Document 6452235

Table of
CONTENTS:
[ Introduction ] ..........................................................................................................3
About Jim’s Formal Wear / Quality Assurance
[ The JIM’S FORMAL WEAR Catalog ] ......................................................................4
Sections of the Catalog / Pricing / Updating Your Catalog
[ Tuxedo RENTAL 101 ] ..................................................................................................5
Differences Between Tuxedo Styles / Common Lapel Styles / Differences Between
a Tuxedo and a Suit / Helping Your Customer Choose Accessories
[ GENERAL MERCHANDISE INFORMATION ] .............................................................6
Coat Information / Pant Information / Shirt Information / Accessory Information
Shoe Information
[ TYPES OF TUXEDO ORDERS ] ......................................................................................8
Concerning Weddings / Coordinating a Wedding Party / Wedding Tuxedo Timetable
Concerning Proms / Prom Tuxedo Timetable / Tuxedo Ensembles for the Prom Customer / Concerning Black Tie Events / Black Tie Event Timetable / Tuxedo
Ensembles for the Black Tie Event Customer / Concerning Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Timetable / Concerning Quinceaneras / Quinceanera
Timetable / Tuxedo Ensembles for the Quinceanera Customer
[ MEASURING & FITTING TECHNIQUES ] ...................................................................12
Proportions / Beginning Your Measurement Session / Chest Measurement
Overarm Measurement / Waist & Hip Measurements / Helpful Hints for Sizing
Coats / Outseam Measurement / Shirt Sizing / Measuring Young Boys / Coat Sizing Guide
[ IMPORTANT POLICIES & PROCEDURES ] .................................................................17
Simplified Pricing / Rental Agreements and the A.D.W. / Malicious Damages
and Lost Merchandise / Small Order Shipping Policy / Merchandise for Purchase
[ THE TUXEDO RENTAL PROCESS ] ...............................................................................18
Wedding Orders / Prom/Single Orders / Down Payments / Customer Pick-up
of Tuxedos / Prompt Return of Your Tuxedo Rentals
[ PLACING YOUR TUXEDO ORDERS WITH JFW ] .......................................................19
Options for Ordering Tuxedos / Placing an Order by Phone / Receiving a
Customer Number / Changing Your Tuxedo Orders / Cancellations and Credits
[ INSPECTING THE TUXEDOS UPON DELIVERY ] ......................................................21
Basic Points to Check When Your Tuxedos Arrive / Touch-up Pressing
[ THE FINAL FITTING ] .....................................................................................................22
Alterations / Ordering Replacement Items / The Formal Guarantee
[ WHEN TUXEDOS ARE RETURNED ] ............................................................................23
Customer Follow-up / Inspecting the Tuxedos Upon Return / Returning Tuxedos
Via UPS or FedEx / Returning Tuxedos Via Jim’s Delivery Vans
[ ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES ] .....................................................................................25
Billing Terms / Options for Payment / Accounting Documentation / Re-Bills and Late Return Charges / Credit Memos / Receiving Documents by Email / Sales Tax Certificates
[ MARKETING ASSISTANCE ] ...........................................................................................28
Printed Literature / jimsformalwear.com / The JFW Business-2-Business Website
Educational and Store Multimedia / The Elite Retailer Program / Groom’s Tux
Free Program / Ring Bearer Collection
[ IDEAS TO GROW YOUR TUXEDO BUSINESS ] ...........................................................32
[ WORKING WITH CUSTOMERS ] ..................................................................................34
Presenting Your Catalog / Up-selling the End Consumer
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[ INTRODUCTION ]
The purpose of the “Tuxedo Rental 101” Guide is to provide Jim’s Formal Wear (JFW) Retailers a
good foundation of knowledge in Tuxedo Rentals. Insights on organizing, managing and promoting
your tuxedo business may be found within these pages. With a little bit of painless study, you’ll be able
to maximize the profits of your Tuxedo Rental business!
About Jim’s Formal Wear
We are honored to be associated with your store! Jim Davis founded Jim’s
Formal Wear in 1964 in Trenton, Illinois - a small town located about 35 miles
east of St. Louis. For over forty years, Jim’s Formal Wear has always focused on
providing a quality tuxedo, backed by outstanding service, at a fair price. It was
never the company’s intention to become the largest wholesale renter of
tuxedos. This happened as a result of our commitment to do “Whatever it
takes to create the ultimate formal wear experience” for our retailers and our
end-consumers. Today, we have over 5,000 independent retailers renting tuxedos in all fifty states and the Virgin Islands. We are a family-owned corporation
under the leadership of Gary L. Davis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
We operate ten regional Service Centers across the United States. These ten
Service Centers encompass over 300,000 square feet of offices, production
space, and laundry facilities. The strategic locations of these ten centers allow
us to reach more retailers overnight via our own delivery vans or UPS/FedEx
ground service than any other formal wear wholesaler in the United States.
Over 175,000 tuxedos from as small as a boys’ size 2 to as large as a men’s size
74 Long are maintained in inventory. Shirts from a 10” neck to a 28” neck and
sleeves as long as 40” are available along with shoes from a toddler’s size 8 to
men’s size 18. We even offer our boys’ tuxedo collections in both regular and
husky sizes.
