During the month we were extremely proud to have celebrated our very first birthday.  Our inaugural launch was on the 9th November 2011 and what an fantastic journey it has been!  In twelve months we have opened eight franchises with five now operating in Brisbane and three in Melbourne.  They say it is important to crawl before you walk and we certainly did that investing significant time, energy and effort developing something that has not been done in Australia before.

As with any excited one year old we want to walk faster and with increased accuracy, dare I say even run toward the next year ahead.  We want to find more sand pits to play in and more friends to join us so they too may benefit from the enthusiastic network that continues to expand around the Buffed brand.

The reality of course is we would not be here today if it were not for the support of those involved.  Firstly an enormous thanks to all our Buffed clients for sitting in the chair, for dropping off your prized possessions, for becoming our regulars and for advocating to your friends, family and colleagues.   Any business needs consumers to survive but for most your support goes well beyond this and I thank you!

To the Wise Foundation and the broader network of support from the Adidem Group it continues to be a great learning in social business development and to the many who have made valuable contributions thank you! For the staff and students at UQ Business School, for your ongoing participation in Buffed we certainly appreciate your involvement.

To all the crew (and there is lots of them) from BOQ your proactive approach to assisting Buffed grow is admirable.  The organisational commitment and individual appetite at every level in wanting to see Buffed succeed on a grand scale is a refreshing.

Thanks to the nonprofit organisations we work with in assisting to identify and recruit our franchisees.  And a sincere thanks to the several property groups that host our current franchise locations, we look forward to securing many more sites and providing a premium service to building tenants and others that utilise the space.

To the Buffed HQ staff including Ameily Siow, Kate Kay and Tiah Goldstein and also to Will Kent earlier in the year, your dedicated and passionate efforts are personally very appreciated.  Your responsiveness, tenacity and flexibility are an asset to Buffed.

The last and largest thanks and biggest shout of praise is for the Buffed franchisees.  They have made significant commitments, worked hard, invested in themselves, proactively sort new opportunities to expand, developed trusted relationships with clients and taken the risk to enter arena of being a small business owner as a means to secure their own future.  We have had our challenges but many more rewards and laughs along the way.  I dare say I have already learned more from you then I may ever be able to pass on in return.

Thanks for an amazing year!!

Regards,

Peter Ball

Be part of the gallery - do you have photos from the event that you'd like to submit? Send them to us at info @ buffed.org.au and we'll add you to our page of fame!

Buffed will be offering complimentary shoe shines at QueensPlaza from September 17 - 30 as part of QueensPlaza's Spring/Summer 2012 Campaign. Visit us for a buff, 8am - 2pm weekdays.

*These tips can also be applied to leather dress shoes and heels.

Step 1: Dust off

Dust is abrasive and can cause microscopic scratches on the leather which causes it to look dull and aged. Make it routine to dust off your boots with a soft cloth after each wear.

Step 2: Remove dirt

Check for caked-on mud or dirt in and around the crevices of your boots. Using a cotton bud or a baby toothbrush, gently brush off the dirt on your boots. For big patches of mud on the soles of your boots, take them outside and gently knock them together to dislodge.

Important Shoe Guru Tip: Do not use household cleaners or solvents to clean your boots! This will cause the leather to dry out and crack.

Step 3: Apply leather conditioner and shoe polish

Leather needs moisture to help it stay soft and pliable. Apply a thin layer of leather conditioner onto a boot and rub it in. Next use a soft cloth and apply coloured polish that matches your leather and buff it out for a shiny finish.

Shoe Guru Tip: Not sure what colour polish to use? Visit a Buffed site and our franchisees will be able to help you select the right products. Or just hop onto our shoe shine chair and get an instant, hassle-free buff!

Step 4: After-wear care

It’s important to dry your boots out after each wear. Your feet contain about 250,000 sweat glands and the combination of moisture and heat in a tiny enclosed boot can cause unpleasant smells to develop. See my tips on how to get rid of the stink.

Never dry your shoes with heat as this will cause the leather to dry out and crack. Use wooden boots trees to retain the shape and draw out excess moisture.

