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He has firstâ€"hand knowledge, all that he needs, of Canada‘s woeful economic state. But at the same time, if you‘re interested in waxing philosophical on today‘s work ethic, why Esmail‘s just the man to talk to. Chronicle Staff Tell you what. If you happen to bump into Badru Esâ€" mail at your next cockâ€" tail party, don‘t bother bringing up the recesâ€" sion as a topic of conâ€" versation. As far as business and industry is conâ€" cerned, Esmail and his family have seen lhi highest highs in thei native Uganda, which they fled from in 1973, and are presently exâ€" periencing the lowest of lows. But the angle here is that Esmail, whose family amassed a busiâ€" ness empire worth $5 million, only to be harassed by Uganda‘s military dictatorship accusing them of ‘milking the econâ€" omy", is a rare comâ€" modity in his adopted homeland. Like hundreds of thousands of others reeling in these depressing times, he too has been dealt a bum hand, but rather than sulking about it or going on strike, he, along with brother Hassan and partner Ernst Pixner, have vowed to work for nothâ€" ing at the company they created, Bronco Manufacturing, until the economic climate picks up. The Bronco company was actually formed by Esmails five years ago, soâ€"named for the boot craze at that time. But the present facilities, which include both manufacturing and reâ€" tail space, came into being in March of this â€"It‘s a slow process though, and Badru knows it. Actually, for accuraâ€" cy‘s sake, Badru, 54, and former manager of his family‘s holdings in their native land, is the only fullâ€"time worker at Bronco, a producer and wholesaier of men‘s boots and shoes in the spartan surâ€" roundings of the old Laure!l Industries building at 12 Bridgeâ€" port Rd. E. Pixner is a Kitchener warehouse manager and Hassan is a technical consultant with Canada West Shoe Factory outlet in Kitâ€" chener, which suffered layoffs also last month. It‘s hard work at Bronco. _ bucking the economic times Call Us Today 5552570 _ a T ann Papsre, Tnexs « Professional Resumes, e info Storage The Word Processing Badru Esmail displays the lines of winter boots for sale at Bronco Manufacturing. Rick Campbell photo year with equipment bought from partner â€" pooled resources. Bronco at this point is really a misnomer, since the company‘s now based 50 per cent on reâ€"sale of pickâ€"up stock, the sale of cusâ€" tomâ€"fit, reasonablyâ€" priced shoes, producâ€" tion of clogs, sandals and minor leather goods and token reâ€" tailing of pickâ€"up stock in women‘s lines. Badru is quick to point out also that one of the company‘s most valuâ€" able services is the repairing of "the old favorites", the shoes people just hate to toss away â€" because of their comfort and because of the inflated prices of new footwear. Like many bound to the work ethic, Badru made millions at home but spent so much time with his various busiâ€" nesses he had no time to stop and smell the roses. He doesn‘t here either, deciding recentâ€" ly that if Bronco was to make a go of it in a market not all that kind to small business, he would have to reâ€" main open on Bridgeâ€" port Road from 9â€"5 "I would say on the average we could exâ€" pertly repair an old pair of shoes for 25 per cent of the cost of a new pair, which the conâ€" sumer is very happy about,"‘ said Badru, coincidentally returnâ€" ing to his cramped desk moments after handing over two pairs of repaired used casuâ€" als to a satisfied cusâ€" tomer. Mon.â€"Fri. 86 Seat &1 °* Medical Dental and Nursing Home Supplies. Sales and Rentals of wheelchairs, walking canes, crutches and commodes. G.G.M. MEDICAL SUPPLIES 637 Colby Dr.. Waterloo **We are not yet what you would call a fullâ€" time operation," said Badru, taking a reportâ€" er on a tour of the facilities, fashioning topâ€"quality footwear priced at about half its retail value. "We are working into it graduâ€" ally, but it is such a slow, slow process." With no design to be the David slaying the goliathan shoe manuâ€" facturers in the area, Badru sees no problem existing at a more modest level, since the company‘s forte will be ‘‘the personalized touch""* that logisticalâ€" ly, the giants must forego. And so evolved Bronâ€" co, which, while withâ€" out financial gain, allows Esmails the pride and satisfaction of continuing to pursue their dream while preâ€" venting idleness from becoming the devil‘s workshop. p.m. every day. "I am a condemned man,‘‘ Badru said Tuesday, managing somehow to chuckle at his present dilemma. *"‘I‘ve been here (in Canada) for nine years without a job, I‘ve gone everywhere, even Greb, I‘ve been in job training programs. But you know what they say? I am overâ€" qualified, so much so they don‘t want to ‘‘inâ€" sult" me by offering something far below my capabilities." "It would be suicide to try to compete with the big people in the area â€" technically we could be equal, but financially they are much stronger than we are," said Badru. "But as small people, we can really get to a conâ€" sumer‘s need, we take pride and satisfaction in personally measurâ€" ing a person‘s foot, their leg, to get the shoe just right for them. Everyone has to wear shoes, right, and if we can make a cusâ€" tomer really plea;& with our personal cara and quality product, well that makes us At the present, conâ€" To the Citizens of Waterloo sumer traffic flow to the Bronco operation, delineated only by sevâ€" eral handmade signs on the side of the buildâ€" ing, has been prompted by word of mouth, through relatives and friends. ‘‘You see that quesâ€" tionnaire I asked that customer to fill out, we ask them what they look for in buying a shoe. See what he checked out?" Comfort and fit. And craftsmanship. ~ The condemned man rests his case. And satisfied cusâ€" tomers. 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