George Zimmer is back. Should Men’s Wearhouse worry?
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."
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.
- Generation Tux – website
- George Zimmer Launches Generation Tux at Dreamforce Annual Conference in San Francisco, Revolutionizing Tuxedo & Suit Rentals with Innovative Online Platform – Generation Tux/Business Wire
- Taking Tuxedo Rentals Online: It’s Been Tried, But George Zimmer Is Jumping In, Too – Forbes
- ‘I guarantee it’ Zimmer launches another startup: Generation Tux – CNNMoney
- Menquin
- George Zimmer Didn’t Like Getting Fired, He Guarantees It – RetailWire
Discussion Questions
How likely is Generation Tux to succeed in getting men to change the way they rent tuxedos? What do you see as the greatest challenges and opportunities facing online retailers in the men’s clothing rental market?
Poll
BrainTrust
Ryan Mathews
Founder, CEO, Black Monk Consulting
The “killer app” here — if indeed it is here — is the in-home, in-office, etc., fitting service.
That said, digital rental is already a crowded field and, since tuxedos are generally rented for one-off special occasions, people may still be more comfortable shopping for them in a physical store.
As for challenges, I think many men need help when they buy clothes, especially the more formal the attire. The difference between a well dressed man and a man wearing a nice suit or tux badly is generally some friendly, experienced sales advice.
Men might be fine shopping for casual or even “business casual” wear online, especially if they are replacing existing items, but buying a suit or even renting a tux is another matter altogether, one that often benefits from a critical eye and experience.
The real issue here is which was the brand — George Zimmer or George Zimmer for Men’s Wearhouse? I guess we’ll know pretty soon.
Say goodbye to all the other tuxedo operations. Generation Tux will crank with Mr. Zimmer back in the game. Mr. Zimmer is a hardcore retailer that knows how to take out competitors. If he decides to go hard against Men’s Wearhouse then they have a problem coming right at them. Foundational strong retail minds like Mr. Zimmer have a knack for being in the right place at the right time with the right weapon.
The tough part here with the online element will be closing the sale with the shopper and differentiating with other providers. Generation Tux will expand to help guys that may not need a tux, just a cool style for some event, who do not want to shell out five to six thousand dollars for a hot suit, shoes, etc.
Women already rent for events. Generation Tux will do this for men. They will also never offer the tacky old tuxes like I had for my wedding — ugly white with light blue tuxes for my best men.
George Zimmer was a fixture on TV with his ending comment about liking the way you look. It was a good fit with his brand at the time. I am not confident there is enough formal wear business to go around even without the new player with a strong name. And is this something he really believes in and is committed to? Or is it his way of getting back at the way he was shown the door at Men’s Wearhouse?
This sounds like an app that has a lot of potential, even in a crowded space. The zTailor concept is the real winner. Who wouldn’t enjoy the privacy and one-on-one attention?
Makes me wonder … why did they want him out? Look what he could have done for Men’s Wearhouse to bring it into the 21st century.
For my 2 cents.
I agree with Ed: Men’s Warehouse = George Zimmer = a hirsute visage and booming voice with an unforgettable tagline; without that trifecta, this is just another online startup…yawn. I wish him well.