Jim’s Formal Wear
Service Centers:
Anderson, Indiana
Atlanta, Georgia
Endicott, New York
Ottawa, Illinois
Pueblo, Colorado
Richmond, Virginia
Salina, Kansas
Seguin, Texas
Trenton, Illinois
Visalia, California
Corporate
Headquarters:
Trenton, Illinois
Quality Assurance
Our obsession to provide your store with a superior quality garment is not just a marketing slogan,
it’s the foundation of our employee bonus system. Our employees are eligible to earn Quarterly
Incentive Bonuses based on a formula that measures: (1) the accuracy of your tuxedo rental orders; (2)
the quality of merchandise your store receives; and (3) your satisfaction with our products and services.
(1) Order Accuracy - A typical tuxedo order includes seven components: coat, pant, shirt, neckwear,
vest, jewelry, and shoes. This makes for seven opportunities for error in addition to any possible customer
service keying errors or shipping department errors. All told, there are normally nine opportunities to
make a mistake on a single order. If our order accuracy percentage for any given quarter ends below
99%, all production personnel in that service center miss the incentive. You may be surprised to learn
that rarely do any of our service centers miss out on the Quarterly Incentive Bonus!
(2) Merchandise Quality - We monitor and track all replacement items shipped to dealers. Any
merchandise that is deemed ‘not acceptable’ by our retailers is promptly replaced. We continuously
inspect every order during the production cycle to assure you of absolute quality. The final
inspection step is our most critical: our inspectors ask, “Would you yourself, or one of your relatives,
be proud to wear this garment?” If the answer is “no”, the garment is not sent out without being
corrected first.
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(3) Dealer Satisfaction - All of our Service Centers randomly mail survey cards to retailers who placed
rental orders each week. Each retailer can only be surveyed once per quarter, which guarantees a true
cross section and represents a variety of customers. Survey cards are returned directly to our
corporate marketing department for computation and study.
[ THE JIM’S FORMAL WEAR CATALOG ]
Sections of the Catalog
Congratulations! You now possess the most eye-catching and attractive catalog in the formal wear
industry. After many years of marketing, we realize that visual presentation is vitally important when
it comes to renting from any type of catalog. We pride ourselves on having the most attractive and
detail-oriented photography in the industry. Our tuxedo catalog offers over 40 tuxedo styles grouped
into collections based on price.
The first section of the catalog is the Tuxedo Index. The Tuxedo Index contains a small image of
each coat, the three digit Jim’s style code, the name of the coat, the maker of the coat and the page
number(s) where the coat can be found.
The second section of the catalog is dedicated to Accessories. Each page contains colorful, eyecatching photography, the name and manufacturer of the accessory program and a fabric swatch of the
available colors. In some cases, a smaller image showing an alternate
look for that particular accessory is also shown (i.e. an ascot, a bow
tie, etc.). Below each swatch is a set of style codes and the color
name.
The next section contains Shirts, Shoes and Jewelry. Below each
photograph, you’ll find style codes to assist you in placing your
order.
The following five sections of the catalog contain tuxedos, and they
are broken up into collections based on price point: Diamond,
Platinum, Gold, Silver and Budget.
Each tuxedo catalog page contains:
• a photograph of the garment
• the designer of the coat (i.e. Calvin Klein, Lauren Ralph Lauren, etc.)
• the three digit Jim’s style code (i.e. 813)
• a description of the coat (lapel, length, number of buttons, etc.)
• a bulleted list of all styles shown with the picture (coat, pant, vest, shirt, etc.)
• a fabric swatch (only certain styles)
The next three sections are dedicated to Suits, Destination Weddings and Quinceaneras. In these
sections, you’ll find alternative photography for some of our styles shown previously in the catalog. We
made an effort to coordinate these styles with accessories appropriate for the different occasions where
these ensembles will be worn.
The final section of the catalog contains our resale line, known as ‘Essentials.’ These are brand new
items available to you for the consumer who wishes to purchase formalwear instead of rent.
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Pricing
For current pricing information and suggested retail prices, consult your Jim’s Formal Wear Wholesale
Price List. We suggest retail price points that allow for a 40% or greater profit margin per rental.
Updating Your Catalog
Our catalogs are updated every January. This allows us to add new items, remove outdated styles and
to keep our book the most attractive in the marketplace. To update your catalog when a new set of
pages arrives in your store, simply remove the old spiral bound set of pages from the sleeve of the
burgundy binder. Then, insert the last plastic page into the rear pocket of the burgundy binder.
Pre-printed price stickers (in a range of prices), will be included when you receive your new catalog.
Pricing your catalog with the stickers is easy... the page number on which they should go is printed
directly on the sticker. All you have to do is choose the price you want to charge for the item.
[ TUXEDO RENTAL 101 ]
Differences Between Tuxedo Styles
If you have never rented tuxedos before, you are probably wondering what the differences are between
the various styles. The following is a brief listing of style variations...
One of the more obvious differences is color. Currently, the most popular tuxedo color is black.
However, other colors such as white, ivory, tan, midnight blue, brown and grey also appear in our line.
Fabrics vary from style to style. Most of our tuxedos are made of either a Super 100’s grade of wool
(very, soft and supple) or a Worsted Wool (more common, but also high in quality). Polyester (lightweight and breathable) is another fabric used, and you’ll find it used in the tailoring of white and ivory
tuxedos. In some instances, we also offer garments that are made of a poly/wool blend (lightweight yet
durable).
The lapel styling (collar) on the tuxedo coat can also vary. The three most basic lapel styles are:
• Notch
• Peak
• Shawl
Common Lapel Styles:
Notch
Peak
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Shawl
Keep in mind that there are also atypical lapels which do not fall into these categories, but they
definitely add character to the look of the coat. By atypical, we mean diamond-shaped, layered,
satin-edged, etc.
