‘Recession-proof’ local business spills secrets

LIHU‘E — The smell of leather lingers in the air at The Shoe Repair Shop in Lihu‘e, while ripped handbags and dozens of broken shoes patiently wait to be fixed so they can return to their rightful owners.

Ray Duarte, owner of the repair shop, said business has been steady despite economic turbulence, and there are plenty of reasons why.

“One thing about this business is it’s recession-proof; there’s always going to be business, maybe not the greatest, but it’s steady,” he said.

His advice to those brave enough to take a stab at the not-so-lucrative entrepreneurial world right now: Stay small.

“Stay small, simple and reasonable in pricing,” he said in an interview at his shop last week.

Duarte has been in business on the island for 33 years, and regardless of what goes on at Wall Street, he refuses to get too big like so many corporations that are now facing difficult times.

“We’re established on this island,” he said, chalking up part of his success to being the only employee of his store, along with his wife, Eunice.

Duarte’s small business is so popular that almost all of his clients have been acquired only by word of mouth.

No sooner did he mention this fact that two of those very clients, Lois Kobashigawa and Elise Kanekuni, walked into his store during the interview, with broken shoes in tote.

Kobashigawa had recommended The Shoe Repair Shop to Kanekuni, as her friend’s footwear needed maintenance. Rather than spending money purchasing new shoes, Kanekuni admits she went against her daughter’s wishes and refused to throw them away.

Kobashigawa and Kanekuni chatted with Duarte as if they were long-time pals and shared a few laughs before getting down to business.

Duarte, who considers himself the master of shoe repairs, was glad Kanekuni did not heed her daughter’s suggestion.

“It’s a good thing parents don’t listen to their children anymore,” he said with a chuckle.

Not only was Kanekuni’s choice an environmentally friendly move, it ended up saving her the fistful of cash she might have otherwise spent on a new pair of kicks.

“It’s always less to fix than buy new. Unless you shop at Salvation Army. I can’t compete with $1 shoes,” Duarte said, followed by another round of cheerful laughter.

Duarte’s amicable personality is likely one of the many reasons customers keep returning.

“If your customers don’t like you or you have an attitude, then nobody will come back,” he said, offering more words of wisdom on how to run a successful business. “It will be just a one-time deal.”

He also adds that because he’s been in business for so long, surviving both Hurricanes Iniki and Iwa, he’s beginning to see the third generation of customers walking through his doors.

“It’s sentimental for them to come into the shop.”

While business has remained largely consistent throughout the years, Duarte admits that 2008 was tough.

“Last year was the worst I’ve ever been in business and there were several times the shop was just empty with nothing to do,” he said. “It’s better now, but it’s still not my best year.”

However, Duarte said it doesn’t matter because his service will always be in need on the island; one of the keys to remaining recession-proof.

“I’ll always have business and there will always be something to fix. I don’t have to worry about being laid off the next day.”

No matter which direction the economy heads, Duarte is confident his business will remain unaffected.

“Some people who move off-island still mail me their things to fix and I mail them back because they say they don’t have anybody good where they live,” he said.

Whether it’s repairing the heel of a shoe, stitching a torn suitcase or mending a broken zipper, Duarte is up to the task and said he enjoys the trade he’s been practicing for so many years.

“I like it because I work for myself, I’m in control of the business and I enjoy the customers and have come to know a lot of people on the island.”

For more information, call 245-6543.