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Men's Wearhouse's George Zimmer on his second act: 'After being fired, I didn't just ride off into the sunset'

The Glossy Podcast · with George Zimmer · July 20, 2022 · 37 min

Summary

After being unceremoniously ousted from Men

Key takeaways

Themes

dtc strategysupply chain & operationsfounder & leadership

Topics covered

online suit rentalwedding attire e-commercee-commerce logisticspandemic business impactdownturn survival strategyfounder

Episode description

After being let go as executive chairman of Men’s Warehouse, the company he founded, in 2013, George Zimmer founded Generation Tux a year later. Generation Tux offers convenient and low-stress suit rental services exclusively online. “In lieu of going [to the] store, there are many advantages through Generation Tux, particularly for the bride who has so much going on around her wedding. Gen Tux is a load off her mind,” said Zimmer on the latest episode of the Glossy Podcast. With 50 years of experience in the suit industry, Zimmer understands the desire to order your own wedding tuxedo from the comfort of your living room. Generation Tux's concise shipping timeline — it delivers customers’ suits three weeks before an event — is also advantageous since it allows for last-minute changes. But even with the online spending spree of the pandemic, the company has faced challenges. When the pandemic first hit, Generation Tux temporarily shut down until it received government aid. Two years later, it is reaping the benefits of the pandemic’s demand for accessible online fashion, with yearly revenue of $5 million.

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Frequently asked about this episode

What does this episode say about dtc strategy?
Online-only rental services, like Generation Tux, offer significant advantages
What does this episode say about supply chain & operations?
Leverage concise shipping timelines (3 weeks pre-event) to allow for
What does this episode say about founder & leadership?
Businesses must be resilient and adaptable; Generation Tux temporarily shut
What does this episode say about dtc strategy?
Even with 50 years of industry experience, be prepared to innovate and

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