Another difference between tuxedo styles is coat length. The standard tux jacket is approximately
311/2” from collar to tail. However, some styles vary from this standard depending on current fashion
trends.
The number of buttons on a tuxedo coat varies as well. More traditional tuxedos have one or two
buttons, but we also feature three and four button styles in our line. Keep in mind that the higher the
button stance or the greater the amount of buttons, the less you’ll see of the accessories underneath.
Differences Between a Tuxedo and a Suit
There are a number of significant differences between a Tuxedo and a Suit...
A tuxedo will be adorned with satin lapels, satin covered buttons and a satin stripe down the pant leg.
Pocket trims may also be satin covered. In addition, some tuxedos will feature special lapel designs that
add interest and style to the tuxedo coat. By definition, a tuxedo should have some amount of satin
in the lapel. It’s these satin trimmings that make a tuxedo the only choice for formal affairs!
In contrast, suits do not feature any satin trimmings at all. Suits are much simpler in design and
feature a notch or peak lapel. Suits are also typically made of wool or polyester and are available in
solid or striped fabrics.
Helping Your Customer Choose Accessories
Most customers see a black tuxedo and only differentiate by the color or style of the accessories shown
with the coat. Your customer can mix and match any coat, pant, shirt, vest and tie to their liking. The
most popular accessories today are fullback vests which are patterned and cut in various styles. In most
cases, the accessories are chosen because of a certain color preference or to match a color theme for the
formal event. When an identical match is not found in the catalog, most customers will wear either
black or silver accessories, as they are neutral colors which will coordinate with any dress.
Accessories vary between tuxedos and suits. Formal shirts may or may not have pleats on the front of
the shirt, and they will never offer a front pocket like a suit shirt will. Vests, cummerbunds, bow ties,
and pocket squares, which are worn with tuxedos, are generally made of satin. Many of these items
should not be worn with a suit.
Lastly, shoes should not be forgotten and are important to finishing the customer’s ensemble. Formal
shoes made of patent leather are the shoes of choice with a tuxedo. Shoes with a more subtle, matte
finish should be worn with a suit.
[ GENERAL MERCHANDISE INFORMATION ]
Coat Information
The difference between a ‘short’ coat and a ‘regular’ coat is one inch in both the sleeve length and the
body length. The same holds true comparing a ‘regular’ coat to a ‘long’ coat and a ‘long’ coat to an
‘extra long’ coat. See also “Measuring and Fitting Techniques on page 12.
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Pant Information
Men’s rental tuxedo pants have an adjustable track that will slide and adjust the waist to three sizes.
Here’s a breakdown of the size ranges:
Adjustable Pant Waist Ranges
27 - 28 - 29
30 - 31 - 32
33 - 34 - 35
36 - 37 - 38
39 - 40 - 41
42 - 43 - 44
45 - 46 - 47
48 - 49 - 50
51 - 52 - 53
54 - 55 - 56
57 - 58 - 59
60 - 61 - 62
63 - 64 - 65
66 - 67 - 68
69 - 70 - 71
Boys’ pant sizes do not offer a range of three inches. Instead, they adjust in one inch increments. We
offer boys’ pants from an 18” waist to a 27” waist.
Shirt Information
Formal Shirts can be differentiated based on style, fabric and color. Currently, we offer wing and
laydown collar shirts. Shirt styling can also include pleated or non-pleated fronts with the former
being the most formal. For those ultra formal events, we suggest a pique’ formal shirt accessorized
with a pique’ bow tie and vest - which should be worn with a tailcoat.
For an alternative look, your customers may choose a microfiber formal shirt in black, white or ivory.
This style is more resistant to wrinkles and has a softer feel. It is a non-pleated style.
In addition to our formal shirt selection, we also offer colored business shirts with a pocket on the
front. They accessorize nicely with our selection of business suits and should only be worn with a
business suit.
Most shirts are available up to a 28” neck and a 40” sleeve. Children’s and tall men’s shirts are also
available.
All of our formal shirts accommodate formal jewelry.
Accessory Information
The most popular accessory item that has the most impact on a gentlemen’s formal look is the fullback
vest and tie. Color selection is important to the consumer and we make sure our color selection is
large. We offer a variety of patterns with multiple colors per collection. We also place great emphasis
on having the right colors to coordinate with the color trends in the gown and formal dress industry.
Concerning sizing, the formalwear industry has adopted a sizing scale to ensure consistency in
tailoring from all vest manufacturers. All fullback and backless vests are adjustable and fit a range of
sizes. See the Size Scale in your catalog for details.
In addition, all of our vest collections come with a variety of tie choices and pocket squares to allow
your customer to create their own unique formal look.
To round out our accessory collection, your customer can also choose backless vests, cummerbunds,
top hats, fedoras, canes, hat bands and more!
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Shoe Information
Our two most popular shoe styles, the Comfort Shoe (BCS) and the Square Toe Shoe (BST), have a
wider styling and are more comfortable than a pointed type shoe. We offer both medium and wide
width shoes to give your customer the maximum level of comfort possible.
Shoe sizes range from an 8 Boys’ to an 18 Men’s. Half sizes are available on shoes up to a size 12
Medium in men’s.
