Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/414840
Tosomepeo- ple a cobbler is a lovely fruit des- sert, best served warm. To others it is a shoemaker who repairs shoes — an almost for- gotten trade. Suddenly, shoe repair is coming back. Big time. Sales of luxury goods are down, but it's a flush time for people who re- pair them. High-end cob- blers, tailors and jewel- ers have seen a spike in repair business from fru- gal customers, thanks to a trend toward fixing goods rather than replac- ing them. We're quickly moving from a dispos- able society to one that's learning to mend and re- pair. Shoe repair shops na- tionwide, of which there are only about 7,500 re- maining — down by half from a decade ago, are reporting a 20 to 45 percent surge in busi- ness. Things are begin- ning to shift as consum- ers are learning to make do. And for many, that means getting shoes that fit, fixed. Footwear isn't just part of your wardrobe, it is an investment. Spend your money wisely and the return will be more value for your dollar, more comfort, better foot health and even a sense that you are helping the environment. How do you know if shoes are worth repair- ing? If they were cheap to start with that doesn't necessarily mean you should throw them away once they are worn be- yond reason. Think comfort. If the shoes fit well, you're probably better off re- pairing them than re- placing. The materials used these days to re- pair shoes are usually three to four times bet- ter quality than the orig- inal materials in the shoe. And cobblers use the very same materi- als to repair a $50 pair of shoes as a $325 pair. Once repaired, they re- ally will be better than new. Shoe repair shops take in all kinds of shoes and boots, even Birken- stocks. To determine if a repair shop is any good, ask to see an example of their work. A good cobbler is proud of the work he or she does. There should be lots of shoes waiting to be picked up that you can inspect. Typical shoe repairs include new heels and soles both for men's and women's shoes. Complete recondition includes re- pairing torn or weakened areas, replacing compo- nents that are worn out and bringing those shoes back to their glory. DPL: Can you do any- thing to restore the color and finish? Provided the shoes are made of leather, a good repairperson can do amazing things to re- store the shoes' color and finish. And they do more than just apply shoe polish. A good re- pair service will do the equivalent of stripping the paint from a fine piece of furniture and then completely refin- ishing it. That means re- moving the top layers, and then recondition- ing the leather, re-stain- ing and returning those shoes to new condition. A simple repair like new heels can run around $20, depending on the area where the shop is located. A com- plete recondition can run as high as $100. But if we're talking about a $300 pair of shoes, that's a great value be- cause it means another 10 or 15 years for those shoes. When you think of "cost per wear," re- pairing shoes rather than replacing them be- comes a great value. They're even better than new. To find a reputable shop in your area, check the Shoe Service Insti- tute of America website (ssia.info). Just type in your location and you'll be on your way. Wouldyouliketosend a tip to Mary? You can email her at mary@ everydaycheapskate. com, or write to Every- day Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2099, Cypress, CA 90630. EVERYDAYCHEAPSKATE Iftheshoefits, get it fixed Mary Hunt Today REDBLUFF Al-Anon:noonto1p.m., Presbyterian Church, Jef- ferson and Hickory Community Dance: 7-10 p.m., Westside Grange, 20794Walnut St. Nurturing Parenting Dads Program: 10a.m. to noon, 1860Walnut St. #D, Shasta Room, call Keith at 527-8491, ext. 3012 Nurturing Skills for Teen Parents: 9-10a.m., 1900 Walnut St., 527-8491, ext. 3012 Over-eaters Anonymous: 6:30-7:30p.m., St. Eliza- beth Community Hospital, Coyne Center, 528-8937 PAL Martial Arts Wom- en's Self Defense: 5:30- 