The Return of the Repair Shop
For most of the twentieth century, fixing things was an ordinary part of life. Shoes were taken to a cobbler, radios to an electrician, and torn clothes were mended at home. By the early 2000s, however, this habit had largely disappeared in many wealthy countries. Products became cheaper to replace than to repair, and the small workshops that once lined local high streets closed one after another. Recently, though, there are signs that repair is making a comeback, driven by a mixture of economic pressure, environmental concern and simple curiosity.
The decline of repair had several causes. Manufacturing moved to regions where labour costs were low, so the price of new goods fell sharply. At the same time, the cost of skilled labour in richer countries kept rising. A technician might charge more for one hour of work than the price of a brand-new toaster. Design also changed. Many modern devices are glued rather than screwed together, and spare parts are often unavailable to the public. Even when parts can be found, special tools may be needed just to open the case. As a result, a broken appliance that could once have been fixed in twenty minutes is now usually thrown away.
The first sign of change came from volunteers rather than businesses. In community halls and libraries, groups began organising monthly events known as repair cafés, where residents can bring broken items and work alongside volunteers to fix them. Some events now attract more than a hundred visitors in a single afternoon. There is no charge, although visitors are encouraged to leave a small donation. Organisers say that the purpose is not only to save objects from the rubbish bin but also to teach people basic skills. According to one survey of participants, almost two thirds of the items brought to these events were successfully repaired, with bicycles and lamps being the easiest to fix and smartphones the most difficult.
Commercial repair is also growing. A new generation of small businesses has appeared, often run by young people who learned their skills from online videos rather than formal training. Many of these shops specialise in a single category, such as laptops, coffee machines or outdoor clothing. Their owners argue that specialisation allows them to buy parts in bulk and to work much faster than a general repair shop. Some have also introduced subscription schemes in which customers pay a fixed annual fee for unlimited repairs on one device, an idea borrowed from the insurance industry. Customers seem to appreciate the personal service as well: unlike a large retailer, a small repair shop can explain exactly what went wrong and how to avoid the same problem in future.
Governments have begun to respond. Several countries have introduced or proposed so-called 'right to repair' rules, which require manufacturers to make spare parts and repair manuals available for a minimum number of years after a product goes on sale. In some places, consumers can also claim a tax reduction on repair services. Supporters believe these measures will reduce waste and create local jobs. Critics, on the other hand, point out that manufacturers may simply pass the extra costs on to customers in the form of higher prices.
Not everyone is convinced that the revival will last. Some economists note that repair becomes popular whenever household incomes fall and then loses its appeal when the economy recovers. Others suggest that the current trend is different because it is supported by long-term environmental goals, not just by short-term financial need. They point out that electronic waste is now one of the fastest-growing types of rubbish in the world, and that much of it contains valuable metals that are difficult to recover once a device has been crushed.
Perhaps the most interesting change is in attitudes. For a long time, owning something old or repaired was associated with poverty. Today, a visibly mended jacket or a refurbished phone can be a source of pride, signalling that its owner cares about the environment and has practical skills. Whether this change in image will be enough to keep repair shops open in the long run remains to be seen, but for now, the sound of a screwdriver is returning to the high street.
