EPISODE · Dec 1, 2025 · 17 MIN

116. Cobblers

from The Economics of Everyday Things · host Freakonomics Network

Shoe repair shops are a dying breed — but for those that remain, demand is higher than ever. Zachary Crockett goes in for a shine. SOURCES:Jim McFarland, owner of McFarland’s Shoe Repair in Lakeland, Florida. RESOURCES:"Shoe cobbler becomes unlikely TikTok star," (NBC News, 2024)."Cobblers face extinction - and are busier than ever," by Diana Nelson James (AP, 2019).Shoe Service Institute of America. EXTRAS:America's Cobbler (Jim McFarland), (YouTube). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Shoe repair shops are a dying breed — but for those that remain, demand is higher than ever. Zachary Crockett goes in for a shine.

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116. Cobblers

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