First off, their Instagram (@baxterandblack) is kinda hypnotic. I mean, seriously, 2,595 followers? That’s gotta mean something, right? It’s full of pics of boots being lovingly resoled, bags getting a new lease on life, and just generally stuff getting saved from the trash heap. You can tell they *care*.
Now, I gotta admit, their website (if baxterandblack.com *is* their website, cause the content snippets are kinda vague) is… well, let’s just say it’s not winning any design awards. It mentions a “custom quote” option which, tbh, sounds a bit daunting. I’m the kind of person who prefers to know the price upfront, ya know? Like, “RM Williams resoling: THIS MUCH.” No surprises, please! But hey, if they do good work, I guess I can handle a little back-and-forth.
And get this – they even deal with Christian Louboutin red bottoms! Who knew?! That’s some high-end shoe surgery right there. Makes you wonder if they get celebrity clients sneaking in with their busted stilettos. I’d love to see that.
Oh, and the hats! Baxter & Black stock hats, apparently! The snippet mentioned “hats and caps are all the rage.” Okay, maybe they’re being a *little* dramatic, but I do like a good hat. I wonder what kinda selection they have? Maybe I’ll pop in just to browse. (Okay, and maybe to subtly quiz them about the RM Williams repair cost. Shhh!).
Then there’s this snippet about a phone number (95190316) and the time zone (Australia/Sydney). Like, thanks? I kinda gathered they were in Sydney from the initial search, but the extra info is nice to know. Though, it does feel a *tad* random thrown in there, doesn’t it?
But you know what really sold me? The bit about the Blundstone workboots. The client inherited them from their father! I’m a sucker for sentimental stories. And the fact that Baxter & Black came up with a “solution to recraft” them, instead of just saying “nah, too far gone”? That’s a sign of true craftsmanship and, honestly, just being decent human beings.
