International Formalwear Association Formal Times Newsletter

International Formalwear Association
Formal Times Newsletter
December Edition
Ken Hall
We are a small industry and make lasting friends at the shows and throughout the year. Earlier this
month we lost one of those dear friends…….Ken Hall fought a battle with cancer that was not to be
won….The shows and the industry are different now… Keep his family in your thoughts. A fund for
his family has been set up by coworker Ed Murphy…..if you would like to contribute contact: Mr. Ed
Murphy c/o Classic Tuxedos 171A Neff Ave. Harrisonburg, VA 22801 We miss you……
Ken leaves behind his wife Debby, Sons Patrick and Andrew daughter Abby, daughter in law Allison
and little granddaughter Charlotte.
Ken Won The IFA Black Tie Award August 2013 in Chicago
Bridal Show Plan of Action
Pre Show Reminder
While show management is responsible for bringing in the people, you can help make sure they come
to your booth! Connect with your target audience before the show, to increase your chance of being
on their "must see" list. Here are some effective ways to build traffic to your booth by pre-show
promotion.
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Tell everyone who calls your business about the bridal show and let them know you are in it.
Mail your own printed invitations or a post card.
Send a personal letter.
Give your prospects a call and invite them to visit your booth.
Make sure your sales staff is talking about the show.
Post show signs or flyers in your store.
Put stuffers in your regular business mail.
Issue press releases.
Show Plan of Action
Bridal Show season is upon us. Are you confident with your offering to draw potential brides away
from the competition and into your business? Do you cart the whole store with you? What is THE
most important thing to take with on show day? How do you decide which shows are worth your
time….If these questions and more are making you crazy as the New Year/Bridal Show season
approaches, preplanning can help?
The selling team from the BIG National competition is ready to roll into your town with VERY well
trained salesmen and the tools to NOT let the brides walk away until they are sold…. So let’s start
with your show special………. The first question here is: What is the competition doing? Are they
offering $20 off or $40 off this year?? You NEED to know. Knowing what your competition is doing
is GOOD business. An employee checking from their cell phone on what other area businesses are
doing will arm you with the information you need to establish THIS years specials.
Next, let’s say your research has given you information that your competition is offering anywhere
from $20-$40 off tuxedos booked early… Can you top that??? Or should you? Remember that above
mentioned highly trained group of polished salesmen has been trained in car salesmen.. “What can I
do to get you into this Tux today” mentality and they will be ready, so YES you NEED to step up
your game! Now, how do you offer $40 or $50 off? Simple raise your prices… In speaking with
members all around the country, we hear time and again they prefer to offer an honest straightforward
pricing with NO specials and NO gimmicks. The world communicates so differently now and brides
are instantly connected to other brides through Facebook and wedding sites that the word spreads
quickly on specials offered and money saved almost like a contest on who can get the better deal.
When she finally starts calling around for prices and information on tuxedos she will listen to what
you say on your straightforward prices then call the BIG guys and think the $40 off they are going to
give her will be off of approximately the same price/service/style selection you gave her….Surely all
tuxes are the same and do not vary in price hardly at all right???..... Then she will HAVE to visit the
BIG store because they will NOT give her pricing at the show or over the phone…and she will be in
their highly trained hands….Booked and done! Paying sometimes twice what your pricing would
have been, but Hey…she wanted to “save” her guys that $40 off each tux! Gonna have to MAKE her
notice and wedding shows are the perfect opportunity….cause tuxedos are WAY DOWN THERE on
her priority list! Many times promotional materials are available through your suppliers..ASK
Now, do you cart every color, style, size offering, mannequin and shoe with you??? NO! The
consensus among industry experts’ follows the Less is More Philosophy! No CHAIRS, No tables
you stand behind… An open inviting booth with a focal point that says EXACTLY what you offer
preferably up high for when traffic is heavy is all you need. A giveaway that the bride signs up for
gathering ALL information including her email is also crucial. Placing the entry box near the back of
the booth brings her in to meet with you and discuss “her dream!” It is all about HER not what YOU
offer but how you can enhance her plans. No I or We discussions here….She wants to tell you how
HER wedding will be the BEST ever…so all you have to let her know is how you are willing to help!
THE most Important thing to bring to the show is TOP SALESPEOPLE! Good listeners who can
gather and impart information quickly along with the MOST IMPORTANT part Book appointments
in YOUR storse! One of the IFA’s long time members has employees “try out” for the show. Not
just anyone gets to represent the entire company. They offer a premium wage for this opportunity to
meet with the highest concentration of potential customers the business may see all year long and
only take the BEST with them! Who will be the face of your company this year?
Lastly, the question above on Which show do I do when so many are offered in my area plagues us
all….. Can you afford Not to be there? A smaller more intimate show may give you better one on
one with ALL potential customers than a HUGE one, but how do you decide? In researching
wedding professionals answer to this question with…. “Who will they talk to about tuxedos when you
are NOT there?”
