JR Rendenbach Closing

[American_Psycho11]

Anyone heard any more info on this? A couple cobbler pages I follow have mentioned it including Potter and Sons and Cobblers Plus Inc. CP Inc. made a video about it and how it will affect orders moving forward. The video is here.

What will happen to the shoe industry as a result? Will J&FJ Baker take over as the successor of sorts? Are there any other tanneries that can fill the vacuum?

 

[Noblekostas]

News - The J. Rendenbach tannery is closing - Shoegazing.com

According to information given by a US sales representative of the famous tannery J. Rendenbach - most known for its oak bark tanned leather soles - the

shoegazing.com

 

[Noblekostas]

He will also speak to Hanns soonish.

 

[JFWR]

Me since yesterday.

 

[DWFII]

What will happen to the shoe industry as a result? Will J&FJ Baker take over as the successor of sorts? Are there any other tanneries that can fill the vacuum?

Off the top of my head, there is one or two in Belgium-- Masur comes to mind-- and one or two in France and maybe three in Germany.

As a maker, I never did like JR none. It was too flinty... which not only makes it hard to work but tends to wear out faster on pavement, etc..

 

[JohnMRobie]

Off the top of my head, there is one or two in Belgium-- Masur comes to mind-- and one or two in France and maybe three in Germany.

As a maker, I never did like JR none. It was too flinty... which not only makes it hard to work but tends to wear out faster on pavement, etc..

I find it a tad bit ironic that the vast majority of makers I’ve spoken with seem to share this view and hold other sole options in higher regard but are usually brand agnostic and leave the final decision to the customer.

YouTube and Instagram cobblers on the other hand are out there singing the praises of JR soles and did you know that you can send your shoes to them and have JR added to your resole package for an upcharge?

 

[American_Psycho11]

YouTube and Instagram cobblers on the other hand are out there singing the praises of JR soles and did you know that you can send your shoes to them and have JR added to your resole package for an upcharge?

There's your answer basically. JR is good for the cobbler industry because as long as people think they're the best out there, cobblers get to keep charging more for their soles.

 

[JFWR]

There's your answer basically. JR is good for the cobbler industry because as long as people think they're the best out there, cobblers get to keep charging more for their soles.

It is actually more likely that JR soles are more readily available to cobblers vs. the other brands.

For instance, I spoke with my cobbler today and she told me that JR has always had a good relationship with her, and many of the other cobblers she knew, whereas the other sole representatives were more or less just trying to market themselves as "just as good as JR Rendenbach" which came off like they were knock-offs, and were infrequently attempting to have their stuff offered up for sale.

I think we can say this: JR Rendenbach has a very good reputation. They are quality soles. They may not be objectively the GREATEST OF ALL TIME, as some claim, but they are certainly quality on par on the handful of other sole makers which still use the traditional methods. The loss of this sole company is bad because now we have fewer options and those other options seem difficult to get.

I'd also say this: I think it is pretty clear JR soles are superb. Whether there are not competitors is, of course, a different matter.

 

[Terry Mac's 'Tache]

I find it a tad bit ironic that the vast majority of makers I’ve spoken with seem to share this view and hold other sole options in higher regard but are usually brand agnostic and leave the final decision to the customer.

YouTube and Instagram cobblers on the other hand are out there singing the praises of JR soles and did you know that you can send your shoes to them and have JR added to your resole package for an upcharge?

I always found it quite telling that bespoke makers tend to favour Baker's soles. Regardless, it is sad that we are suffering yet another loss in the footwear space. I hope other struggling businesses are able to do what they need to do in order to survive these very difficult times.

 

[JohnMRobie]

I always found it quite telling that bespoke makers tend to favour Baker's soles. Regardless, it is sad that we are suffering yet another loss in the footwear space. I hope other struggling businesses are able to do what they need to do in order to survive these very difficult times.

That’s the one I had in mind. As close to a near unanimous opinion I’ve heard other than the Italians because, well, did you know Italy has the best tanneries in the world? Not that any Italian makers (shoes or otherwise) are prone to hyperbole or insisting that things from Italy are the best. ?

 

[DWFII]

At least here in the US, Baker leather does not market cut outsoles for resole work. Neither does Masur. or any other top end leather producer.

Cut sole are what cobblers (shoe repairman) want--they don't want to buy a side or a bend and cut their own. Ultimately they don't have any use for the offcuts and margins.

