DSW adds a new in-store service: shoe repair
DSW Designer Shoe is partnering with the nation’s largest shoe and handbag repair company.
DSW and Cobblers Direct are teaming up to offer shoe repair services in the footwear giant’s 500-plus stores across the country. Shoe repair is a rapidly growing need, but with few local cobblers left to meet the demand, the new service will give customers instant, nationwide access to expert shoe repair, DSW said.
It will allow customers to scan a QR code at their local DSW store, place an order on a smart device, and then give their items to a DSW employee at the counter.
Cobblers Direct will work with the customer to understand their needs and complete the repairs. When finished, the customer returns to the same DSW store for pick-up.
"DSW is hyper-focused on delighting our customers, offering diverse brands and delivering products with speed, and we coordinate with the best partners to make our business succeed," said DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse president Doug Howe. "We want customers to enjoy and get the most out of their purchases, so if they ever need a product repair, DSW's partnership with Cobblers Direct ensures convenient access to highly experienced and skilled repair services."
Cobblers Direct, headquartered in Austin, Texas, is the online spin-off the world's largest shoe repair company, The Shoe Hospitals. The company has been repairing shoes, boots, belts, handbags, and all-things-leather since 1906.
"We believe that repairing shoes, boots, and bags – and not throwing them away – will lead to a healthier planet and happier humanity", says Stephen Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Cobblers Direct. "Together with DSW, shoe lovers all over the country now have easy access to expert repair services so they can enjoy their beloved items once again."
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DSW operates nearly 650 stores across the US and Canada under the DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse and The Shoe Company banners. Designer Brands also distributes its owned brands through select wholesale relationships while leveraging its design and sourcing expertise to build private label product for national retailers.