The demand for footwear in my shoemaking office has significantly increased but customers do not really understand what I’m passing through to get some of the materials to be used to make footwear for them because recently, the cost of raw materials in making foot wears in Nigeria has increased than the previous months.
One of my shoemaking customers gave me a contract to make a palm footwear type for him for months now but I have been making fake promises to him on the day to deliver his palm. For me not to be able to deliver most footwear to my customers is somehow trying to spoil my business name not considering the demand increase from other customers.
To be honest with you, the police nearly arrested me yesterday because of the delay and fake promises I gave to my customer a few days ago, the customer whom I mentioned above came to my shoemaking office to request the palm contract he has given to me for months now and I told him to come and have the palm yesterday not knowing that he will be coming to my shoemaking office with police.
Immediately the police entered my shoemaking office yesterday to arrest me for not delivering palm footwear to one of my customers, I tried my possible best to explain to the police that I have been faithful with my shoemaking business but just that leather and other materials in the market are too expensive now which is the reason while I have not done his footwear palm for him. The police didn’t want to listen to my explanation even when my shoemaking team was explaining to them not until when my neighbors who are also into business heard our voice and came to my rescue as they also told the police that I’m tolerant and fast in delivering customer work. This was how the police left my shoemaking office giving me only this week to deliver to my customer.
Early morning today, I called the Makurdi shoemakers association chairman and explained things to him that has happened between me and a customer yesterday. After I told him everything, he told me to come and take some of the materials from his shoemaking office and then balance him later when I’ll buy from the market. This was how I was able to have other materials to work the customer's palm.
Immediately I finished making the customer's palm footwear today, I called the customer and told him that his footwear is ready. When the customer came to my shoemaking office some minutes ago to have the palm I made for him, I still pleaded with him and told him not to be offended. In the end, I and the customer was settled.
Material and tools used in making the palm footwear:
Foreign leather.
Sole.
A fancy buckle.
A sewing machine.
Scissors.
Gum.
Hammer.
Steps considered in making the palm footwear:
I make sure to know the type and color of footwear to make.
I make sure that the materials to be used are available.
I have to take a nice measurement of the footwear to make.
I have to make sure that the leathers to be used are cut accordingly.
I have to make sure that I sew the design of the palm footwear using a sewing machine.
I have to make sure that I sandpaper the leather design that I have sewed and the sole carefully.
I have to apply proper gum on the sole and leather.
I make sure that the materials are placed under the sun.
I have to fix the palm footwear and then hit it with a hammer.