[ TYPES OF TUXEDO ORDERS ]
There are a variety of order types that you can place for your customer’s formal event. Orders will fit
into one of the following categories:
• Groom (G) - tuxedo order for the Groom
• Wedding (W) - tuxedo orders for Groomsmen, Ushers, Ring Bearers, Fathers, Grandfathers, etc.
• Prom (P) - tuxedo orders for Proms, Homecomings, School Dances
• Single (S) - tuxedo orders for Black Tie Events, Charity Fund Raisers, Cruises, Special Events
• Honor (H) - “Chambalane of Honor” (a tuxedo order for a Quinceanera)
• Escort (E) - “Honor Escort” (a tuxedo order for a Quinceanera)
Concerning Weddings
The typical eight man wedding party includes the groom, best man, three groomsmen, two ushers,
and the father of the bride. With the addition of the ring bearer, the father of the groom, one or more
grandfathers, and additional groomsmen or ushers you can quickly have a wedding party that consists
of 12 to 15 men in tuxedos!
The typical wedding party of eight men will generate from $400 to $900 in total receipts (not
including footwear). Adding shoes increases receipts by $85 to $200. Typically, each member of the
wedding party pays for his own tuxedo rental.
Coordinating a Wedding Party
In general, the bride and groom will have a specific wedding style or color scheme already chosen, and
they will want their tuxedos to mirror these styles and color choices. However, you may have
customers who are looking for some advice on how to coordinate their wedding party in terms of color
and members of the party.
The groom, like the bride, should be set apart from the wedding party on his special day. Some good
methods of doing this are:
• The Groom wears white or ivory accessories while the Groomsmen wear colors to coordinate with
the bridesmaids.
• The Groom wears an all white tuxedo or a white tuxedo coat with black pants while the Groomsmen wear a coordinating black tuxedo.
• The Groom wears a tailcoat while the Groomsmen wear a tuxedo coat with a similar lapel.
• The Groom wears a Cutaway while the Groomsmen wear a Stroller.
Traditionally, the Fathers should wear the same or similar tuxedo to the Groom and Groomsmen.
However, the Fathers’ accessory color should coordinate with the mothers’ dress colors.
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Having said this, these suggestions are only suggestions and the Bride and Groom can choose to
coordinate their attire however they like.
Wedding Tuxedo Timetable
All names and measurements have been called into your nearest Jim’s Service Center. You
At least two weeks
receive an order confirmation number on every single order called in. Write it on your
in advance
order form next to the customer’s name. This number will be required when inquiring
of the wedding:
about an order or ordering replacement/exchange items, if necessary.
Production begins on orders 10 days prior to the event. We recommend you inform your
Wednesday the week prior
brides and grooms about the importance of completing all measurements at least two
to the wedding:
weeks in advance of the wedding date. This allows orders to receive maximum attention
as opposed to rush orders that operate outside the normal production flow.
Tuxedos arrive from Jim’s Formal Wear via UPS/FedEx or Jim’s Delivery Vans. Your store’s
proximity to your Jim’s Service Center affects what day you will receive your tuxedos for
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
the week. Due to the peak demands of prom season, deliveries can run later than normal
morning prior to the wedding:
during April and May. When your tuxedos arrive, inspect them for accuracy prior to
customer pickup. Immediately contact Jim’s if any discrepancies are found!
Most members of the wedding party have come to your store to pickup and try on their
Thursday prior to the wedding:
tuxedos. The customer pays any final balances due before leaving.
This is arrival day for any replacements or exchange items ordered yesterday, if necessary. Unfortunately, some customers may not have yet come to pickup and try on their
Friday prior to the wedding:
tuxedos. No problem... call your Service Center to make arrangements for a Saturday
replacement, again if necessary.
Monday morning after
All tuxedos are returned to store by customers and are boxed or prepared by store personthe wedding:
nel for pickup by Jim’s Formal Wear vans - or - pickup by UPS by Noon on Monday.
Concerning Proms
A typical prom-goer is a customer who will want to choose and coordinate his ensemble based on his
own style preferences rather than on a concern for price. This is an opportunity for you to exercise
your up-selling skills to the max by offering all of the little extras including formal shoes, pockets
squares, hats, scarves, premium jewelry, etc. You can expect a prom-goer to generate a higher ticket
price on average as opposed to a wedding or single order.
While Prom Customers are typically the least price conscious customers that will walk into your
store, they want to feel like they are getting a deal. Consider raising your prices (if necessary) to offer
a $10 or $20 Off Coupon and still allow yourself an adequate profit margin. Consider raising your
prices just for prom season. While this may not be feasible in all markets due to competitive situations, retailers have done this successfully in the past, and it may be a viable option for your store.
Prom Tuxedo Timetable
It’s important that you encourage your prom customers to come into your store at least 4-6 weeks
before the prom to choose styles! It’s also important for both you and your prom customer to settle
on a style at that time. Do consider having your customer stay in your store as you call in his order.
Here’s why: Styles and sizes are booked on a first come, first served basis. The longer you wait to
secure a style, the less freedom of choice you’ll have later. Therefore, don’t wait to call in your orders all
at once! Place them with us as soon as you receive them.
In addition, it is important that you take a second or even a third choice from your customer prior to
calling us. This will alleviate you from having to make a phone call back to the customer should their
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first choice not be available. Ask your customer, “Just to be on the safe side, is there another style(s)
you’d like if this one is no longer available?” This is especially important as you get closer to the actual
wearing date. This situation is not unique to Jim’s. Our depth of inventory is second to none.
