Founder of Men’s Wearhouse back in the game with new retail concept

Men’s Wearhouse founder George Zimmer has returned to the retail arena with a new concept that aims to do for men’s evening wear what Rent the Runway did for fancy dresses.



Zimmer, the founder and ousted CEO of Men’s Wearhouse, is launching Generation Tux, an online tuxedo and suit rental company. The start-up will rent 17 different styles of house-brand tuxedos, with a flat rate of $95. But customers can also add accessories, including shoes and cuff links, to put together a complete for $150 or less.



“Customers demand a digital experience, so we created Generation Tux to change the way people wear and rent tuxedos,” said Zimmer. “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.”



Tuxedos and suits will be delivered and picked up for free as part of Generation Tux's service and delivered within a week of the renter's event. The website also allows users to mix and match styles to create their own suit or tux to rent.



Earlier this year, Zimmer launched an online tailoring service, called zTailors, which he described as an Uber for tailors.



According to the New York Times, Zimmer believes the new company is "definitely a winner." He told the Times he has spent more than $6 million to have 30,000 tuxedos made, a website built and prepare a 200,000-sq.-ft. distribution center in Louisville, Kentucky.



When placing an order, customers enter their measurements into the Generation Tux website. At the warehouse, tailors will customize each garment before it is mailed out. If additional alterations are needed, men and women from zTailors will be on call to provide last-minute help, according to the Times report.