Follow these tips for happy (and warm) feet this winter.

The GPT Group is one of Australia’s leading diversified property groups. JLL specialises in financial and professional services for the real estate market and manages a portfolio specifically for the GPT Group.

Buffed franchisee Rick Pass continues to work closely with many JLL staff and contractors who have been instrumental in assisting his business to thrive. Buffed will also be part of the enhanced tenant services at the new neighbouring building at 111 Eagle St (OneOneOne), which is also owned by GPT Group and managed by JLL.  All employees from both the Riverside Centre and 111 Eagle St have demonstrated a proactive and passionate interest in assisting Rick with his new franchise and has made a significant difference.

Within the very competitive commercial office environment, both GPT and JLL have identified that providing a premium service to tenants and individuals that utilise these spaces can offer a positive point of difference. Based on the success of this relationship, Buffed is now working closely with senior executives from both GPT and JLL to explore many more buildings in which the Buffed model can be replicated.

JLL’s focus on creating welcoming and inclusive environments that cultivate a mix of dynamic people and vibrant ideas to enrich the communities in which they operate, combined with the GPT Group’s dedication to community engagement and development make for a beneficial relationship with Buffed.

A big Buffed thanks to all of the individuals in these organisations who have been involved to date!

The University of Queensland Business School is a founding partner of Buffed and having such a renowned academic institution so proactively involved has been instrumental to date and shaping to be even more valuable in the future.

Wise Foundation and UQ Business School connected through the Social Economic and Engagement Program (SEEP) in which MBA students within the UQ Business School are given the opportunity to work with community based organisations to provide an active learning environment.

MBA students worked closely with Wise Foundation Executive Director, Alex McDonald on initial market research and business plan development.  Students and staff were then actively involved in positioning the concept of a national network of shoe shine stands to corporate organisations to obtain financial support and strategic participation.

Beyond their valuable initial involvement through the launch phase of Buffed, UQ Business School has further cemented their partnership by committing dedicated research resources.  This important initiative will see UQ Business School staff work closely with Buffed to investigate the sustainability and success of the Buffed business model as a viable social franchise.

The research will contribute to assessing whether the social franchise model offers a commercially and socially viable solution for generating sustainable self-employment opportunities for individuals who have previously faced challenges in the labor market.

The methodology will incorporate a longitudinal action research model utilising mixed method approach, which combines qualitative and quantitative research methods.  Surveys, interviews, data analysis and participant observation will be used to determine consumer perception, behavior and engagement.

A large component of the research will focus on the ‘shared value return’ that is created to gain insights into the relationships between business outcomes and broader personal, economic, consumer and social impacts.

The vision is to deliver comprehensive six monthly rolling reports that will be made publicly available.  These reports will be designed to communicate a detailed insight to all those involved and interested in social business models and provide an overview to others who are looking to develop scalable commercial models that at their core look to create social impacts.

Invest in a pair of shoes that can make the transition from casual to slightly dressy, think shoes you could wear out to a pub but which leaves the option open to hit up a bar or club later… leave the runners for the gym.

Shoe Guru's put together a list of shoes that go from office to drinks in 0 to 60!

Aquila - Thorn Black - $149.00                                      Croft - Austin Tan - $169.95

Aquila – Monty in Tan and Brown $139.00           Julius Marlow – Bullet natural $119.95

Aquila – Hynes Tan $199.00                                Michael Hockey – Pavement Black $290.00

Windsor Smith - James Whiskey $129.95               Uncut Kensington – Mushroom $49.95

*prices from Aquila.com.au and styletread.com.au

As with all brand new shoes, make sure you remember to get them shined and conditioned before you wear them! This important routine will ensure that your treasured soles will last longer. For more tips on general shoe care , check out our post Shoe Guru #1: Top 10 Shoe Care tips.

The dynamic partnership between Buffed and the (BOQ) is focused on building a strong and collaborative relationship. BOQ is a founding partner of Buffed and therefore the Wise Foundation; the not-for-profit organisation which launched Buffed in November 2011.