Fortunately, we offer many styles of tuxedos and usually have another one very similar to your
customer’s first preference.
Tuxedo Ensembles for the Prom Customer
Coordinating colors will be high on your prom customer’s priority list. Both
the guy and girl will want the guy’s fullback vest and tie to match the girl’s
dress as closely as possible. We offer over 150 different accessory options, so
you should have little difficulty assisting them with their choices. However,
if a dress color is unusual and does not coordinate with one of our many vests,
consider putting the guy in a silver or a black fullback vest as this is an
attractive compromise.
We also suggest that you encourage your prom customers to rent a pair of
formal shoes with their ensemble. Any old pair of black leather shoes is not
appropriate with a tuxedo! Black patent formal shoes are the best way to go
and you should remind your customers of this fact. Make sure that they know
to wear the correct color socks, too. Shoes and socks are an excellent way to
increase your profit margin.
Concerning Black Tie Events
Black Tie Event customers may walk into your store at any time of the year. Typically, they are
gentlemen who will be attending such formal events as Charity Fund Raisers, Cruises, Inaugural Balls,
Formal Weddings, Holiday Parties and White Tie Invited Events. In many cases, these gentlemen will
seek your advice on what to wear.
Concerning Holiday Parties or Inaugural Balls, we suggest you try to become your community’s
exclusive tuxedo supplier to these events. Review your local paper for upcoming events and contact
the coordinator to set up a group arrangement.
Black Tie Event Timetable
As always we suggest you order their tuxedo 4-6 weeks in advance of the event. However, you may
find that the Black Tie Event customer will visit your store much later than you would like! Just be
sure to place their order as soon as possible to ensure timely arrival.
Tuxedo Ensembles for the Black Tie Event Customer
Gentlemen attending Black Tie Events are probably looking for a more conservative tuxedo in terms of
styling. Here are some suggestions for specific events:
• Cruises - Gentlemen attending cruises are probably looking for a white dinner jacket with black
pants. Consider accessorizing with a black cummerbund and bow tie. They will likely be attending formal dinners on multiple nights of their cruise. Therefore, they may request an additional
shirt and accessory set.
• Holiday Parties - Any tuxedo is appropriate. Accessory colors may be chosen based on the holiday: Silver and gold for New Year’s Eve, red for Valentine’s Day, green & purple for Mardi Gras,
green for St. Patrick’s Day, red for Christmas, etc.
• White Tie Invited Events - Typically, these kinds of events are ultra-formal events and only a
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•
Black Fulldress Tuxedo is appropriate. The tuxedo should be accessorized with a white pique’
shirt, vest and bow tie. Often times, white gloves are required.
Charity Fund Raisers/Formal Weddings/Inaugural Balls - Classic black tuxedo styles are the
best choice for these events. These ensembles include one, two or three button notch, peak or
shawl lapel tuxedos. A black fullback vest and tie are suggested as accessories.
Concerning Destination Weddings
Customers who are planning destination weddings are looking for a very specific tuxedo ensemble.
Some attributes of a destination tuxedo would be: Lightweight fabric, light colors, and specialized
accessories. White, ivory and taupe styles are usually very popular. However, not all destination
weddings are held in warmer climates. Dark colored tuxedos may also be appropriate depending on
the locale. Your Jim’s Formal Wear Catalog has a special section dedicated exclusively to Destination
Weddings. Use it to your benefit during the sales process!
For those customers who will be traveling for longer periods of time, we offer an extended rental
option. Simply let your Jim’s Customer Service Representative know when your customer will return
their tuxedo. Don’t forget to charge accordingly for an extended rental! For example, you will be
charged one and one half of the rental charge if you’re customer will have the ensemble for two weeks.
If you customer has the ensemble for three weeks, you will be charged double the rental charge.
Destination Wedding Timetable
We suggest you order the customer’s tuxedo 4-6 weeks in advance of
the event. However, keep in mind that a destination customer may leave
town mid-week and you’ll want to let us know about their departure date.
We’ll deliver or ship the tuxedo in plenty of time to accommodate the
customer’s final fitting.
Concerning Quinceaneras
A ‘quinceanera’ is a Hispanic tradition celebrating a fifteen-year-old
girl’s transition from childhood into womanhood. The Court of Honor,
which accompanies the girl throughout the celebration, customarily
includes seven girls (damas) and seven boys (chambalanes). The chambalanes typically wear formalwear to a quinceanera, and since there are
usually seven, a quinceanera can be a profitable event for your tuxedo
business!
Quinceanera Timetable
Just like any other tuxedo order for a larger party, ordering 4-6 weeks in advance of the event is
recommended.
Tuxedo Ensembles for the Quinceanera Customer
Similar to the groom in a wedding party, the Chambalane of Honor may be dressed differently than
the other chambalanes. For instance, the Chambalane of Honor may wear white accessories to coordinate with the Quince Girl and the other chambalanes may wear colored accessories to coordinate with
the damas. Quinceanera customers will likely choose brighter, bolder colors to go with their tuxedos.
In addition, you may have the opportunity to up-sell with hats, hat bands, scarves, etc.
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[ MEASURING & FITTING TECHNIQUES ]
Once your customer has chosen his tuxedo style, you are ready to begin the measuring process. From
start to finish, measuring the customer should take approximately 5 to 10 minutes. And remember,
the level of confidence that you exhibit during your measuring session will help to build trust and will
show your formalwear expertise.
