Services

WHAT SETS US APART

We’ve Got Over 100 Years of Experience

There’s no store in Chicagoland quite like Waxberg’s. Our dedication to customer service was our foundation when we opened over 100 years ago, and it remains the core of our business today. Our Fit Specialists spend one-on-one time with you for as long as you need to find what you need, and they will go out of their way to make sure your shoe fits you perfectly, whether that means modifying your shoe, recommending an insert or orthotic, or simply bringing you as many pairs as you need to try on to find the perfect fit. 

After all, you spend a lot of your life on your feet. Taking proper care of them is important for you — and taking proper care of you is important to us. At Waxberg's we would rather not make a sale than let you walk out with something we feel is not right for you.

WHAT WE OFFER

Services to make sure you get the perfect fit

Fitting

Our goal is to make you as comfortable as possible, so a proper fit is key! Waxberg's is proud to be one of the few stores left that takes the time to sit and fit. During your visit, we properly measure both your feet sitting and standing, assess your foot shape and arch type, and make recommendations based on our conclusions.

When it comes to fitting, the last comes first. A 'last' is the wood or plastic model on which a shoe is manufactured. There are many types of lasts for the many different arch types and foot shapes that you may have. We strive to fit our customers with the type of last that will best suit their individual foot shape. A better last selection means a better fit and more comfort.

We also make use of Brannock devices to make sure your foot measurements are as accurate as possible. We measure the length and width of both of your feet (because they often have different measurements!) and can pick out your proper size accordingly.

brannock device shoe foot sizer

Our staff will spend as long as you need on the fitting process to ensure that you walk out happy. We stock thousands of shoes, boots, sandals, and slippers in almost every size and width. Our widths range from very narrow (4A) to extremely wide (6E), and some of the brands we stock can even go narrower or wider. 

As we work with you, we'll listen to your feedback and give all the advice that our experience can offer. Fitting is a collaborative process, and we want to work with you to make sure your feet are as comfortable and supported as possible.

Analysis

With 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments, each unique foot is a very complicated thing. Examining a person's gait and biomechanics can be a difficult task, but our staff has devoted much of their time to learning exactly that. For example, if we see that you are over or under pronating we can determine if you need a neutral cushioning shoe or a motion control shoe.

Modification

We have a fully stocked in-house lab in which we can perform a range of shoe modifications, from building up a shoe’s height in order to accommodate a leg length discrepancy to spreading a sole to fit a specific foot shape or a brace. No job is too small — we even adjust straps to fit specific foot shapes. We’ll do what it takes to get you a comfortable fit so that you leave happy. Our shoe technicians are some of the best in the field (with more years of experience than they care to admit) and are completely driven by attention to detail. We are certain that you will be completely satisfied with the quality of your shoe modifications.

Stretching & Padding



If you have issues with your shoes fitting poorly in certain areas, there are often steps that can be taken to adjust them. The most common solution is stretching, which is a free service that we offer. Leave your shoes with us for a few days and we’ll use a stretching solution to stretch any area needed, whether it’s as precise as a dime-sized area giving you discomfort or as broad as the whole toe box.

If your shoes are too loose in certain areas, we can help with that as well. We have a variety of pads and cushions in a number of shapes and materials that can be affixed to your shoes to ensure more comfort.

Shoe Maintenance

In addition to adjusting the shoes themselves, we stock many other things related to your comfort and shoe longevity. We carry many different types of over-the-counter orthotics (or inserts) and gel or moleskin accommodative foot products in order to alleviate pressure or pain. To preserve your footwear, we carry products such as mink oil, suede renew, water & stain protector, polish, leather conditioner, Venetian Cream (hard to find, but very useful!), snow seal, and more.