BOQ are an established but also growing business that is forging into new territories and a business that’s synonymous for being proactive within communities at all levels. Importantly for Buffed it’s also a corporate entity that embraces the value of empowering individuals.

One of the inaugural Buffed sites is located within BOQ Centre’s foyer in Brisbane where Buffed Franchisee Grant Richards operates his shoe shining business. Outside of their central office location BOQ has 260 branches throughout the country.  This means having the internal capacity to effectively manage the obvious property matters that a network of this volume would require. Buffed has already been very fortunate in leveraging the wealth of knowledge and networks from the senior staff in the property management department.

BOQ has further extended their commitment to this venture by providing Buffed Franchisees with a compelling offer that includes business banking accounts and merchant facility services.  This allows affordable and accessible banking services which allow the franchisees to operate a premium service to their own clients.  Offering clients the ability to pay for Buffed services using EFTPOS is an added value to our clients and that is possible because of the support of BOQ.

Beyond the launch BOQ have continued to have Buffed involved in their many events including a national conference, their annual general meeting and internal staff events.  This has allowed Buffed to refine the manner in which we develop and implement a mobile service that will create additional commercial opportunities for franchisees.

The Buffed social franchise model has a significant focus on the upfront training and ongoing development of our franchisees.  The Buffed Franchisee Development programme will provide franchisees with a comprehensive cross section of all the fundamental components of managing and growing a small business.

The majority of the training modules delivered each week will be presented by industry experts.  Buffed is fortunate to have the support of BOQ and other organisations that can assist across various areas of their franchise business including Banking, Finance, Customer Service, Sales, Financial Literacy, Budgeting, Marketing and Communications.

The Buffed mentor programme also aligns each franchisee with individual mentors that will offer their ongoing assistance through regular meetings. The current Buffed franchisees have already expressed the benefit they receive from such relationships with BOQ staff.

The national network that BOQ operates is largely made up of owner manager branches.  At the BOQ national conference their thorough knowledge of the Buffed initiative demonstrated the strong internal support for the model.  In addition the commitment from these owner managers to support Buffed as we expand into their cities and regions was overwhelming.

The founding partnership with BOQ is still within its first year however it has already proven to be of significant value in developing a unique social franchise business.  The level of support from Chairman, directors, CEO (both previously and new), senior executive, central office staff, owner managers and branch staff alike has been heartening.

Over the next few years Buffed is confident this partnership will continue to develop and prosper in a way that can offer collective benefits to not only BOQ and Buffed but other organisations that pursue corporate community partnerships.

From the handy...

You wouldn't want to be without your Pokémon if there's a surprise battle. That's why you caught them all in the first place.

I'm a person who loses their TV remote all the time. A remote control/alarm shoe would be the handiest item EVER!

To wearable art...

These shoes by Kobi Levi are designed to be wearable. There's even a shopping trolley inspired pair!

To the downright painful...

Ow.

OW.

What the.. NO THANKS.

Send us your weird shoe images or post them to our Twitter/Facebook @BuffedOz.

Smelly cheese, sour milk, stench of death, stinky foot syndrome – smelly feet happens to the best of us. So what causes stinky feet?

Answer: Sweat and heat.

Did you know that your feet contain more sweat glands than any other part of your body? There are approximately 250,000 glands in each foot! Sweat is odourless but because your feet are trapped in footwear all day, the warm and moist environment is perfect bacteria breeding ground.  This bacterial growth (aka Brevibacteria) is what causes the unpleasant smell.

(Psst! Brevibacteria is the same bacteria used to ferment certain cheeses that give them a similar pungency.)

How can I prevent stinky feet then, Shoe Guru?

It’s fairly simple to prevent stinky feet. Here are some tips the Shoe Guru has put together for you.

• Good foot hygiene reduces bacteria growth.
• Wear cotton socks. The cotton wicks away moisture. Change your socks at least once a day if you sweat a lot
• Wash your feet with warm soapy water and make sure you scrub to get rid of the dead skin. Dry thoroughly (don’t forgot to dry between the toes!)
• Use foot powder/sprays. These powders or sprays absorb the excess moisture that causes foot odour. You can find them in all pharmacies, supermarkets or speciality shoe stores.
• Try not to wear the same pair of shoes twice in a row. Your shoes need time to dry out in between. If you wear in-soles, make sure you take them out to dry too.
• Wear shoes that allow your feet to “breathe”.

