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George Zimmer is back. Should Men's Wearhouse worry?

Written by George Anderson

Will men like the way they look more in tuxedos and suits rented from Men's Wearhouse or a new company, Generation Tux, founded by George Zimmer, the founder and former CEO and pitchman for the aforementioned men's clothing chain?

Generation Tux is a digital rental service that enables men to order their suits and tuxedos, along with vests, cummberbunds, ties, shoes and related accessories. What makes the process unique is the tie-in with zTailors, another company founded by Mr. Zimmer, that sends tailors to the homes and offices of customers to provide them with expert fittings.

"Customers demand a digital experience, so we created Generation Tux to change the way people wear and rent tuxedos," said Mr. Zimmer in a statement. "After 40 years of experience in the retail industry, I saw a need to create a platform that would place the customer at the center of the rental process and make renting a tux or suit worry-free by bringing the experience directly to them — so they can look and feel their best during the best times of their lives."

George Zimmer
Photo: Generation Tux

Generation Tux enters a field that is crowded with competitors in both brick and click environments.

As a Forbes article points out, digital rental services for men's formalwear include Menquin, National Tuxedo Rentals, SimpleTux, The Black Tux and Tux Ship.

Men's Wearhouse, which fired Mr. Zimmer in 2013 following a dispute with the board over the direction of the company, displays tuxedos online but requires store visits for fittings and rentals.

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