Please send your thoughts to [email protected]
Some Great articles to look through:
http://www.weddingbusinessmarketing.com/how-should-i-set-up-my-booth
http://www.weddingbusinessmarketing.com/bridal-show-success-secrets
I can not encourage you enough if on Facebook to go and request to be part of the Wedding MBA
page..The information shared among wedding professionals is priceless. They put out questions
regularly and the 7000 members contribute to the answers…Great information!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151999744092209&set=a.217210222208.170272.500
017208&type=1&theater
Giveaway Ideas
Have heard some really great ideas for booth giveaways over the years and thought many of the new
members would like to hear a few… First off a giveaway in your booth where all contact information
is gathered along with permission to market is a jump on the other businesses waiting for the show
promoter to send out the list. What information should you collect?
Please Print Clearly to Assure We can contact the Winner!!
Bride_____________________________________________Wedding Date__________________
Address________________________________________________________________________
Phone__________________Email___________________________________________________
Groom_____________________________________Phone_______________________________
Groom’s email___________________________________________________________________
Please tell us one unique thing about YOUR wedding
_________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
In registering for this prize you agree to be contacted via information given
What to give away? A few ideas:
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A free tuxedo rental
A full wedding party of tux rentals
A bottle of Champagne per hour
Free Invitations
 Photo Thank you notes
Snapfish.com or invitation companies
 Ringbearer pillow/Flower girl basket
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Custom Photo Frame engraved with their wedding invitation
J Charles Crystal Works http://www.jcharles.com wholesale around $40
$$$ off rentals
Free Father of the Bride Tuxedo
Free Ringbearer Tuxedo
50% off groomsmen gifts (they would usually be paying your cost)
Garter every hour
$$ in Free Jewelry
Discount on Wedding Gown Preservation
You would then have the wedding couples’ information to market to immediately. You will also
have one prized piece of information about HER wedding to connect with her!!! One other tip is
to ALWAYS MAKE them COME INTO YOUR STORE to PICK UP THE PRIZE!!!!!
What else can you add????? Send your ideas to share to [email protected]
Tuxedofit National Fitting Network
Remember at Bridal Shows Your store is Part of a National Fitting Network
When brides are shopping for wedding gowns at the Large National Chain, they are asked if any
of the wedding party come from out of town…..When walking around the bridal show one of the
first questions bride’s are asked by the large national tuxedo supplier is: Do you have members of
your party coming from out of town? The sales team is trained to work on brides worry that things
could go wrong if you do not use them when of course MOST all weddings now have members
who live out of state.
Your store is a member of a National Fitting Network called Tuxedofit.com and YOU CAN
provide wedding parties with ALL things the National chain can do and MORE!
Being able to offer your wedding parties the peace of mind of knowing you can not only offer
them the personal service and selection only a small business can provide but also a National
presence for ease of fittings is priceless! Remember you are part of Tuxedo Fit!
The IFA Offers You TuxedoFit.com!
244 East Main
Galesburg, IL 61401
309-721-5450
www.tuxedofit.com
www.formaltimes.com
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Now you can be part of The National Fitting Network that will . . .
Ease your customers’ concerns with out-of-town measurements
Simplify the process of submitting measurements
Ease the process of finding local measurement professionals
Provide a printable measurement form to bring into any location
Send a measurement confirmation directly to your customer
Offer you distinctive marketing materials that identify you as a
member of this National Formalwear Fitting Network
TuxedoFit.com Makes Out-of-Town Measurements Simple!
For many years the largest competitor in the formalwear industry has convinced brides and grooms that if members
of their wedding party are spread across the country then there is only one national company who can meet their
needs. This just isn’t true! Independent shops have been doing this for decades.
When a groom says that some of his groomsmen live out-of-town, wouldn’t it be nice to say . . . “That’s not a problem!
We’re members of a nationwide network of formalwear specialists who are here to serve you. Let me tell you just
how easy this will be for them.”
The International Formalwear Association has developed TuxedoFit.com. Utilizing the technology of Google Maps,
this new website will enable your grooms, and their wedding party members, to easily locate a convenient formalwear
specialist where they can be professionally measured, and have their measurements sent to your store via email.
With your membership in the International Formalwear Association you are part of this network. This will be a great
convenience for your customers, and it will also increase the probability that the out-of-town measurements you
receive will be more accurate.
When you use TuxedoFit.com, you provide the bride and groom with your store information and the TuxedoFit.com
web address when you book their wedding. They then give this information to their out-of-town groomsmen. All he
does is type in his zip or postal code to locate a formalwear specialist near him. He downloads/prints the on-line
measurement form and takes it to this local store for recording the measurements. Next, he returns to
TuxedoFit.com, enters your store information, types in the measurements and hits submit! Done! TuxedoFit.com
sends one copy to you, a copy back to the customer, and one copy to the site administrator where it’s always
available for a backup.
