoes and any leather or vinyl item. when my son was in highschool (and no longer growing), he had a favorite pair of loafer style shoes that he wore all the way through college – thru mud, snow, rain, etc – with the aid of Shoe Goo. It’s a great $8 tube to have in your pantry. He also used duct tape to keep his pants in one piece – but he was the king of frugality in college!

    Reply
  4. mimi says:

    A shoe repair person can fix anything leather: coats, purses, briefcases, portfolios, belts. They can dye shoes to look brand new. I bought a beautiful hand-tooled leather briefcase at a yard sale. It had no handle. My shoe guy crafted a lovely handle. for it.

    Reply
  5. cheryl f schell says:

    I regularly take items that are not shoes to be repaired. I take purses, belts, laundry bags, luggage and more. The best one – The tire cover for my Toyota Rav 4. It was the zipper that was coming apart. They charged me $20. Saved me hundreds for a new one. They fix all kind of odd shapes so I knew they could fix it.

    Reply
  6. Sandra says:

    I agree! Over the years, I have had many heel and sole repairs and also had a Dooney & Bourke handbag redyed to refresh it from scuff marks — have had new straps put on shoulder bags, belts repaired, show colors changed, etc. My husband always loved good shoes — he was a shoe polisher and his always looked new! Good shoes with good arch supports, etc., are expensive and it is worth repairing, for sure! Thanks for reminding us!!

    Reply
  7. Patricia says:

    We have an excellent “cobbler” in the Tri-Cities area of Northeast Tennessee. He’s the Shoe Wiz at Shoe Wiz Shoe Repair in the Kroger Shopping Center on East Stone Drive in Kingsport – we have driven out of our way to get there at times, but he can fix anything it seems – from shoes to belts to biker vests & chaps to purses – it’s amazing. He’s totally renewed a pair of Birkenstocks & a sad looking pair of boots for us at a fraction of the cost of a new pair.

    Reply
  8. Cheryl Duft says:

    Good morning friends. I live in St. Louis. I decided to repair the soles of my new boots which was detaching with clear silicone. Have been doing this for years. It dries clear and lasts through rain and snow. Heals that fall of etc. Hope this helps.

    Reply
  9. Vivian W Freppon says:

    I have to tell you my shoe repair story. I purchased designer shoes at a second hand (never worn) shop for $2.00. These shoes retailed for approx $100, so what a deal! I wore them every day all year long. I personally replaced the insoles twice and had them reheeled and resoled twice. The third time my Dad took them to a new Amish cobbler he found and the cobbler actually looked at Dad, laughed, and said “Really? I’m not sure these are worth it” My Dad thought the same thing but he just laughed as well and said that’s what I wanted so go ahead. That was the end of the end however. I wore those shoes for probably a total of 8-10 years and they were the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned. It was a very sad day when I finally tossed them…..So, YES, good cobblers are definitely worth their weight!

    Reply
    • Clara says:

      Some of my earliest memories in life was stopping into the “Shoe Shop” as we walked into town on Saturday to drop off a pair, a belt, or a purse or stopping in on the way out of town to pick up items left prior weeks. I loved the unique smell. A guy a few years older than me that lived down the street began to apprentice the local cobbler in HS as part of the Trade & Industry program. When he returned from the military, he bought the shop from the retiring proprietor and continued to lovingly operate it for the next 35-40 years. I would “save” my shoes to take home to him as long as the in-laws lived in the area and even shipped them between my hometown and my grown-up home approximately 200 miles away. His unexpected death was a deeply personal loss for me. He was a personal friend, a valued service provider, and that shop with its unique smells embodied cherished childhood memories like no other place on earth. Happy times with my mother, father, grandmother, and aunt who all left me much too early.

      Reply
  10. Tracey Taylor-Petsivas says:

    I totally agree with Mary’s article. I have been using our local cobbler for 30 years, I would much rather repair a good or favourite pair of shoes rather than replace them with something inferior. And I totally agree that the cobbler uses better materials than the original shoe was made from. Our cobbler has a tiny little shop that looks like its from a bygone age, but from what I can see from his shelves and from the quality of his work, he has a good trade going and I wouldnt change him for the world.

