How much shoe shine cost

No one is above or below me in life, and I'm honored to serve humanity by reflecting my happiness and shine to anyone and everyone that sits in my chair. I love shining shoes, so much in fact, that I've hired many of my friends, and I want to continue to open shoeshine stands all over the world.

But this joy and growth sometimes comes at an unfortunate cost: clueless, cranky, or otherwise crappy customers. Hey, most of my customers are polite and friendly, not to mention respectful, loyal, and engaging. Occasionally, though, there are some that don't understand the complex subtleties of the business I'm in. Look, when done correctly by a professional, shining shoes is a labor intensive, customer service position that requires skill, artistry, and salesmanship, not to mention diplomacy, tact, and especially humility.

A sense of humor and a dash of showmanship also help tremendously. I've employed three UC Berkeley graduates, two lawyers, award winning artists, a paramedic, a championship boxer, a nationally ranked gymnast, a real estate agent, international models, actors, musicians, and comedians.

Shoe shining may seem like a simple job, but that doesn't mean the people performing it are simple themselves. For your benefit, I've surveyed my staff and my own experiences to give you this list of things that drive shoe shiners everywhere crazy. So please, if you want to have a pleasant experience next time you get a shoeshine, take these suggestions seriously.

I'm not an economist, but your shiner is performing an artisanal service that cares for and improves the look and life of your shoes, and is spending a good 10 to 20 minutes doing it. Go for it. Have you ever wondered what the difference is between shoe cream and wax polish?

Well, the fundamental difference is that shoe cream is more for nourishment and recoloring. A wax polish is primarily for providing those hard waxes to create a high shine. On shoes, it provides a waterproof coating, and it can be buffed to a dapper sheen.

The Kiwi Shoe Polish that Katie used contains wax, which does allow the leather to breathe as long as only a small amount is applied. For large sections of missing leather, there are leather patches that can be purchased instead. Chemicals in shoe polish such as petroleum, naphtha, turpentine, and dyes can cause symptoms if left on the skin or inhaled into the lungs.

The shoe shiner's ultimate goal is to not only thoroughly clean and polish shoes, but also to make the customer feel good. They can choose to initiate friendly conversation or allow the traveler to relax in a few moments of pampered silence.

Airport shoe shiners may also choose to shine other leather materials, like purses, and offer repair services. No education or certification is necessary to become an airport shoe shiner. Setting up a shoe shine business is ideal for those who enjoy providing customer service while also performing a detail-oriented and hands-on service.

The airport shoe shining industry is centered around metropolitan areas, since this is where popular passenger airports are most likely to be located. A shoe shine service is often done with shoes made of leather. The average in-chair shine can take five to 10 minutes, depending on the level of shine required. Aside from your typical leather shoes, professionals are also able to shine, clean or care for nubuck, exotic leathers, stain, canvas, suede and rubber.

Depending on the type of cleaning the shoe needs, the price can go up.