Jung Kang, 47, cobbler: Owner Hutson Shoe & Leather Repair, 2915 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg
By ELLEN MOSES
Published May 11, 2003
What kind of hours do you work?
We're open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
How long have you been doing this?
Almost two years.
How did you learn to repair shoes?
I learned it from the previous owner. I trained with him for about two months. I would have done more, but he needed to move to another state.
Did you have any prior experience working with leather or shoes?
What kind of work did you do before?
I had a convenience store. It was very stressful. It was a lot of hours, and I couldn't spend as much time with my family, and sometimes I couldn't go to church. That's very important to me. Also, I had a robbery when I was working. So I thought, "That's it, I can't do this kind of job," so I sold it.
How does this job compare?
I think that God knew I shouldn't be in that business. I thank God for this job. It's not as much money, but I have more time to spend with my family and volunteer in church. The hours are a little better.
Who works in your shop?
Just myself and my wife. I fix the shoes, and she does alterations. She sews all kinds of things.
What is the most common shoe repair you do?
The most common job is a half sole and heel replacement. When there is a hole in the sole, you put a new one on. That's mostly for men's shoes. Women's are mostly heel replacements, not so much soles.
What is the process for replacing a sole and heel?
I cut it (the old sole) off; take a new one, cut and grind it to fit; then put new glue in and then stitches. With the heel, I lift the old piece off and grind it to make it even. Lots of shoes are worn down uneven, so I grind it down, then build it up with leather or sometimes rubber. Mostly, buildups are leather. After that, you put in a new heel. Then it looks exactly the same as new, and nobody knows it's been fixed.
On average, how many pairs of shoes do you fix in a day?
Probably five or six a day. Not many.
Does it take a long time to fix a pair of shoes?
No. A typical pair of men's shoes takes about an hour until it's completely done.
Do you get more men's or women's shoes?
Men's shoes more than women's shoes.
What is your favorite thing about this job?
My favorite thing is that I can fix the holes and ugly shoes that come in, and when I'm completely done, it looks almost brand new. I love it! I look at the shoes like a doctor. I take care of the hurt shoes. Sometimes the customer didn't know there were other problems. They know there is just a hole. But I look all around and sometimes stitches are coming out or something is ripped, and so I tell them, and I fix everything. Sometimes we cannot fix it, but mostly we do.
What is the hardest thing about shoe repairs?
Gluing the rubber (sole) material can be hard, because it doesn't take good, so that kind of job is harder.
Any hidden hazards of your job?
Not really. When I'm grinding, I wear the mask and gloves. Just the glue (smells), and that's it. It's not hazardous, so I don't worry about it.
Do you do any specialty repairs?
We also do orthopedic shoes for the handicapped. We can make a lifted heel and sole for them.
Who are your customers?
We get a lot of older people; primarily between the ages of 50 and 70.
How much money do you make?
Last year, it was $25,000 after taxes and expenses. When I first came here (St. Petersburg), I wanted to make a lot of money. So I worked hard, at least 15 hours day, every day. For almost 10 years, I did that and never took a vacation. But that's not a life. Life is short. So now, it's just making a living, but spending more time with my family and at church. That's more important than money.
What would your dream job be?
I'm thinking it would be nice to have two days off! It's hard to say. I think maybe some kind of country-to-country trade, like importing.
What are some perks of the job?
The customers are very, very nice. Also, I get to listen to what music I want. I enjoy listening to classical music and recorded sermons.
