My second job in my life was as the shoe shine guy at the Holiday Inn in Duluth, Minnesota.  When I was 16 years old I applied for a job at the Holiday Inn and initially wanted to work as a bus boy or a waiter.  The manager of the hotel told me that they had a shoe shine stand and he was looking for someone that wanted to run the stand.  I initially was apprehensive and did not think that this was the job for me.  After thinking about it for a while I decided I would give it a try.

The Holiday Inn paid me minimum wage to run the shoeshine stand.  All of the hotel guests that were part of the business rewards program received a coupon when they checked in for a free shoeshine.  The Holiday Inn paid for all of my shoe polish, rags, brushes, and other supplies.  My hours were only 12 hours per week, Monday through Thursday 4:00pm - 7:00pm.  After the first week I realized that this was a great job.  I got paid by the hour plus "most" of the guests that received the free shoe shine tipped me from $1.00 to $20 (once and awhile $20).  In 3 hours I could shine about 30 to 40 pair of shoes.  I liked the job so I stuck with it until I graduated from high school.

After I graduated from high school I went to college in Moorhead, Minnesota.  The Fargo, North Dakota Holiday Inn did not have a shoe shine stand.  I drew up plans that showed how to build a stand and I approached the Fargo Holiday Inn and pitched the idea of starting a shoe shine stand there.  The manager liked the idea and agreed to hire me under the same terms that I had worked in high school.  Again the job was great I worked Monday through Thursday from 4:00pm - 7:00pm.  I made tips and on slow days I was able to study for my college classes.  One other bonus about the job I met hundreds of business people that gave me their business cards and offered me jobs when I graduated.

If I could make a recommendation I would highly suggest looking at high end hotels in your area that do not have shoe shine stands.  Ask them if you could run the stand and they would agree pay to have it built.  They get satisfied customers and you get a great networking tool and tips while you are in school.  I found it humorous that my friend that worked a McDonalds at the time worked 30 to 40 hours per week and most of the time made less than I did only working 12 hours.  I later added shoe laces and shoe shine kits for sale to the guests and the Holiday Inn let me keep the money as a side source of income. 

The shoe shine stand I created in Fargo is still there today (2008).  I set the shoe shine stand up in 1989.  It was a successful business and other people have benefited from the stand after I left to pursue my career after college.