Today we’d like to introduce you to Dave Berumen.
Hi Dave, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
My story starts in Oklahoma, and like many Okies, I thought it might be nice to visit California, or as we say in the hill country, ‘out Californee way.’ I went for what was supposed to be a month-long climbing trip to Joshua Tree and never went back home. I didn’t have much going on, and a future of climbing the endless rock formations while working as little as possible seemed much better. I landed an apprenticeship with Pat, the long-time climbing shoe resoler, and that sealed the deal. It ended up being a rough year. The desert was not kind to me… and something wouldn’t let me leave (I didn’t have enough money to leave). The apprenticeship continued on, but it was inconsistent work at best. I made ends meet through carpentry gigs and rock climbing guiding.
Eventually, Pat was ready to retire, and I started Flophouse Resoles in 2014 with a $5,000 loan from my best friend. He was roughnecking in the oil fields of West Texas and making more money than God (to us, anyway). I still haven’t paid him back but it’s alright, he’s rich now.
I spent a couple of years slowly building that business up to a full-time job. Working from my garage at home kept the overhead low and the profit margins in a good place. Rent and living expenses were cheap in the desert back then, and I had a good thing going. But then I had to go and muck it all up by buying the full-service shoe repair shop in Yucca Valley.
I had been getting into quality leather boots and, of course, wanted to learn to fix my own. That led to me hanging around Del’s Shoes and Repair. Since Pat’s retirement, he had been working part-time for Del and had expanded his skillset from climbing shoe resoling to repairing most shoes and boots. So, again, I found myself as his student.
It took two years of haggling for Del to retire and sell me the shop. As frustrating as that was, those years gave me time to learn the trade and the business; I had no prior experience in running a brick-and-mortar shop. I was smart enough to know that it was a lot more complicated than having a home business. By my calculations, having a business with a physical location would be a lot more work for a little bit more money, and I was right.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Running a very small business is not a great way to make a living. I could make more working for the water district or cal trans while having matching retirement contributions and sick days and really nice and convenient benefits like that. But I like what I do, and I’m pretty good at it. It keeps me connected to my community, and it provides meaningful and creative work that people need. It was a few rough years at the start, mainly due to the pandemic, but I now feel momentum and the possibility that I could make this trade work long-term.
We’ve been impressed with Valley Shoe Repair, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Shoe repair has been in decline for decades, but many people still buy shoes and leather goods that can be repaired. Valley Shoe Repair is dedicated to keeping the trade alive while modernizing the experience for today’s customers. Our team of socially conscious and thoughtful creatives provide efficient customer service and affordable repairs. Through one-on-one consultations, we help our customers make sustainable choices and empower them to make informed decisions.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Against all odds, the shoe repair trade refuses to die. And even though the number of shoe repair shops in the US is at an all-time low, I believe the darkest days are behind us. The rise of synthetic materials and mass production in the 80s and 90s almost did us in, but things are changing. People are rediscovering the quiet joy of quality shoes. The kind of shoes that, with proper care, stays with you for a decade or more. Buying quality is only half of it. If you want to fully realize the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of well-made footwear, you need a cobbler. And for now, we’re here for y’all. I want to keep this trade alive and be around long enough to pass it on because I believe in its value in living more sustainably. Whether it’s shoes, bags, or canvas car covers, cobblers are here to keep it going a bit longer. And we think it’s cool you don’t want to throw it away yet, too.
So, visit your local cobbler and see if they can help repair whatever it is you need fixing… Just don’t complain about the cost. A simple “I think I’ll pass, but thanks for your time” is a wonderful response instead.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.valleyshoerepair.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/valleyshoerepair
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/valleyshoerepair
- Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/XfEuU2NxQWcSiew79
Image Credits
Carl Rice
