Shoe Repair Market

Shoe Repair Market Outlook (2023 to 2033)

The global shoe repair market is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 1.3 billion in 2023. The market is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 2.4% over the next 10 years, achieving a value of US$ 1.7 billion by the end of 2033. The children’s shoe repair market is expected to grow the fastest during the study period.

Many economists around the world believe that market conditions in the shoe repair industry give an idea of how the global economy is performing. If the demand for shoe repair services is growing, it indicates that people do not have surplus money to buy new shoes. However, in the current market scenario, where expensive designer shoes are being bought and sold frequently, the demand for cobblers has been on the rise. Also, in most emerging markets, people still do not like to spend much on new footwear, resulting in higher demand for shoe repair services.

As an industry, the shoe repair market is slowly becoming organized due to the entrants of start-ups and on-demand companies providing shoe repair services. Rising prices of children’s shoes and the increasing craze for limited edition shoes have also led to an increase in the demand for shoe repair services.

• Short Term (2023 to 2026): Post-COVID, the industry is expected to take the back seat as people spend more on buying new clothes, shoes, leather bags, etc., rather than getting their existing shoes repaired.
• Medium Term (2026 to 2029): The market will rebound amid the expected global slowdown. The economic slowdown will increase the unemployment rate, and due to the lack of jobs, people would cut down on their spending, ultimately creating demand for cobbler services.
• Long Term (2029 to 2033): Technology has already started knocking on the doors of shoe repair service providers with the integration of automatic shoe cleaning machines, online bookings, and pick-up & drop services, among others. Rising craze about limited edition shoes and high-end designer shoes will create a new set of demands for shoe repair services.

Report Attributes	Details
Market Size (2022A)	US$ 1.3 Billion
Estimated Market Value (2023E)	US$ 1.33 Billion
Forecasted Market Value (2033F)	US$ 1.7 Billion
Global Market Growth Rate (2023 to 2033)	1.9% CAGR
North America Market Share (2022)	~34%
East Asia Market Growth Rate (2023 to 2033)	~3.1% CAGR
United States Market Growth Rate (2023 to 2033)	~2.2% CAGR
Key Companies Profiled	NuShoe, Inc.; Pasquale Shoe Restoration; ShoeVival Shoelaundry Pvt. Ltd; USA Shoe Company; LEATHER SPA; Cesar's Shoe Repair; Alex's Shoe Repair; Dr. Shine Shoe Repair Shop; Minas Shoe Repair; Chimo Shoe Repair; PABLO'S SHOE REPAIR; Mister Minit; Angel's Shoe Repair; Broadway Shoe Repair; Dave Page, Cobbler

Why is Demand for Shoe Repair Services Increasing Steadily?

“Rising Shoe Prices Worldwide”

On average, shoe prices are rising at the rate of 4%-5% on a yearly basis. This continuous rise in shoe prices is due to high labor, material, and fuel prices. Shoe manufacturers are ultimately transferring some part of these high prices to end consumers by raising the prices of their shoes.

Due to the continuous rise in the prices of shoes, people are considering getting them repaired in case of any kind of wear and tear, rather than buying a new pair of shoes. As the services provided by cobblers have also increased due to the use of advanced tools and better quality adhesives and other products, repaired shoes are lasting for a longer period.

“Increasing Demand for Specialized Shoes”

In the last few years, it has been observed that people are spending a lot of time and money learning a new set of skills such as sports, dance, and mountaineering. All these activities require people to wear specialized shoes during practice. The shoe market is also witnessing an increase in the demand for high-end designer shoes, especially in Western countries.

These shoes are pricy, and in case of any kind of wear and tear, require proper care and maintenance by a professional. The demand for shoe repair services in the dance industry has shot up in the past few years. Dance forms such as tap dance, ballet, and ballroom, among others, require specialized shoes while practicing/performing, and these shoes are expensive. Unless you are a professional dance performer, you will prefer getting the shoes repaired.

“Changing Shift towards Casual Footwear”

Generally, most of the demand for shoe repair services is for leather-based shoes, and these shoes are a majority of the time used for office or on special occasions. Post-COVID, the work culture has changed as businesses now have a hybrid work culture, resulting in lower demand for leather-based footwear, leading to decreased demand for cobbler services.

Casual footwear is mostly made up of PU leather, cotton, and nylon, among others, which do not require any professional help for cleaning and are low maintenance. The demand for such shoes has skyrocketed and the trend is expected to continue in the coming future, creating a tough situation for shoe repair companies.