When measurements are submitted to your store, you can send a return email to the gentleman letting him know your
address, your store hours, the pickup day and time, and payment information. If you charge a deposit for an order at
the time of measurement, this same email can explain that requirement and let them know the amount that is required
to begin processing the order. Inform them that this may be paid over the phone with a credit card.
To make this system truly “customer friendly” we ask that all members of TuxedoFit.com provide professional
measurements at no charge to gentlemen who come in for measurements via TuxedoFit.com. This system will draw
customers to our locations and we don’t want to discourage usage by imposing fees. This is how we become united
as a national fitting network and have more measuring locations than a “wearhouse” company. Remember, they
don’t discourage “in-network” cooperation by charging fees.
Your membership in the International Formalwear Association makes you part of this valuable network. Test out the
site today. Use it and see how easy it is to be part of a national network of more than 1,000 formalwear specialists
throughout the country. Call today at 309-721-5450 for more information.
Thank you for using the International Formalwear Association’s Tuxedo Fit!
Industry Information
Please help a member with your advice
Thanks for your much appreciated newsletters.
I have some general questions if you can post in your upcoming publication.
Shoe Rental Advice Needed!
1. Where can we find clear bags with drawstring for shoe rentals?
2. What are your general shoe cleaning practices to clean rental shoes?
Do you have any tips to remove scuffs from patent finished tuxedo shoes?
Please give Alejandro or Eileen a call at (408) 946-4684.
or email us at [email protected]
Tuxedo Wearhouse, Bay Area, CA
Wants and Offerings
NEW WANTS AND OFFERINGS POLICY: ADS WILL NEED TO Be
RESUBMITED EVERY MONTH! YOU MAY HAVE THEM IN AS LONG AS
YOU LIKE, THEY JUST HAVE TO BE RESUBMITTED MONTHLY TO BE
SURE TO KEEP LIST CURRENT! CHECK YOUR ADS BELOW!
PLEASE RESEND ANY ADS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE IN NEXT MONTH
[email protected] Call us at 309-721-5450 with any questions
For Sale - Looking to sell entire lot.
Jean Yves Latte (Tan) Premier Suit
57 coats @ 35.00 each
80 matching trousers @ 10.00 each
email [email protected]
or call Phil (800) 968-8891
Looking to Buy
Rex Formal Wear
We are looking to buy used Black Zoot Suits and pants.
Call Quincy Barnes at 210-710-5275
[email protected]
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Looking to Buy
Hello from Rose Tuxedo-Angelo. I'm looking for some good shape SUIT shoes or matted finish
shoes in black.
Also I'm looking for some used Pleated black tuxedo pants.
Thank you.
Please call or email Angelo at ([email protected]) or 602 299-1743
Offered For Sale
IRA COLEMAN
Coleman’s Tuxedos
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 973-258-1948
Black metallic vertical vests, 44 units, brand new, complete range of sizes
Black vertical vests, 53 units, excellent condition, complete range of sizes
No reasonable offer refused
Offered For Sale
I would like to place the following in the wants and offerings....
These are brand newLauren Intrigue 25.00 per coat
40S 36R 40R (4) 60R AND 40L
Chaps Lexington "NEW" 30.00 per coat Takes all 23 coats 25.00 each
B3 B10 (2) B12 B14 B18 (2) 40S (2) 41S (2) 43S (2) 54S
41R 43R 66R 41L 42L 64L 66L 40XL 44XL
Gino's Galleria 1-888-698-8937 ask for Joyce
Thank you!
Happy New Year!
Joyce
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Offered For Sale
Please call Yossi 310-890-1881 if you have any questions.
Offered For Sale
Received a double shipment of white wing collar shirts, ¼ inch pleat, 176 thread count, high quality
construction, in these sizes only:
2XL - 2-3,
2XL - 4-5,
2XL – 6-7,
2XL – 8-9,
M – 6-7.
Brand new in the package. Sample shipped on larger orders.
$7.75 (20 to 100), $7.25 (100 +) + shipping.
White banded collar shirts, ¼ pleat, brand new in pkg. Most sizes, $5.00 plus shipping.
John Mosby
Mr Tux
509 220 8825
509 747 5207
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Offered For Sale by Reflection Formalwear
Thoughts for the Week Ahead
“Eighty percent of all choices are based on fear. Most people don't choose what they
want; they choose what they think is safe.”
— Phil McGraw
“A leader's job is not to do the work for others, it's to help others figure out how to do it
themselves, to get things done, and to succeed beyond what they thought possible.”
— Simon Sinek