    Reply
  11. CHERYL MILLER says:

    I grew up in Waterloo, Iowa and I can remember as a kid sitting in the shoe repair shop waiting for new heels or sole to be done on my shoes. It was an interesting place to be and to watch the cobbler. I did eventually find a good shoe repair shop here in the Mpls. metro area. Cheryl

    Reply
  12. Gina Stevens says:

    Cobblers! Every town had one when I grew up. We also had a fix it shop to take our small appliances. I’m still not used to throw away irons, toasters and shoes. It seems so wrong.

    Reply
  13. peggy says:

    i no longer purchase shoes that can b repaired, as i live in a town w/no cobbler. for the most part i think this a lost art. if one lives in a large city, perhaps there r some. we had one and his business closed for lack of customers.

    Reply
  14. Mary says:

    I grew up taking my dad’s boots to the shoe store for repair. Andy’s shoe repair in Colorado Springs is where we have gone for years. Jody is great!! She has repaired my husband’s leather brief case, his leather coat. My leather slippers, and purses.

    Reply
    • Linda Radosevich says:

      City Electric in Gallup, New Mexico is my go-to shoe and leather repair place. I drive 3 hours one way to take my shoes to them!

      Reply
  15. Patricia Lavenz says:

    I remember there was one in every town in Germany growing up. We always had our shoes repaired. It was cheaper than buying new. Now it is cheaper to buy new but we still repair our shoes if possible. I hate waste. My brother just gorilla glued his sole back on (he clamped it to ensure it stayed until it was dry) his favorite shoes. I am not sure that we have any in our area anymore but we did a few years ago.

    Reply
  16. Jan says:

    I live in Arlington and have traveled 45 miles one way for over 10 years to have all of my shoes repaired at The Cobbler, 5959 Royal Lane, Dallas, TX. The are the best shoe repair in Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

    Reply
  17. rosemary freitas says:

    Great shoe repair in Brighton Michigan. It is named The Shoe Store and Shoe Repair at 5757 Whitmore Lake road. (810) 225-6244. They have done great work for me, complete new heels and soles on boots. Best kept secret in Michigan.

    Reply
  18. Karen says:

    We’ve gone to Hakky Shoe Repair in Greenwood Mall, Greenwood, IN for years. He’s the only one around, but does good work.

    Reply
  19. Kate says:

    Until the culture in this country changes from replace to upkeep of items I will not set foot in another clothing altering business or shoe repair business because what these businesses charge far exceeds what I pay to replace the item. I do not wear expensive clothing or shoes and it makes no sense the fix it when I can buy a new item for less. I have untold numbers of coats and sweaters which need a zipper replaced and after checking a few places I left disgusted and am holding the items to recycle.

    Reply
  20. Jackie says:

    I tried a reputable cobbler several years ago to resole a pair of very nice loafers. They just weren’t the same after, and I haven’t tried again.

    Maybe I should?

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      Yes you should! As a consumer you have every reason to expect and demand satisfactory service. It’s probably too late now, but in the future if that were to happen, I’d take the shoes back to have them refitted. I’m guessing the new heel or sole was of a different height or thickness than original. That can we filed/cut down and then resurfaced. I sound like a seasoned cobbler, right? Ha! I’m not but I’ve used the services plenty over the years. Experience is a very good teacher, which I’m sure you have learned as well. I wouldn’t rate all cobblers on the experience you had with just one.

      Reply
  21. Norma Oren says:

    My nephew, Naif Risk is a cobbler in Sherman Texas. The business is Risk Shoe Repair. This has been a family business for over 90 years started by his grandfather. His #is work-903 892-2238. Mobile-903-818-6589.

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      People in Sherman Texas … go see Naif! Tell him he’s famous now that his phone numbers appear at EverydayCheapskate.com, compliments of his Aunt Norma.

      Reply
  22. Joanne says:

    The local cobbler repaired some suede black pumps of mine. They were absolutely lovely by the time he was done. Only $20. Thank you for recommending shoe repair.

    Reply

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