By adhering to the guidelines set forth below, you can be assured that you will achieve the best fit for
your rental customer. Keep in mind that our customer service teams have been well trained and are
just a phone call away if you have any questions during the measurement process.
Measurements that we require for a tuxedo rental include
chest, overarm, waist, hip, outseam, neck, overarm, sleeve,
and shoe size. The basic guidelines are as follows...
Proportions
The definition of proportion is “the relation of one thing to
another in size, degree, or amount.” The overarm measurement relates to the chest measurement, the chest measurement relates to the hip measurement, the hip measurement
relates to the waist measurement; and they all come together
to make the shape of a person.
SEE ALSO: Your Jim’s Formal Wear Catalog contains a page
dedicated to measuring techniques and a page full of guides to
help you acquire accurate measurements! You’ll find our very
handy Coat Sizing Guide on page 16 of this document.
The usual standards for men are as follows:
• The arm length is usually determined by the height of the person
• The height and weight of the person determine the shirt size
• The overarm measurement is 7 to 11 inches larger than the chest
• The waist is 5 to 8 inches smaller than the hip
• The chest measurement is usually equal to the hip measurement
Proportion Size Scale
Height
Coat Length
Pant Outseam
Sleeve Length
< 5’8”
Short
Up to 40”
31” & 32”/33”
5’8” - 6’
Regular
401/2” - 43”
33” - 34”/35”
6’ - 6’3”
Long
43” - 45”
35” & 36”/37”
> 6’4”
Extra Long
45” - 48”
38”+
NOTE: Occasionally, proportions are exaggerated due to bodybuilding or an exceptionally heavy individual. The above are
common averages only. While there will be some overlapping on sizes relative to the heights listed, the overlapping should
generally not be more than one inch.
Beginning Your Measurement Session...
The first steps during your measuring session are taking the chest and overarm measurements. These
two measurements combined with the hip and waist measurements will be the key factors in
determining the proper coat size and fit. Excessive layers of clothing such as sweatshirts or sweaters
will alter the gentleman’s measurements. If at all possible, make certain your customer is wearing a
single layer or a fitted shirt when measuring the chest and the overarm!
12
Chest Measurement
For the chest measurement, ask the customer to move his arms outward while you place the tape under
his arms and around his chest. Stand to the side of your customer to ensure that the measuring tape is
parallel and straight. After placing the tape around the broadest part of the chest, ask the customer to
lower his arms to his sides and relax. Confirm that the fit is snug while still allowing movement, and
record your measurement up to the nearest inch. For a proper fit, do not place any of your fingers
between the tape and the gentleman’s chest. This is important because the ‘Coat Sizing Guide’ was
designed for snug measurements.
Overarm Measurement
When taking the overarm measurement, ask the customer to stand with his arms at his side. Place the
tape around the broadest part of his chest and shoulders, and record the measurement. Make sure to
pull the measuring tape snug for an accurate measurement.
Waist and Hip Measurements
Two measurements are critical to achieve the correct measurements for a coat and pant:
• waist
• hip
Because formal trousers are traditionally worn high on the waist, the waist measurement should be
taken by placing the tape around the customer’s naval line. Do not place the tape measure over the
belt or waistband of the customer’s pants. Confirm that the tape fits snugly while still allowing movement. And finally, before taking the measurement, hold the tape in place, and ask the customer if this
would be a comfortable fit for him.
Our men’s formal rental trousers have adjustable slides allowing a 3-inch range to maximize comfort.
Boys’ formal rental trousers offer a 1-inch adjustable slide.
The “Adjustable Pant Waist Range Guide” is shown here for your convenience:
Adjustable Pant Waist Range
27 - 28 - 29
30 - 31 - 32
33 - 34 - 35
36 - 37 - 38
39 - 40 - 41
42 - 43 - 44
45 - 46 - 47
48 - 49 - 50
51 - 52 - 53
54 - 55 - 56
57 - 58 - 59
60 - 61 - 62
63 - 64 - 65
66 - 67 - 68
69 - 70 - 71
If the customer measures in between sizes, go ahead and round down to the smaller size. If you’re
measuring a stout gentleman, ask him where he plans on wearing his pants and measure his waist
there. We recommend ordering suspenders for stout gentlemen who insist on wearing their pants
below their naval line.
When taking the hip measurement, ask the customer to stand straight with his arms at his side. Stand
to the side of your customer and measure the broadest part of the hip. Make sure the tape is snug, but
it can move freely.
By subtracting 7” off of the hip measurement, you will determine the absolute smallest waist size your
customer could wear. Example: If you measure a 32” waist and a 40” hip (40” - 7”= 33”), you would
13
have to order this customer a 33” waist pant even though he has a 32” waist. The 32” waist pant
would be too tight in this customer’s seat.
Helpful Hints for Sizing Coats
Now that you have taken the four most critical measurements for coat sizing, consider how they fit
together to obtain the optimal coat size for your customer. Consider these scenarios:
Based on a 40” chest and 49” overarm measurement, you have determined that your customer could
possibly wear either a 41 or 42 size coat (according to the Coat Sizing Guide found in your catalog
and on page 16 here). Check the waist size to ensure that you are sizing the coat properly. If his waist
measurement is 31”, choose a 41 coat (assuming the hip measurement is less than 42”). Anything over
a 10 inch difference between the customer’s coat and waist size will not look very flattering.
Also make sure that the coat size you are ordering is greater or equal to the hip measurement. For
instance, if this customer had a 42” hip measurement, he could not wear a 41 size coat, thus you
would order a 42 size coat.
