Learn How To Become A Shoemaker

Shoemaker Job Description

Footfiles explains that shoemaker synonyms include cordwainers and cobblers, although there are distinctions. Cordwainers are highly skilled English shoemakers who fashion sturdy and fashionable footwear from raw leather goods. Cobblers, on the other hand, only repair shoes, which is generally considered a less-skilled occupation.

An important part of the shoemaker job description is learning how to select or draw patterns and choose the right leather materials for shoe uppers and insoles. An ability to visualize how a shoe will look is important in the overall design. The goal of a shoemaker is to make footwear that lasts a long time and still looks attractive after considerable wear.

Craftsman Skills

The shoemaking process starts with designing customized footwear. Artistic skills are essential in choosing patterns, color of dyes, fabric lining, laces and decorations to adorn the shoe. Manual dexterity with finger coordination is required to manipulate shoemaker tools like shears and sharpened knives when tracing patterns, trimming soles and affixing heels to shoes and boots.

Also required are:

Mechanical Skills. Shoemakers routinely use shoemaker machines such as machine presses, fabric cutters and rotary hole punches during the shoemaking process. They glue, cement, sew, engrave and join parts of shoes together. Wood is sometimes used along with leather. Care must be taken to avoid injury when working with hand tools and sharp objects like leather awls.

Maths Skills. Shoemakers need to understand foot-measuring techniques and master pattern making. Shoe sizes must be exact and uniform. Customized footwear is expected to perfectly fit the customer for ultimate comfort. Shoemakers must carefully measure and fit pieces of leather to avoid wasting material.

Business Skills. Shoemakers need business acumen to target and reach customers who are more interested in quality and distinction than inexpensive manufactured footwear. They must have a business plan, a marketing strategy and effective advertising that typically includes an online presence via websites and heavy social media outreach.

Along with making shoes and supervising helpers, they spend their days using customer service skills to communicate with prospective and current buyers. According to O*NET OnLine, they need clerical, administrative and technology skills to manage their business with the help of bookkeeping software, point of sale (POS) software and Microsoft Excel to track orders.

Shoemaking Education Requirements:

Formal educational requirements to become a shoemaker are minimal, although postsecondary classes in business can be helpful. Few vocational schools offer training programs in the niche art of shoemaking. Most often, shoemakers learn the craft through an apprenticeship under the tutelage of an experience shoemaker artisan.

Basic skills can be acquired in a few hours, but highly skilled shoemakers spend years mastering their craft.

Shoemaking Salary

Shoemaking is time consuming and labor intensive. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, shoe and leather workers and repairers earn an average annual salary of $30,580, or $14.70 per hour.

Those in business for themselves who fashion upscale footwear have higher earning income potential. However, most shoemakers today work in manufacturing and retail stores.