You don't want this to happen at home.

Try this Stinky Shoes B’Gone home remedy:

You will need:

• Baking soda (a.k.a sodium bicarbonate)
• White vinegar

1. Fill an empty spray bottle with a small amount of white vinegar and spray the vinegar inside smelly shoes.
2. Once the vinegar has dried completely, sprinkle a good coating of baking soda into the shoe and leave it on for at least a couple of hours (overnight is best). Empty the excess powder by gently tapping the shoe on concrete or somewhere outside.
3. Use the baking soda method any time the shoes need freshening.

Do you have any other tried and true remedies to share?

The positive feedback on last month’s Buffington Post has been phenomenal! We are greatly encouraged to see everyone sharing the newsletter with networks and friends and jumping aboard the shoe shine revolution.

Our sites are again firing on all cylinders after a quiet January, due to everyone escaping the CBD for their summer holidays. Some valued clients did make use of the slow season to drop off large bags containing all their shoes for  a complete new year, new you, shoe polish! A new year’s resolution perhaps! We are in the final stages of securing a few additional sites for Brisbane CBD so keep your eye out as they just might be in your building.

Buffed’s plans for expansion include new sites opening in Sydney and Melbourne throughout the next two months. We’re now working closely with some of the leading  property groups across the country to explore the possibilities of locating Buffed franchises in many of the amazing buildings they own and/or manage.

In addition to securing sites we will of course need to recruit suitable individuals to join the Buffed team as Franchisees. We’ve spoken with several non-profit organisations and are very keen to expand this network. Please give us a shout if you know of any organisations that work closely with individuals that would make great shoe shine technicians and relish an opportunity to own and operate a small business.

In other quick updates, Buffed has been fortunate to gain some media time with a feature on Channel 10 news and on radio with ABC612 this month. This month we introduce you to our franchisee Grant and feature articles covering the most interesting social business news links and The Shoe Guru’s Top Tips on caring for the other leather in your life.

Thanks and regards… Peter

Shoe Guru received an email from a Buffington Post subscriber who says: "I really liked last month's feature on leather shoe care but what about leather chairs? I love my leather furniture but it's looking very dull and faded. Why is this happening?" - Leather furniture lover

Excellent question, my fellow leather enthusiast! If you follow these leather care tips at home, you hopefully won’t need to drag your sofa to a Buffed location (note – Buffed does not offer a couch cleaning service).

General Leather Care Tips

• Keep your leathers out of the sun. Some leathers will fade over time in direct or even indirect sunlight. Unless you are deliberately fading your leathers, don’t store them in the sunlight.
• Always apply a leather protector to your leather furniture immediately before you begin to use it.
• Use the proper leather care products that came with your furniture.

With these general leather care tips, you'll keep yourself and your leather happy!

• Dirty leather: Just use a damp cloth. Never use household cleaning products (e.g. soap, detergents, solvents, furniture polish, varnish, oils) on your leather as they cause irreparable damage.
• If the stain persists, consult a professional leather care specialist. Home remedies might cause more damage to the leather.
• If your leather gets wet, blot up the excess water and let it air-dry at room temperature. Do not use heat, it will dry out and crack the leather.

Spilled water on your leather? Blot away the excess.

• Do not store your leather products in plastic, so chuck the plastic wrapping your furniture came in. Leather needs ventilation – use a cloth cover instead.
• Avoid using or placing sharp objects on leather goods.
• Dust leather furniture weekly with a soft cloth. The dust that settles on the surface can lead to fine scratches or damage the finish on leather upholstery.
• Constant flipping and rotation of cushions helps keeps wrinkles from permanently developing in the leather.

Did you enjoy these Top Tips? Remember to subscribe to The Buffington Post for more (Form on the lower right hand corner of this page).

Somehow we aren’t flipping out over these. They even come in different colours!

Pretty rat-ical...

