Church's In-Store Artisan

About Church's

Founded in Northampton in 1873, Church's stands as one of Britain’s most distinguished names in luxury footwear, renowned for Goodyear-welted construction, refined design, and an enduring commitment to craft. As an employer, the House offers a rare environment where heritage techniques meet contemporary retail, product development, and global brand expression. Its teams contribute to a culture defined by precision, patience, and pride, whether in workshops, boutiques, corporate functions, or international markets. Supported by the vision of the Prada Group, Church's seeks professionals who value excellence, authenticity, and service, and who are inspired to safeguard tradition while shaping the future of modern British elegance.

Church's seeks an In-Store Artisan to deliver exceptional client experiences in its Milano boutique, positioning the client at the center of all interactions and serving as a brand ambassador. The role centers on executing specialized artisanal services—including Made-to-Order and Made-to-Measure consultations, Finger Polishing (hand-finishing), bespoke personalizations, repair management, and post-sale care—while stewarding Church's heritage of English shoemaking craftsmanship and excellence. The successful candidate will manage client requests through completion, coordinate with the factory and back-of-house teams, achieve repair conversion targets, and cultivate meaningful client relationships through personalized service delivery.

Role & Responsibilities

• Ensure full compliance with repair processes and documentation protocols (repair docket system)
• Manage Made-to-Order and Made-to-Measure client journeys from consultation through order placement, factory monitoring, client updates, and post-sale support
• Execute Finger Polishing services according to daily and weekly demand, maintaining client contact and processing transactions with boutique team support
• Achieve repair request conversion targets on a monthly and annual basis, monitoring results against assigned KPIs
• Deliver post-sale assistance services including warranty resoling, extended-warranty solutions, client recall initiatives, footwear inspections, and accessory cleaning and maintenance
• Support the boutique team in client engagement, loyalty initiatives, and sales opportunity development including Personal Appointments and Private Appointments
• Assess footwear condition and recommend appropriate care, repair, restoration, or personalization solutions aligned with client needs
• Demonstrate artisanal techniques and explain shoecare, repair, and personalization services to clients, creating engaging in-store experiences
• Support client database registration and manage CRM follow-up requests

Qualifications

• Proven experience in footwear repair, care, restoration, and/or customization, preferably in luxury footwear, fashion, or leather goods sectors
• Solid knowledge of traditional shoemaking craft techniques including polishing, patinating, leather care, and finishing
• Demonstrated expertise in repair and maintenance interventions such as resoling, heel replacement, insole replacement, leather cleaning, and restoration
• Ability to deliver in-store personalization and bespoke services with exceptional precision and attention to detail, including manual initial embossing and laser sole engraving
• Deep knowledge of leather types, footwear materials, care products, creams, and professional maintenance treatments
• Experience operating and maintaining specialist tools and equipment for footwear care, repair, restoration, and personalization
• Solid understanding of luxury shoemaking construction, production methods, and artisanal standards
• Genuine appreciation and passion for Church's heritage, brand identity, and artisanal excellence, with ability to represent the brand as a credible ambassador
• Excellent manual and craft skills combined with meticulous attention to detail and quality
• Confidence in demonstrating artisanal techniques and explaining footwear services to clients
• Strong customer service and communication abilities with capacity to build credibility and client trust
• Competence in administrative management and documentation relating to repairs, care services, and client personalization requests
• Ability to conduct footwear check-ups and provide professional consultation on care, maintenance, and renovation options

Skills

Experience

Proven background in footwear repair, maintenance, restoration, or personalization, ideally in luxury sectors. Previous roles may include Footwear Repair Technician, Cobbler, Shoemaking Artisan, Sole Repair Specialist, or Footwear Technician. Demonstrated experience with traditional shoemaking craft techniques and repair interventions such as resoling, heel replacement, and leather restoration is highly preferred.

Education

No specific formal qualifications stated; however, technical training or certification in shoemaking, leatherworking, or related artisanal disciplines is advantageous.

Workplace

Compensation

The base compensation for this position ranges from EUR 30,000 to EUR 45,000 per annum.

Culture

Church's fosters a workplace culture rooted in British craftsmanship, heritage, and an uncompromising attention to detail. As an employer, it offers an environment where traditional shoemaking expertise meets the standards of a global luxury house, encouraging pride in workmanship, refined service, and long-term professional development.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.