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When Ronald Tomasello bought the Kimmel Shoe Repair shop in Broad Ripple four years ago, the former owner shared a bit of wisdom based on his nearly 60 years in the business.
"Mr. Kimmel said to me, 'When the economy goes south, that's going to be the time when your business takes off,' " recalled Tomasello, 44, Indianapolis.
Kimmel, it's now abundantly clear, knew a thing or two about economic trends.
A spike in customers bringing their shoes into Tomesello's shop at 733 Broad Ripple Ave. for new soles and heels -- as well as items such as purses, luggage and leather coats for repairs -- has boosted business this year by 30 percent to 40 percent from 2007.
"There are still a lot of people who want to get their shoes repaired instead of just throwing them away, especially with the economy so bad," said Tomasello, a fourth-generation shoemaker. "We've been really, really busy."
Others who make money by extending the life of people's possessions -- cars, appliances, etc. -- report the same trend: the downturn has delivered a boost to their businesses.
While a decline in the cobbling craft has been under way for decades, about 7,000 shoe-repair businesses remain in operation in the U.S.
Industry veterans and observers said the uptick is to be expected. When times get tough, more people start looking for ways to stretch their limited resources -- and repairing an expensive pair of shoes can be a bargain, said John McLoughlin, president of the Shoe Service Institute of America.
"When the economy gets a little rocky, people say, 'Jeez, rather than spending $150 or more on a new pair of shoes, I can get my old ones fixed for $40 or $50,' " McLoughlin explained.
He said the industry has struggled with America's move toward being a "disposable society," forcing many small cobblers out of business and pushing others to expand the scope of services they offer. But any notion that shoe repair is a dying industry is way off base, he said.
"The shoe repair business, like any business, is always evolving," McLoughlin explained. "I can't say we'll have the same number of businesses in five years as we do today, but I can tell you the industry is still going to be there. And, in some ways, the demand could increase."
The potential for an ongoing boom in business centers on a shift in consumer attitudes and the graying of Baby Boomers, many of whom will need their shoes customized because of physical and health problems such as diabetes and arthritis, McLoughlin said.
It is unclear how the boom in business for cobblers is affecting shoe sales.
Ed Habre, chairman of the National Shoe Retailers Association, acknowledged the growing number of people getting shoes repaired could drive down sales slightly, at least over the short term.
The two industries, however, aren't adversaries, said Habre, who is president of Shoe Mill, a seven-store chain in Portland, Ore.
"We are very supportive of people who repair footwear," he said. "The whole idea is to have satisfied customers. With a little simple care, and maybe some occasional repairs, you can get a very long life out of a quality pair of shoes. And that's what makes customers happy."
Ruth Tyson, 59, Carmel, is among those who have turned to Tomesello at Kimmel's to save a few bucks -- and breathe new life into some of her favorite shoes.
"I don't spend an exorbitant amount on shoes," she said, "but it's still worth it to have the heels or tips fixed."
It's also a way to extend the life of her shoes, especially if she likes them and may not be able to find a similar pair. Tyson said she also takes her husband's shoes in for repair, extending their life by years.
"He's had some for, like, 10 years," she said.
Dominic Mina, owner of Hakky Instant Shoe Repair at the Greenwood Mall, said he is seeing a steady increase in "people wanting anything and everything repaired."
Like many other cobbler shops, Mina does more than just fix shoes. He also repairs purses and luggage and installs zippers.
"It's just go, go, go from open to close," he said.
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