With the prices of bananas going down in Australia, these shoes are looking pretty a-peeling. Make sure they don't slip away.

Wear these and you'll be raising the hoof at every party.

Literal "Crocs".

Shoes are important. They protect your feet from many things like glass and rocks. With these barefoot shoes, you can be one with nature while still protecting your soles!

Brings new meaning to the term "Business Casual".

You can count on these to turn heads.

Literal kick-boxing.

Follow us on or like us on for more crazy shoes!

Buffed now has its very own YouTube channel! Click here to view the latest shiny news!

Don't forgot to subscribe to our YouTube channel if you have an account - you'll get instant notifications when there are new videos, delivered your inbox.

The emergence of community enterprise, impact business and social franchising is booming.  The corporate world is expanding on CSR frameworks and embedding practises that are Creating Shared Value.  Individual social entrepreneurs are sharing the spotlight with corporate moguls and political heavy weights.  Innovative nonprofit organisations are achieving global reach rather than being confined to sole communities.  Academic institutions are researching and reporting on new movements and mechanisms for creating social impact.  And bold intermediaries are leveraging the strengths of capital and consumer markets to generate Blended Value returns.  WHAT??

Each month we will sift through the midfield to share snippets of the really shiny stuff that is happening both locally and globally!  Here is a small taste of some of the more polished news in the last month:

• School for Social Entrepreneurs is currently accepting second chance applications for their 2012 Programme
• Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission will become operational in July this year and the ACNC Taskforce web site will be something to keep a close eye on in coming months as the strategic direction and policy initiatives start to take shape
• An insightful post on Social Design by Ingrid Burkett
• The launch of a new book titled Screw Business As Usual by Richard Branson.  Typical of everything Branson touches it is highly publicised but not always with admiration.  Its release has been covered by Fast Company,  Forbes, Business Week, The Economist and the Financial Times.  While reviews were a little harsh it is certainly something that will be noted by corporate leaders globally.
• A recent Harvard Business Review blog on the future of CSR and key areas for corporates in 2012
• An article from Ventureneer covering the ‘25 Best Social Media for Social Good Blogs’
• Deloitte’s new Social Innovation Pioneers programme launched in the UK.   I wonder if any institutions in Australia are exploring similar ways to comprehensively support socially innovative businesses.
• An article in the Wall Street Journal on the innovative legal structures being introduced in response to the emergence of social business ventures.  Do we think the need for new corporate structures is necessary within Australia..??

If you have any worthy articles, forthcoming events or general news on social business that you would like shared on The Buffington Post, please send an email to info@buffed.org.au

Phew! Thanks to everyone who contributed to the Brisbane launch of Buffed in November, which was a sparkling success. We’ve been enormously encouraged by the impressive coalition of corporate and not-for-profit support that has assembled behind Australia’s first social franchise business. If you’re not already aware, Buffed offers individuals who are unemployed or underemployed the opportunity to secure their futures through small business ownership – i.e. shoe shine stands provided, supported and marketed by Buffed.

The two shiny new Buffed franchises are open in Brisbane’s CBD. Rick is located at Riverside Centre (123 Eagle St) and Grant started at BOQ Centre (259 Queen St). Both sites have brightened and enlivened the building foyers they are positioned within, and business has been brisk for these pioneers. “Buffed franchise is a unique and positive opportunity for those of us involved… throughout my involvement with Buffed I have been shown more respect and afforded more dignity that any job I’ve ever had” Rick – franchisee at Riverside Centre

We’re on a mission to grow this innovative and scalable business with more sites around Brisbane and to other towns and cities throughout Australia, where it can continue to generate positive social impact.  We are setting our sights high for 2012 and hope you’ll come on the journey with us (wearing shiny shoes of course!)

Each month, The Buffington Post will introduce you to the people and partners who are making Buffed sparkle, and whose enthusiasm, energy and expertise we believe will make Buffed a leader in the social enterprise space. Each month it will feature articles on the people and organisations helping Buffed to expand, news on social enterprise generally, as well as specific tips and tricks from the Shoe Guru!

