Tailoring, Shoe Repair and Locksmith Services Doubled in Price over the Past Year

The cost of tailoring, shoe repair, upholstery and locksmith services in Bulgaria has doubled over the past year, a check by Bulgarian National Television (BNT) has found. People working in these spheres say they have been forced to raise prices to offset rising expenses for electricity, rent and social security contributions — but above all because of materials, which are imported from abroad and arrive each month at ever higher prices.

In the run-up to the festive season, work at the shoe repair workshop run by Miki Shezaim has not slowed down. However, metal heel tips are running out and have become difficult to source due to the war in Ukraine.

Miki Shezaim, shoe repairer:
“They justify it by saying that all the metal is going into bomb production. The prices of zips, leather soles and glues are going up. Because of this increase, I now have to charge 10 leva for a single heel tip — double the previous price.”

Despite the rises, repairing shoes still works out cheaper than buying new ones.

Miki Shezaim:
“Most people this year simply can’t afford to buy new shoes. It’s a good thing they invested in quality footwear in the past, so now, with a bit of help from me, they can keep wearing them.”

Milka Vlahova:
“Two weeks ago my boot came apart in the rain and I went to a shoe repair shop to have it glued and stitched more securely. They charged me 10 leva. But if everything changes after the New Year, it will probably go up to 15 — that’s what I think.”

Miki says the euro will not affect the final price of services, as consumables, raw materials, social security contributions and electricity costs rose sharply as far back as two years ago.

Miki Shezaim:
“That’s why I had to change my standard of living. I let go of my colleague, who was a huge help to me. I have to work more. And all that extra work has left me with a prosthetic arm and wearing glasses.”

At the tailoring workshop run by Mariela Dimova, prices have also increased — but gradually, in an effort to keep customers.

Mariela Dimova, tailor:
“We simply can’t survive otherwise if we don’t add two, three, maybe five leva at most. Right now I’m altering a pair of trousers — I’ve already unpicked the waistband. If this service used to cost 4 leva, now it’s 6.”

To save time and money, more skilled customers prefer to carry out small repairs themselves.

Albena Gospodinova:
“Minor repairs — for example, I could replace a zip or hem something myself.”

Locksmith services have also become more expensive.

Petar Ivanov, locksmith:
“We work with Spanish materials, and prices there are constantly going up. When I started, it cost 3 leva — now it’s 6 for a standard security key.”

Trade associations do not keep statistics on how much service prices have increased, and each workshop sets its own rates independently.