Summer 2019 • Volume 8 Issue 2 SSIA CONVENTION SSIA Is Ready for Orlando SSIA is headed to Orlando for its 115th Annual Convention July 27-28, 2019. The Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek will host the show. Here is what’s on the agenda. The Latest in Products and Services As always, the centerpiece of SSIA’s convention is the display of products and services in the exhibit hall. This year’s exhibitors will come from the United States, Canada and Europe to display their wares. You’ll find everything you need to operate a shoe repair shop from machinery, to supplies, to retail items, to POS software. Here are the exhibitors registered to date: Angelus Shoe Polish Company Pedag USA SRE Importers Tarrago Shoe Care Boris Shoe Components Pedifix Medical Footcare SVIG Srl Two-Ten Foundation Casali 2.0 SRL Pedorthic Footwear Association Tacco Footcare Vibram USA Cuoificio La Querce S.R.L. Petronio Shoe Products DRV Enterprises/Supertap Renia The expo hours are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on July 27 and 10 a.m. to 2 Fiebing Company, Inc. Roomify, LLC p.m. on July 28. Goodyear Shoe Components SC Johnson – Kiwi Educational Seminars Joh. Rendenbach jr. SFS Associates Shoe Systems Plus Landis International, Inc. SSIA also has 10 seminars on the schedule to provide you with Sole Choice Moneysworth & Best added information on how to make your shop more profitable Pecard Leather Care Company Soletech, Inc. continued on page 4 SSIA Debuts New Series of Videos on YouTube SSIA began publishing a series of short videos promoting shoe repair in June. The videos are designed to remind consumers that shoe repair exists and direct them to SSIA-member shoe re- pair shops to repair and care for their footwear and other items. “My primary goal when I was elected to SSIA’s board of direc- tors was to promote shoe repair to consumers,” says SSIA President Jim McFarland. “These videos take advantage of the low-cost, grassroots marketing available through social media. It is something we can afford and something that has proven to be very effective.” continued on page 6 www.ssia.info Shoe Service - Summer 2019 1 Support the Companies that PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Support You The following companies are supplier members of SSIA. Their support of this association helps us bring you this news- letter, our conventions and everything else we do. Please support them as they We Have Video Evidence of support you. Angelus Shoe Polish Company the Benefits of Shoe Repair Arbelsoft, Inc. Auburn Leather Company It’s hard to believe a year has passed information at any time on SSIA’s website Barge Adhesives, Inc. since I was elected SSIA’s president. I was at www.ssia.info/convention. Boris Shoe Components Supply truly honored by your confidence in me C.A. Zoes Manufacturing Co. and I’ve done my best to live up to it. I have some thank yous I want to say Casali SNC dei F.lli Casali & c. as my first year as president comes to Cuoificio La Querce S.R.L. The primary item on my agenda was to a close. First, a huge thank you to my DM Group promote shoe repair and find a way to partners on SSIA’s board of directors. DRV Enterprises bring more people into SSIA-member Together, I believe we have taken some Fiebing Company Inc. shops. We have taken a significant step in significant steps this year. I hope we can Goodyear Shoe Products Hickory Brands that direction with the videos we started continue to move forward in the future. Joh. Rendenbach Leather releasing in June. In all, there will be 10 Landis International, Inc. two- to three-minute videos aimed at Your SSIA board members include Vice Lyons & Volpi Leather Company consumers and covering topics ranging President Phil Wadzinski, Treasurer John Moneysworth & Best from the fact that shoe repair shops still McLoughlin, Secretary Pat McCabe and Pecard Leather Care Company exist, to how to buy shoes worth repair- directors Jesse Pasternak, Shannon Em- Pedifix Footcare Products ing, to caring for your shoes, to knowing bry, Ed Gitlin and Laurie MacPherson. Petronio Shoe Products when to bring them to a shoe repair Renia GmbH shop. I would also like to thank my predeces- Roomify, Inc. sor as president, Sandra Verbruggen, for SC Johnson making my transition easier. The work Sellari Natural Wax Company SSIA is taking advantage of the low-cost, SFS Associates, Inc. grassroots marketing opportunities pre- you did during your time on the board Shoe Systems Plus sented by social media. I encourage you moved SSIA forward immeasurably. SoleTech Inc. to take a look at the videos and share SRE Importers Corporation them. They provide generic information Also, I