Shoeshiner’s Still Going Strong
Thursday, May 21st, 2009
Just outside the Doubletree Fort Shelby Hotel a large sign states “the world’s greatest shoeshine”; this is the way that William senior advertisers his shoeshining business. At the tender age of 30 he comments that he is just trying to be young entrepreneur.
Senior has only been shining shoes in the lobby of this particular hotel since March of this year, but he now counts big hitters including the reverend Jesse Jackson and Detroit mayor Dave Bing amongst his customers.
Just a few streets away is Sly Hearns, a 64-year-old man, who is peering sceptically at a pair of Fab Concealed Platform shoes that have been freshly polished by the new guy down the street. He does not seem worried by the competition at all.
Hearns currently charges six dollars per shoeshine. In comparison the boy competition down the road, who relatively recently learnt the shoeshining business, charges only five dollars per shine.
Shoeshining practitioners understand that theirs is not a cutting-edge profession, like perhaps Web design or extreme Frisby may be deemed. However they are quick to praise the benefit of their trade which include contact with people, stimulating conversation, tips, and of course the pleasure derived from transforming to scuffed shoes into shiny works of art.
In contrast to his younger competition Hearns sports a pair of Cole-Haan brogues that have a fine sheen which light continues to bounce off of. Senior just wears his normal trainers.
Hearns is quick to point out that this is the best form of advertising. He is often stopped by people, and asked where he gets his shoes shine. He tells them with a smile that he is the shoeshine that does them.
One of the many trends that the shoeshining operators are seeing, is the in increased uptake by women requiring their shoes to be shined. Women, it seems, are now taking much better care of their shoes too.
Just outside the Doubletree Fort Shelby Hotel a large sign states “the world’s greatest shoeshine”; this is the way that William senior advertisers his shoeshining business. At the tender age of 30 he comments that he is just trying to be young entrepreneur.
Senior has only been shining shoes in the lobby of this particular hotel since March of this year, but he now counts big hitters including the reverend Jesse Jackson and Detroit mayor Dave Bing amongst his customers.
Just a few streets away is Sly Hearns, a 64-year-old man, who is peering sceptically at a pair of Fab Concealed Platform shoes that have been freshly polished by the new guy down the street. He does not seem worried by the competition at all.
Hearns currently charges six dollars per shoeshine. In comparison the boy competition down the road, who relatively recently learnt the shoeshining business, charges only five dollars per shine.
Shoeshining practitioners understand that theirs is not a cutting-edge profession, like perhaps Web design or extreme Frisby may be deemed. However they are quick to praise the benefit of their trade which include contact with people, stimulating conversation, tips, and of course the pleasure derived from transforming to scuffed shoes into shiny works of art.
In contrast to his younger competition Hearns sports a pair of Cole-Haan brogues that have a fine sheen which light continues to bounce off of. Senior just wears his normal trainers.
Hearns is quick to point out that this is the best form of advertising. He is often stopped by people, and asked where he gets his shoes shine. He tells them with a smile that he is the shoeshine that does them.
One of the many trends that the shoeshining operators are seeing, is the in increased uptake by women requiring their shoes to be shined. Women, it seems, are now taking much better care of their shoes too.