As mentioned above, the waist measurement will affect the selection of the coat size whether your
customer has a thin or a large waist. An average adult’s waist size is normally 6” smaller than the coat
size. It will reduce in size as the coat size increases. For example, a customer wearing a 66 coat may
have a 65” waist. Refer to the chart below...
Coat Size
Waist versus Coat Size Difference
Hip Range
34 - 42
-6” (28 - 36 waist)
34-42
43 - 46
-5” (38 - 41 waist)
39 - 47
48 - 56
-4” (44 - 52 waist)
44 - 58
Over 56
-3” to 0” (53 waist & up)
over 53
Outseam Measurement
To determine a customer’s outseam measurement, first ask him to remove his shoes. Make sure the
customer looks straight ahead during this measurement. Stand to the side of the customer and start
the tape where the customer specifies he will be wearing his pants (tuxedo pants should be worn level
with the navel for the best fit and appearance). Measure to the floor and record the measurement as
the outseam.
Shirt Sizing
Concerning the correct sizing of a formal shirt, there are two important measurements needed to
obtain the proper size:
• neck
• sleeve
When measuring your customer’s neck, stand to the side of your customer. Measure the neck without
any fingers between the tape and the customer’s neck. Add 1 inch to the neck measurement for the
proper shirt size. Example, if you measure a 15.5” neck, add 1” and record a 16.5”neck measurement.
When measuring the sleeve length, stand behind the customer and start the tape at the base of his neck
in the middle of his back. The tape measure must go over the top of the customer’s shoulder. Next,
take the tape down the arm to the point of the elbow and then measure an inch and a half past the
14
wrist bone. It is always better to measure long versus short because a sleeve that is too short will be
unacceptable to your customer. Shown below are handy sizing guides to assist you in fitting formal
shirts...
Shirt To Coat Size Scale
Shirt Size
Neck Measurement
Coat Size
Small
14” - 141/2”
32 - 38
Medium
15” - 15 ”
38 - 42
Large
16” - 161/2”
42 - 46
X-Large
17” - 17 ”
44 - 48
2XL
18” - 181/2”
46 - 54
3XL
19” - 20”
50 - 58
4XL
21” - 22”
54 - 62
5XL
23” - 24”
58 - 66
6XL
25” - 26”
62 - 70
7XL
27” - 28”
68 - 74
1/2
1/2
NOTE: When fitting larger size shirts, you must pay close attention to the body size in relation to the neck. Heavy-set
people may have a small neck size in proportion to their body. For example, a man that wears a 64 coat may have an 18.5”
neck, but that shirt would not cover the width of his body.
Maximum Shirt Size For Chest and Waist Measurements
Shirt Size
Neck Measurement
Maximum Chest
Maximum Waist
Small
14” - 141/2”
38
34
Medium
15” - 151/2”
42
38
Large
16” - 161/2”
46
43
X-Large
17” - 171/2”
50
48
2XL
1/2
18” - 18 ”
54
52
3XL
19” - 20”
58
56
4XL
21” - 22”
62
60
5XL
23” - 24”
66
64
6XL
25” - 26”
70
68
7XL
27” - 28”
74
72
Measuring Young Boys
In general, measuring young boys is the same process as measuring full-grown men. It’s important
that you get a height and weight measurement on all of your tuxedo customers, but it is especially
important to get these measurements from your smaller customers. Also, jot down the age of the
young man, as that information is also useful.
In Conclusion...
Practice makes perfect when it comes to measuring your customers. However, if you have a question
regarding appropriate sizing, our experienced customer service staff will gladly help you. In addition,
try on coats, pants, shirts and shoes are available to purchase for a nominal fee from your Jim’s Service
Center to aid in sizing.
15
Utilize this very
useful sizing guide as a
reference point when
fitting your customer.
It is the same guide we
publish in our catalog.
short
Coat Sizing
Guide >
long
x-long
you’ll find our
comprehensive
Measuring & Fitting
Program showing you
best practices in
measuring and fitting
your tuxedo customer.
Be sure to view the
DVD with your staff!
regular
On the
Tuxedo Rental 101
DVD...