Image presents market analysis of the shoe repair industry based on service and region. Under the service type, sole repair accounts for 31% of the total market share.

Country-wise Insights

Why is the U.S. Shoe Repair Industry Commanding a Large Market Share?

• As per the Shoe Service Institute of America, there are around 6,000 cobbler businesses providing shoe repair services in the U.S.

Though the number is significantly small, these are mostly organized players providing services in several cities across the U.S. In the last 2-3 years, the U.S. shoe market witnessed one of the highest price rises in comparison to the rest of the major economies of the world.

Lower- and middle-class families are not able to afford new shoes as frequently as they used to due to the price rise. In case of wear and tear, people are rushing to shoe repair providers to get their footwear repaired. The trend is expected to continue owing to rising inflation and global economic slowdown, which most probably will start in the Western part of the world.

The U.S. shoe repair services market is expected to achieve a valuation of US$ 398 million in 2023.

Why is Demand for Shoe Repair Services Growing the Fastest in India?

With the increasing population along with rising spending power, India is set to become one of the fastest-growing markets for shoe repair. India has one of the largest young populations who are part of the workforce. A major part of the working population has tested the power of money for the first time in their entire life.

This has led to an increase in spending power. The young generation likes to spend money on themselves and buy stuff for their personal use. With the help of globalization and digitalization, people have now access to well-known brands of shoes and other accessories.

As people are spending huge amounts on buying limited edition and designer shoes, in case of wear and tear, they prefer to take help from cobblers and get them repaired.

The country is also witnessing a new set of players entering the market with well-equipped machines and tools. Schemes such as weekly/monthly cleaning and repair of shoes, free pick-up & drop facilities, and on-demand services are driving the Indian shoe repair market forward.

Category-wise Insights

Why Does Sole Repair Generates the Highest Revenue for Shoe Repair Companies?

The sole is one of the most frequently exposed parts of a shoe. With continuous pressure on the surface, soles are usually the first part to wear out. If the rest of the shoe is in good condition, it is easy to repair/replace the sole and make the shoe usable again.

Soles can be bought and sold separately as many people around the world are not comfortable with the soles they get in their new shoes. Many a time, people like the shoes a lot but they are not very pleased about the sole as it does not meet their requirements. In such cases, people tend to take help from cobblers and get the soles changed as per their requirements. Apart from being the largest contributor to overall market revenue, sole repairs are also one of the highest-margin services.

Will Men Continue to Be the Biggest Customer Base?

In comparison to women and children, men generate more work for shoe repair firms. Most of the leather-made footwear is worn by men, hence requiring more shoe repairing services. On the other hand, women do not like to get their footwear repaired unless it is related to the soles or heels. For the upper part of the footwear, women do not get their shoes repaired; however, men get their shoes repaired irrespective of which part of the shoe needs repair.

Out of the total market value of the shoe repair industry, the men’s footwear repair market was valued at US$ 624 million in 2022. The trend might see some competition from the women category due to the rise of the working women population and higher unisex footwear sales.

Competitive Landscape

Key players associated with shoe repair services are NuShoe, Inc., Pasquale Shoe Restoration, ShoeVival Shoelaundry Pvt. Ltd, USA Shoe Company, LEATHER SPA, Cesar's Shoe Repair, Alex's Shoe Repair, Dr. Shine Shoe Repair Shop, Minas Shoe Repair, Chimo Shoe Repair, PABLO'S SHOE REPAIR, Mister Minit, Angel's Shoe Repair, Broadway Shoe Repair, Dave Page, and Cobbler.

The shoe repair industry is largely unorganized owing to several individuals and small-scale companies operating in this space. The industry has hardly seen any notable business transactions in the past few years. However, it witnessed a few investments from private equity investors.

• Timpson, a shoe repair service provider, is planning to open its 3rd store at Tesco Ryde.

Fact.MR has provided detailed information about the providers of shoe repair services positioned across regions, revenue growth, and service offering expansion, in the recently published report.

Segmentation of Shoe Repair Industry Research

• By Service :

  • Heel Repair
  • Toe Repair
  • Sole Repair
  • Restoration
  • Stretching

• By Customer Orientation :

  • Men
  • Women
  • Children

• By Region :

  • North America
  • Latin America
  • Europe
  • East Asia
  • South Asia & Oceania
  • Middle East & Africa