Yesterday was another day between me and a customer as we meet and become friends. We keep meeting friends every day, especially at our working places. Yes of course I met a new friend from my knitting shop.
Last week, a female customer demanded slippers from my needlework office but unfortunately because of the much work we did for many customers, especially for those who are demanding a larger quantity to be resold in their boutique shop and in the public market as well.
To be honest, we tried our best to finish every work before I and my team embarked on the last Easter break but I didn’t notice that one piece of work was left behind which a female customer demanded for last week. Though I told my team to make sure that all works are completed because I wouldn’t like to entertain any customers that would come to complain.
In Nigeria, it is always difficult to manage or control customers, especially for knitted or crocheted slippers because customers always look down on us that we are just shoemakers but am always grateful to have strong and beautiful craftwork that is full of needlework. In every business, how you approach your customers matters a lot just like how I approached this particular female customer and we became friends.
Just like I said, yesterday! This particular female customer who we didn’t finish her work last week came to our office and immediately she entered and noticed that her slippers which she demanded were not yet ready. She started disturbing my shop with her loud voice that why is her work not yet ready. My team workers wanted to answer her with the same angry voice and I stopped and shouted at them that we are the ones to be blamed and not her.
The moment the lady heard my voice shout at my team workers she calm down and told me that it is difficult to see such a businessman shout at their workers and accept being faulty. That was how she made me her friend and we exchanged phone contacts.
Some materials used for the slippers are:
Yarn is a tiny material just like a thread for sewing but it is used for knitting slippers, shoes, bags, earrings, and many other things in the area of needlework. Yarn can be of different colors and of different quality depending on the time and company of production.
The yarn pin is a tiny metal used for knitting slippers, shoes, and much other craftwork of needleworkers. The yarn pin must be properly handled to avoid injury to the hands. When knitting, one must avoid talking with people around.
Sole is a thick material just like the leather but it works to help protect the slippers from damage quickly and also makes the slippers not injure the persons that would be wearing it after the slippers are produced. The sole and the leather determine how far slippers can last.
Leather in the knitting of slippers is used to cover the top of a sole after the shoemaker must have knitted the leather with yarn according to the type of slippers demand from a customer.
Scissors are commonly used in knitting slippers to cut the leather after measurement and must be properly handled to also avoid injury.
Lighter matches are a fire output that I normally use for the trimming of my slipper's yarn mouth after knitting.
How I Get the job done:
I got all the materials for the slippers ready.
I took the measurement of the slippers.
I cut the leather according to my choice of test and based on the leg size of the owner.
I knitted the leather with yarn based on the type of slippers the customer demanded.
I gummed the sole and the leather and then place them under the sun for some hours.
I fixed my slippers.
