A while back, a reader shared this New York Times article about a football shoemaker in Mexico. It’s a great, though somewhat bittersweet, story about how a custom cleat maker started his business and how it continues. It reminds me that starting a small business is sometimes about capturing a moment or an opportunity when it arises. Growing that business includes evolving with customer needs and learning how to reach them. Even though Zapato Colmenero didn’t grow into a big company, it captured its moment and, at one point, was producing hundreds of shoes a month.
Check out the article, A Dying Craft, Made to Order and see the YouTube video below. It’s in Spanish, but you can enable English subtitles.
I recently contacted them and was relieved to hear that they are still around. If you or your kids play soccer and need some cleats, please reach out to Zapatos Colmeneros. New shoes are 2500-2700 pesos ($150-$175 USD). They will also make custom shoes (non-cleats) depending on the availability of their soles. I spoke to Ana and Santiago, and she said using WhatsApp is best via this number: +52-55-1404-4996.
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