"SLC26-W3 | Street Business Diaries: Street Cobbler, Mobile Accessories or Street Clothes."

A Review of a Cobbler who lives down the street of Tapa, Lagos State Nigeria

I appreciate @max-pro for giving us the opportunity to view businesses in our street

"When people think of a cobbler, they often imagine someone sitting by the roadside fixing bad shoes. But for Demola, cobbling is more than that, it is both a craft and a way of life."

In my area, cobblers are mostly needed for their services. We have about 4-5 of them everywhere but one thing caught my attention, Demola who does something different.

Demola is a cobbler with a small shop by the corner of my street, he is also married. I have on several occasions chatted with him to understand how he learnt his job and what his story was like. Unlike many cobblers who only mend old shoes by the roadside, Demola does more. He repairs worn-out shoes, but he also produces new footwears from scratch.

Every day, he opens his shop early, sweeps the floor, and arranges the pairs he has made. On the shelf, you will see sandals, slippers, and simple leather shoes. He cuts the leather himself, measures carefully, and stitches with patience. To him, every shoe is like a piece of art, even though he sells them at a price ordinary people can afford.

Demola producing footwear

His journey has not been easy. He started as an apprentice, running errands and learning how to thread needles, cut soles, and polish leather. Many times, he thought of quitting because the work was slow and tiring. But he stayed, and now, after years of practice, he is his own master.

Customers come to him not only to repair their old shoes but also to buy new ones. Some even bring special designs, and he produces them with his own hands. What gives him joy is when a customer wears his shoe and smiles.

Demola admits that money is not always steady when I asked further questions. Some days he sells well, other days he struggles. But he believes that with hard work and patience, his little shop will grow. He dreams of one day having a bigger workshop with apprentices of his own.

	A selfie at Demola's shop

I see my cobbler friend every day since I always take the same path to my destinations, so he notices me. I've also ordered some shoes that I need by next month, and I'm confident they'll be ready ahead of time. I have once bought a footwear from him but it's a long time and the shoes are worn out already.

Demola's shop usually feels more personal and has a different kind of experience compared to shopping in a big store. I do have a feel of most of his working leathers and then I can choose which he would use while producing a footwear for me.

Visiting him gives me a chance to bargain, say how I feel and choose designs that suits me.