Rendenbach more or less had the shoe repair market sewn up (pardon the pun) for anything more prestigious or better quality than the domestic syntan outsoles. Or South American outsoles.

But that's also one of the things I disliked about JR--they deeply branded their logo in the center of the outsole and there was no way a maker was going to get a 'natural' bottom.. Beyond that, why do I, as a maker want to put out a product that fundamentally advertises someone else's product? Might as well make the uppers with a Coca-cola painted leather or make a whole cut oxford with a Nike swash inlaid on the side.

 

[American_Psycho11]

At least here in the US, Baker leather does not market cut outsoles for resole work. Neither does Masur. or any other top end leather producer.

Cut sole are what cobblers (shoe repairman) want--they don't want to buy a side or a bend and cut their own. Ultimately they don't have any use for the offcuts and margins.

Rendenbach more or less had the shoe repair market sewn up (pardon the pun) for anything more prestigious or better quality than the domestic syntan outsoles. Or South American outsoles.

But that's also one of the things I disliked about JR--they deeply branded their logo in the center of the outsole and there was no way a maker was going to get a 'natural' bottom.. Beyond that, why do I, as a maker want to put out a product that fundamentally advertises someone else's product? Might as well make the uppers with a Coca-cola painted leather or make a whole cut oxford with a Nike swash inlaid on the side.

This is a great reply and I appreciate your insight. Sounds like JR knew exactly what they were doing, for good or bad

 

[Zapasman]

Here in Spain cobblers do not get Bakers, Garat, Masur nor Bastin leather outsoles or bends as those do not sell here. The italians just go to the GY makers. Just a very few knowlegeable cobblers get JR as the one I work with (I get cuts from groupon or bends). Most of them use low quality and cheap argentinean leather.
Therefore, to have JR leather out of this market is a real pain for us shoe aficionados. I just bought some JR bend for my future resoles as I do not send my shoes to the makers anymore due to cost and the hassle of the expedition.
I understand this is a market shock for most of the prestigious HW makers in central europe too. I am really sad to hear those news.
So if this reputable company (probably the one with the largest market share?) is closing down, what could happen to the other few ones in the near future?

 

[JFWR]

At least here in the US, Baker leather does not market cut outsoles for resole work. Neither does Masur. or any other top end leather producer.

Cut sole are what cobblers (shoe repairman) want--they don't want to buy a side or a bend and cut their own. Ultimately they don't have any use for the offcuts and margins.

Rendenbach more or less had the shoe repair market sewn up (pardon the pun) for anything more prestigious or better quality than the domestic syntan outsoles. Or South American outsoles.

But that's also one of the things I disliked about JR--they deeply branded their logo in the center of the outsole and there was no way a maker was going to get a 'natural' bottom.. Beyond that, why do I, as a maker want to put out a product that fundamentally advertises someone else's product? Might as well make the uppers with a Coca-cola painted leather or make a whole cut oxford with a Nike swash inlaid on the side.

I can understand that entirely.

This also would make sense for why JR soles have gotten such a reputation from cobblers. Quite simply: JR has marketed themselves primarily as a resole company, rather than a bespoke shoe market.

I'd also envision the resole business is a lot more profitable than the bespoke market. The bespoke market is, after all, extremely niche, whereas resoles are frequent business for any skilled cobbler.

Nevertheless, I also understand why you wouldn't want to show off a brand other than your own work.

 

[JFWR]

Here in Spain cobblers do not get Bakers, Garat, Masur nor Bastin leather outsoles or bends as those do not sell here. The italians just go to the GY makers. Just a very few knowlegeable cobblers get JR as the one I work with (I get cuts from groupon or bends). Most of them use low quality and cheap argentinean leather.
Therefore, to have JR leather out of this market is a real pain for us shoe aficionados. I just bought some JR bend for my future resoles as I do not send my shoes to the makers anymore due to cost and the hassle of the expedition.
I understand this is a market shock for most of the prestigious HW makers in central europe too. I am really sad to hear those news.
So if this reputable company (probably the one with the largest market share?) is closing down, what could happen to the other few ones in the near future?

It's a real blow to the industry and a real blow to people who want to have good quality leather soles. I would get JR soles because I can notice a substantial difference v. what is standard fare from shoe companies.

Right now, I am wondering if there just will even be an option for a better-quality leather sole anymore?

For instance, I don't have my Allen Edmonds resoled by AE because the quality of their soles isn't as good as the JR. It's not bad, but I have run through AE soles very quickly, and not so with my JR soled shoes.