6:30p.m., 1005Vista Way, Ste. C, 840-0345 Parks and Recreation Commission: 7p.m., City Hall, 555Washington St., 527-8177 Penny Bingo: 9:30a.m., Community Center, 1500S. Jackson St. Red Bluff Airport Com- mission: 5:30p.m., City Hall, 555Washington St. Red Bluff Cemetery Dis- trict Board of Trustees: 4p.m., Oak Hill Cemetery office Red Bluff Kiwanis: noon, Elks Lodge Red Bluff Derby Girls open tryouts and prac- tice: 6:30p.m., Tyler Jelly building at Tehama District Fairground Retired Public Employees Association, Chapter 18: noon, Cozy Diner Soroptimist Internation- al: 5:30p.m., Community Center, 1500S. Jackson St., siredbluffclub@yahoo. com Team Kid: 5:30p.m., First Southern Baptist Church, 585Kimball Road, 527- 5083 TeenScreen Mental Health Appointments: 10a.m. to 2p.m., free by appointment, 1900Walnut St., 527-8491, Ext. 3012 Tehama Coffee Party Loy- alists: 6p.m., Cozy Diner 259Main St. Tehama County Library story time: 9:30a.m., 645 Madison St. 527-0604 Tehama County Mosquito Abatement District: noon, 11861State Route 99W Tehama Shooters Associ- ation: 6:30p.m., Red Bluff Community Center, 1500S. Jackson St. 527-8727 Waterlabor Class: 6:30- 8:30p.m., St. Elizabeth Community Hospital Co lum ba R oo m, 8 88 -6 28 - 1948, redbluff.mercy.org/ classes_and_events Weight Watchers meet- ing: 9a.m., Hampton Inn, 1-800-651-6000 Widows Association of Red Bluff - Breakfast: 8 a.m., call 527-4659for location Calendar PFC Jake Smoak graduated US Army Basic Training on Nov. 6 at Ft. Jackson, S.C. Smoak is the son of David and Janet (Goodart) Smoak, Sanford, N.C. and Kimberly (Smoak) and Mark Copeland of Neosho, Mo. Paternal grandparents are Rena and Randy Smoak of Cottonwood. Maternal grandparents are Connie James and the late Randy James formerly of Nowata and Lenapah, Okla. He has a host of family and friends across the US. Smoak is attending Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Gordon, Ga. assigned to the 15th Regimental Sig- nal Battalion. His Military Occupational Specialty will be Information Technology Specialist. Upon graduation of AIT, Smoak will return to North Carolina to his US Army Reserve Unit and continue his education. MILITARY SMOAK GRADUATES BASIC TRAINING Veterans 413 Walnut St. Red Bluff 530 528-8000 Mon.10-4Tues.-Fri.10am-5:30pm•Sat.10am-4pm www.redbluffgoldexchange.com www.angelsamongusall.com ServingOurCommunityForOver20Years 40%off your jewelry purchase Thank you for your service Duty Courage Integrity Honor www.tehamafamilyfitness.com Tehama Family Fitness Center 2498 South Main St. Red Bluff • 528-8656 WELLNESS FACT: • Don't smoke • Drink alcohol only in moderation • Exercise regularly • Make healthy food choices At the Tehama Family Fitness Center (TFFC) we are uniquely qualified to help you with the aforementioned. We are the only fitness center with college educated Strength and Conditioning Specialists (CSCS).� This certification is one of only two that are accredited by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Of the four hundred plus organizations in the United States that purport to certify personal fitness training, most are internet courses or weekend retreats. At TFFC, we care about your well-being.� We want to improve your quality of life. We have the professional staff to get the job done safely and scientifically.� You will have a well defined program, purpose and plan. In conclusion, anyone can give advice or teach regarding wellness, but the true predictor of a facilities' knowledge is certification by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) or the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). (Malek et al. 2002). Myoffertoyou:IfyoutakeatourwithTroyorAubrie-Monday through Friday between the hours of 9am to 6pm, you will receive a free 2 week trial pass to try out the facility. *Offer valid through December 31st, 2014. Ed Stroman- Owner, PTATC CSCS LIFESTYLES » redbluffdailynews.com Wednesday, November 12, 2014 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A5