Creating Buffed would not be possible without the support from our founding partners BOQ, University of Queensland Business School and The Body Shop. Making it grow into the national enterprise that we envisage will require further strategic partners so if the organisation you represent might be interested we look forward to hearing from you.  Please also forward The Buffington Post to your friends and colleagues who might be interested in the development and success of Buffed .

I welcome your feedback and suggestions on The Buffington Post and Buffed in general, and wish each and every one of you every success in this New Year!

It is shaping up to be a very polished 2012.

All the best

Peter Ball

Manager, Buffed

Tip #1 – Leather needs regular conditioning in dry environments in order to prevent it from drying out and cracking.

Tip #2 - Use wooden shoe trees in leather shoes and boots and stuff empty handbags with tissue paper to retain their shape. The wood draws out inner moisture that may have accumulated after a long day.

Cedar Shoe Trees. They make your shoes smell good and are also adjustable to fit different sizes and even high heels!

Tip #3 - Do not store leather goods in plastic bags or other nonporous covers. Leather shoes are best stored in shoe boxes or cloth bags.

Tip #4 - Use a shoe horn - Always use a shoe horn when putting on your shoes, this saves the heel collar and counter from unnecessary wear

Tip #5 - Always get your shoes waxed or oiled so they repel water. The less water absorbed by leather (think walking through dew, in puddles etc.), the longer they will last as wet leather can stretch and shrink and become brittle once dry.

Water damaged leather shoes.

Tip #6 - Avoid heat – If your leather shoes get wet, stuff them with newspaper. The paper will draw the moisture out. Let your shoes air dry at room temperature and always keep shoes away from direct heat. Never leave them to dry near a fire or heater as it will cook and stretch the leather and your shoes will become stiff and brittle. Refrain from leaving your shoes in a moist environment where they will stay wet for days as they can become mouldy. Apply leather conditioner regularly to maintain quality, flexibility and a longer lasting leather.

Tip #7 - Shoe Bags – Always use a cloth shoe bag when travelling.  This way your clothes won’t get dirty and you can turn the bag inside out and use it as a polish cloth.

Cloth shoe bag.

Tip #8 - When polishing your shoes, always use quality products. Many mainstream brand name products are kerosene based and might achieve a short term shine but will quickly dry out your leather shoes. The Shoe Guru recommends using a beeswax based product which is available at all Buffed stands.

Tip #9 - Boot zips getting stuck? - run a lead pencil down the zip and they will run smoothly again.

Tip #10 - If you're unsure of the right way to care for your shoes, visit your closest Buffed Franchisee for advice.

Like these tips? Subscribe to The Buffington Post to receive monthly news and quality shoe shining tips! Click here or scroll to the bottom right of this page to subscribe.

Head over to the foyer of Riverside Centre, 123 Eagle St, Brisbane and receive the finest shoe shine in town from one of Buffed's inaugural Franchisees, Rick Pass.

The Wise Foundation, the charity that brought the Big Issue magazine to Australa, is set to launch Buffed, a shoe shining business that aims to empower individuals who want to work but whose opportunities are limited.

Mr Pass, one of the first four Buffed franchisees, said he previously struggled to secure permanent and satisfactory prospects in the job market and is keen to set up his stand and start work.

"A week from now I'll be sitting in the stock exchange building polishing shoes and making money," he said.

"This is a winner."

Buffed manager Peter Ball told AAP that a social franchise is a business model that uses established market mechanisms to achieve social outcomes.

Mr Ball said the Big Issue was a great example of a business model that can help people transition out of hardship, and hopes Buffed will have the same impact.

"We want to have a network of 200 shoe shine stands across Australia," he told AAP.

A no-interest loan to assist funding the franchise has been set up to help disadvantaged people take the opportunity.

Punk rocker and franchisee Jimme Jam is a fast talking and energetic character, and a wizard with the brush, who told AAP he was looking forward to being his own boss.

"It's my own little enterprise," he said.

"It's a whole life changing experience."

Jimme has been motivated to return to stable employment as he recently become a father for the first time and said he can't wait for his little boy to learn the drums so he can back dad up on stage.