would like to congratulate all of SVIG about shoe repair that will bring consum- the recipients of SSIA’s 2019 Silver Cup Tacco Footcare International ers to your shop. and World Cup Awards. This program is Talaria LLC / Pedag USA near and dear to my heart. Tarrago Brands International Bringing consumers into shoe repair Tauer & Johnson, LLC shops means more business for all of us. You won’t find more deserving recipients Toe Armor than our Robert DiRinaldo Grand Silver Topy S.A. When our businesses grow, our whole- salers and suppliers get more business as Cup winner Ronald Nijdam and World TRG Bestnets USA, LLC Cup winner Steve Doudaklian. I hope you URAD Products well. All SSIA members will benefit. come to Orlando to meet these extraor- Vibram USA You can find the videos on SSIA’s You- dinarily talented men and the other Tube channel. You can also find them award recipients as well. on SSIA’s website at www.ssia.info. Just scroll down the home page and you’ll In closing, I want to thank you again find them. for the confidence you placed in me by electing me to serve on SSIA’s board of SSIA’s 2019 convention in Orlando is just directors and as your president. I look weeks away. I hope to see you there to forward to seeing everyone in Orlando. discuss the videos and any other topic It’s going to be a great show. that’s on your mind. There is plenty of information about the convention in this Jim McFarland newsletter. You can also find the latest SSIA President 2 Shoe Service - Summer 2019 Shoe Service Institute of America www.ssia.info Shoe Service - Summer 2019 3 Support the Orlando Convention (continued from page 1) Companies that and efficient. Here is what we have on Customer Service Excellence Support You the agenda: Lisa Hubbs of Gagliardo’s Shoe Repair in The following companies are whole- How to Make More Money St. Josephs, MI will talk about the impor- saler members of SSIA. Their support tance of customer service and the extra of this association helps us bring you Ronald Nijdam of Quick Cobbler in Van- things you can do to make sure your this newsletter, our conventions and couver, BC will discuss how to organize good customers keep coming back. everything else we do. Please support your time and work flow to maximize them as they support you. profits. Machinery Maintenance Tricks of the Trade If your machines don’t work, neither do AGS Footwear Group you. Blase Knabl of Shoe Systems Plus Belmont Leather Grand Silver Cup winner and Silver Cup in Goshen, NY will tell you how to keep Burten Distribution Judge Larry Schupbach of Village Cobbler your machines in top shops to keep the DC Leather & Findings in Tucker GA will go over the little things profits rolling in. Fort Pitt Leather & Shoe Repair that can change your work from good to Supplies great. Silver Cup and World Cup Awards Fournitures De Cordonnerie C.B. Inc Frankford Leather Company Maximize Your Profit on Shoe Care SSIA will present its 2019 Silver Cup and H.L. Zitrin Corp. Products World Cup Awards July 27 at its Awards H. Leffler & Son Pty Ltd Reception. Come meet some of the in- I. Samuels & Sons Sergio Barrange of Tarrago Shoe Care in dustry’s top craftsmen and find why you, J.H. Cook & Sons, LLC Barcelona, Spain will discuss how to best too, should participate in this program. J. Weiner & Co. use and sell Tarrago’s premium shoe care Justin Blair & Company products. Here are the craftsmen who will be hon- Kaufman Shoe Repair Supplies ored this year. Konomos Distributing Counter Intelligence LaBelle Supply Co., Ltd. Silver Cup Awards Landwerlen Leather Randy Lipson of Cobblers Corner in Clay- MacPherson Leather Co. ton, MO will discuss what you can do at Robert DiRinaldo Grand Silver Cup Miami Leather Company the counter to maximize ticket value. Ronald Nijdam Montana Leather Company National Leather & Shoe Findings Craftsman’s Corner Gold Awards O. Baltor & Sons Brian Gavigan Grand Silver Cup and World Cup winner Oregon Leather Tony Piccoli Steve Doudaklian of Bedos Leatherworks Ruby Leather Company Martin Sugg in Falls Church, VA will talk about the Saderma of LA work he does. This is an excellent chance Silver Awards Southern Leather Co., Inc. to hear from one of the industry’s top Dan Frappier craftsmen. Corey Hiltz Patrick Nijdam Bonding Techniques Bronze Awards Rainer Bucholz of Renia in Cologne, Ger- Rachel McEntaffer Drumheller many will teach you how to make sure Sunny Yoo you have the proper adhesive for each material to make bonds that last. World Cup Awards Cup Soles and Rock Climbing Shoes 2019 World Cup Steve Doudaklian Dan Frappier of Heels-n-Soles in New Sudbury, ON will offer tips on how to Silver Awards work with these kinds of shoes.