Shoe Repair: It's More than You Think!

Welcome to the website of the Shoe Service Institute of America. Founded in 1904, SSIA is the trade association for the shoe repair industry. On this site, consumers and find information on the benefits of shoe repair, and businesses in the shoe repair industry can find information about industry events. Contact us with questions.

SSIA Convention

SSIA's 118th Annual Convention is scheduled July 12-13, 2025 in Las Vegas.

Click here for details.

Join SSIA Today

SSIA offers membership to suppliers, wholesalers and shoe repair shops.

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Shoe Repair Shop Locator

Looking for shoe repair? Our locator will find the SSIA member nearest you.

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Chadwick Winget Wins first SSIA Shine Off

Chadwick Winget (right) receives the SSIA Shine Off trophy from SSIA President Justin Bennett.

Chadwick Winget of Best Foot Forward in Alexandria, VA took home top honors in the first SSIA Shine Off in 2024. The live event was a highlight of the Shoe Service Institute of America's 117th Annual Convention in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ.

To enter the Shine Off, Winget and shiners from across the United States performed their best mirror shine on a men's shoes and sent photographs to SSIA early in the year. Judges reviewed the photos and selected three finalists -- Winget, Sunny Yoo from Cobbler Company in Ellicott City, MD and Jason Dorn from Team Shine Force in Denver, CO.

The final competition was live. Finalists were given 20 minutes to create their best mirror shine. They worked on identical shoes (supplied by Thursday Boot Company) with the polishes of their choice provided by SSIA members.

The Shine Off was sponsored by Meltonian, Soletech/Tarrago and Moneysworth & Best.

Martin Sugg Takes Top Honors in SSIA's Pimp that Shoe Contest

Martin Sugg (left) receives his awards from SSIA's Past President Mark Dorothy.

Martin Sugg of Timeless Shoe Repair in Thunder Bay, ON took first place in the Shoe Service Institute of America's first Pimp that Shoe Contest. He also received the contest's People's Choice Award. The awards were presented at SSIA's 117th Annual Convention in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ.

SSIA created the Pimp that Shoe contest to show off the craftsmanship and creativity of its members. Entrants were asked to transform and men's dress shoe from top to bottom to create something unique. Judges selected Sugg's entry as the best in show. Jim McFarland, McFarland's Shoe Repair, Lakeland, FL finished second and Pablo Hadarits, Dimar Shoe Repair, Guelph, ON finished third.

Then, all entries were displayed at SSIA's 117th Annual Convention and industry members were encouraged to vote for their favorite. Sugg's entry received the most votes and, thus, the People's Choice Award.

The Pimp that Shoe contest was sponsored by Vibram.

Why Repair Your Shoes? Check Out These Videos from SSIA


Click here to visit SSIA's YouTube channel and see all of the videos.

Congrats to 2023 Silver Cup Winners

Congratulations to SSIA's Silver Cup Class of 2023.

Patrick Nijdam
Quick Cobbler
Vancouver, British Columbia
Robert DiRinaldo Grand Silver Cup

Luke George
George's Shoes & Repair
Arden Hills, Minnesota
Gold Award

Sunny Yoo
Cobbler & Co. Shoe Repair
Ellicott City, MD
Silver Award

Gary Coakley
Coakley's
London, Ontario
Bronze Award

Click here for more information on SSIA awards.

The Latest News from SSIA

Promotional Materials for SSIA Members

SSIA has designed posters and complementary promotional materials based on the theme, "Shoe Repair, It's More than You Think!" Click here to take a look.

shoe repair shirtSSIA Apparel

T-shirts and hoodies and coffee mugs, oh my. Click here to order your SSIA swag.

 

Shoe Repair in the News

Need background for an article about our industry? Contact media@ssia.info.