- Richard Aphery, a 31-year-old man, moved to Germany in search of a market for the luxury shoes he makes with precision and class
- He opened up about the job market in the foreign country and revealed how much he earns per pair, which takes him weeks to make
- The shoemaker also shared his ambition to one day open a school in Nigeria to teach people the art of shoemaking
Many people travel abroad in search of employment opportunities and end up doing well, giving others hope to follow in their footsteps.
Source: Youtube
Richard Aphery travelled abroad and settled in Frankfurt, Germany, where he opened a shoemaking business to earn a living.
Why did Richard become shoemaker?
The bold move paid off, as he opened up about his journey in the new country and explained why he ventured into the shoemaking industry.
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“For me, it was always clear: sitting in an office and working on a laptop or computer was never an option. The alternative was working with my hands. I’ve always been good with my hands. When most people imagine a shoemaker, they think of an old, hunched-over man. I wanted to move away from that narrative. I always wanted to be different from other people.
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My customers are people who live consciously. They do not want to buy things and then throw them away. They invest more in quality and end up with shoes that can be repaired repeatedly over many years,” he said.
How long does Richard take to make a pair of shoes?
Richard noted that, depending on the model and level of complexity, it can take anywhere from 10 to 12 weeks, and sometimes even 14 weeks, to make a pair of shoes.
Speaking about pricing, Richard said he charges from KSh 3 million for a pair of custom-made shoes.
“My prices start at KSh 3 million for the first pair because we have to take measurements. Once I’ve made the last and established the foundation, each additional pair is less expensive because the patterns already exist and the measurements have already been taken.
It’s an incredibly exciting moment when I hand over the shoes after working on them for weeks, and the customer steps into them for the first time,” he said.
What is Richard’s long-term goal?
Richard added that many customers leave his shop with wide smiles, while some even hug him after receiving their shoes.
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They are often excited and happy to own shoes that fit perfectly and remain comfortable even during long walks.
“They can basically last a lifetime if you take good care of them. I feel at home here, but I definitely want to leave Germany at some point because of the high taxes and bureaucracy. There is so much paperwork. You can never really be fully accepted; that’s just how it is. You have to live with it and make the best out of it.
The long-term goal for me is to build my brand and grow my business so it can be sustained for many years. Then someday, I would like to return to Nigeria and build a school to teach shoemaking and craftsmanship,” he concluded.
Source: Facebook
Kericho electrician secures job in Dubai
In another story, there were smiles, prayers, and emotional farewells as Willy boarded a flight to Dubai.
The certified electrician from Kericho became one of the beneficiaries of an initiative linking young people to overseas jobs.
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