When you meet someone new and they glance down at your shoes, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re shy – they might really be sizing you up. Some people actually consider your shoes to be the windows to your soul – valid or not, this kind of judgment does affect the way people behave around you.

Like an expensive wristwatch, well-shined shoes serve no practical purpose.

Just like you can easily check the time, along with your day planner and reminders, on your phone, polished footwear doesn’t make you walk faster. Their benefit is that putting on either makes a statement and people are more likely to take you seriously.

This is where this automatic shoeshine kit comes in. The powerful 3-speed motor makes it easy to remove even tough dirt, after which you can apply shoe cream and polish your leather to a high shine without any effort at all.

Six brushes are included for scrubbing and buffing shoes of different colors, as is a selection of three creams for different applications (you can order more here).

The brush heads simply pop on and off using magnets, so you won’t have to fiddle with them and there are no retaining clips to break.

The polisher and all accessories fit nicely into a contoured cardboard box which in turn goes into a drawstring bag. This makes it great for giving as a gift or taking with you on a trip.

You’ll also find it useful when dealing with leather goods other than shoes such as bags, attaché cases and car seats.