About

The American Bronzing Company is the direct marketing division of the oldest, largest and most-trusted baby shoe bronzing company in the world, the Bron-Shoe Company.

Since 1934, the company has bronzed over 14,000,000 baby shoes for sentimental parents everywhere. This privately-held business is into its third generation of family leadership. And the history of this company is as rich as the appearance of its products.

In the early 1930s, Violet Shinbach was shopping at a department store in Cleveland, Ohio, when she saw something that caught her eye, a simple pair of baby shoes that had been “bronzed”. This was just a tiny sideline the store offered (they used a local metal plater to process the few shoes that were brought in).

Mrs. Shinbach had her shoes bronzed and showed them to her friends and family. Instantly, she knew she had found something special. A true entrepreneur (with a kindergarten teaching background), Mrs. Shinbach quickly showed more friends her beautiful new mementos. She said “I can make a business selling these,” and she DID!

First, she made arrangements with the plater to process the orders for her. Then she took a two-pronged approach to sales. She went door-to-door, looking for families who showed signs of babies in their yards or homes (tricycles, small swing sets, etc. as these were the best prospects). She also traveled to many cities to visit the fine jewelry and department stores in each one. She set up these retailers to take baby shoe bronzing orders, with unmounted bronzed shoe counter displays (no bases or other finishes). This was the beginning of our company. In the middle of all this activity, the Shinbachs moved to Columbus, Ohio. And once she had enough business, Mrs. Shinbach needed help. So her husband, Sam, a men’s clothing salesman, joined her in building the business. Others were also hired to handle production. It only took a short time before the Shinbach’s realized they would have to do the bronzing themselves to control the quality.

In 1934, the Bron-Shoe Company was officially founded. On September 22, 1949, the Company was incorporated.

In 1952, the Company went into the direct marketing business, with the new American Bronzing Company Division. With the postwar baby boom, the baby shoe bronzing concept was perfectly timed. And in 1965, the business moved into the current 44,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility at 1313 Alum Creek Drive in Columbus.

The company is currently owned by Robert Kaynes, Jr., grandson of the founder, who serves as President & CEO. The company is listed in Dun & Bradstreet under “Bron-Shoe” and is also a long-standing member of the Greater Columbus (Ohio) Better Business Bureau.

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