Coat
34S
35S
36S
37S
38S
39S
40S
41S
42S
43S
44S
46S
48S
50S
Chest
32 - 34
33 - 35
34 - 36
35 - 37
36 - 38
37 - 39
38 - 40
39 - 41
40 - 42
41 - 43
42 - 44
44 - 46
46 - 48
48 - 50
Overarm
40 - 42
41 - 43
42 - 44
43 - 45
44 - 46
45 - 47
46 - 48
47 - 49
48 - 50
49 - 51
50 - 52
52 - 54
54 - 56
56 - 58
Waist
26 - 28
27 - 29
27 - 30
28 - 31
29 - 32
30 - 33
30 - 34
31 - 35
32 - 36
33 - 37
34 - 39
36 - 41
38 - 44
40 - 46
Hip
32 - 34
33 - 35
33 - 36
34 - 37
35 - 38
36 - 39
36 - 40
37 - 41
38 - 42
39 - 43
40 - 45
42 - 47
44 - 50
46 - 52
Inseam
< 30.5
< 30.5
< 30.5
< 30.5
< 30.5
< 30.5
< 30.5
< 30.5
< 30.5
< 30.5
< 30.5
< 30.5
< 30.5
< 30.5
Outseam
< 40.5
< 40.5
< 40.5
< 40.5
< 40.5
< 40.5
< 40.5
< 40.5
< 40.5
< 40.5
< 40.5
< 40.5
< 40.5
< 40.5
Neck
14 - 15.5
14 - 15.5
14 - 15.5
14.5 - 15.5
14.5 - 15.5
15 - 16.5
15 - 16.5
15.5 - 16.5
15.5 - 16.5
16 - 17.5
16 - 17.5
16 - 17.5
17 - 18.5
17 - 18.5
Sleeve
< 33
< 33
< 33
< 33
< 33
< 33
< 33
< 33
< 33
< 33
< 33
< 33
< 33
< 33
Height
< 5’ 8.5”
< 5’ 8.5”
< 5’ 8.5”
< 5’ 8.5”
< 5’ 8.5”
< 5’ 8.5”
< 5’ 8.5”
< 5’ 8.5”
< 5’ 8.5”
< 5’ 8.5”
< 5’ 8.5”
< 5’ 8.5”
< 5’ 8.5”
< 5’ 8.5”
Weight
105 - 115
115 - 125
125 - 135
135 - 145
145 - 155
155 - 165
160 - 170
170 - 180
180 - 190
190 - 200
200 - 220
210 - 220
220 - 240
240 - 260
Coat
34R
35R
36R
37R
38R
39R
40R
41R
42R
43R
44R
46R
48R
50R
52R
54R
56R
58R
60R
62R
64R
66R
Chest
32 - 34
33 - 35
34 - 36
35 - 37
36 - 38
37 - 39
38 - 40
39 - 41
40 - 42
41 - 43
42 - 44
44 - 46
46 - 48
48 - 50
50 - 52
52 - 54
54 - 56
56 - 58
58 - 60
60 - 62
62 - 64
64 - 66
Overarm
40 - 42
41 - 43
42 - 44
43 - 45
44 - 46
45 - 47
46 - 48
47 - 49
48 - 50
49 - 51
50 - 52
52 - 54
54 - 56
56 - 58
58 - 60
60 - 62
62 - 64
64 - 66
66 - 68
68 - 70
70 - 72
72 - 74
Waist
26 - 28
27 - 29
27 - 30
28 - 31
29 - 32
30 - 33
30 - 34
31 - 35
32 - 36
33 - 37
34 - 40
36 - 42
38 - 44
40 - 47
42 - 49
44 - 51
46 - 53
48 - 55
50 - 57
52 - 59
54 - 61
56 - 63
Hip
32 - 34
33 - 35
33 - 36
34 - 37
35 - 38
36 - 39
36 - 40
37 - 41
38 - 42
39 - 43
40 - 45
42 - 47
44 - 50
46 - 53
48 - 54
50 - 56
52 - 58
54 - 60
56 - 62
58 - 64
60 - 66
62 - 68
Inseam
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
30 - 33
Outseam
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
39.5 - 43
Neck
14 - 15.5
14 - 15.5
14 - 15.5
14.5 - 15.5
14.5 - 15.5
15 - 16.5
15 - 16.5
15.5 - 16.5
15.5 - 16.5
16 - 17.5
16 - 17.5
16.5 - 17.5
17 - 18.5
17 - 18.5
17 - 18.5
18 - 19.5
18 - 19.5
18 - 19.5
18 - 19.5
20 - 21.5
20 - 22
21 - 23
Sleeve
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 34
33 - 44
33 - 44
Height
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
5’8”- 6’
Weight
110 - 120
120 - 130
130 - 140
135 - 145
145 - 155
155 - 165
160 - 170
170 - 180
180 - 190
190 - 200
200 - 210
210 - 220
220 - 240
240 - 260
260 - 275
275 - 290
290 - 300
300 - 310
310 - 330
320 - 340
340 - 350
350 - 370
Coat
36L
37L
38L
39L
40L
41L
42L
43L
44L
46L
48L
50L
52L
54L
56L
58L
60L
62L
64L
66L
Chest
34 - 36
35 - 37
36 - 38
37 - 39
38 - 40
39 - 41
40 - 42
41 - 43
42 - 44
44 - 46
46 - 48
48 - 50
50 - 52
52 - 54
54 - 56
56 - 58
58 - 60
60 - 62
62 - 64
64 - 66
Overarm
42 - 44
43 - 45
44 - 46
45 - 47
46 - 48
47 - 49
48 - 50
49 - 51
50 - 52
52 - 54
54 - 56
56 - 58
58 - 60
60 - 62
62 - 64
64 - 66
66 - 68
68 - 70
70 - 72
72 - 74
Waist
27 - 30
28 - 31
29 - 32
30 - 33
30 - 34
31 - 35
32 - 36
33 - 37
34 - 40
36 - 42
38 - 44
40 - 47
42 - 49
44 - 51
46 - 53
48 - 55
50 - 57
52 - 59
54 - 61
56 -63
Hip
33 - 36
34 - 37
35 - 38
36 - 39
36 - 40
37 - 41
38 - 42
39 - 43
40 - 45
42 - 47
44 - 50
46 - 52
48 - 54
50 - 56
52 - 58
54 - 60
56 - 62
58 - 64
60 - 66
62 - 68
Inseam
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
33 - 35.5
Outseam
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
43 - 45.5
Neck
14 - 15.5
14.5 - 15.5
14.5 - 15.5
15 - 16.5
15 - 16.5
15.5 - 16.5
15.5 - 16.5
16 - 17.5
16 - 17.5
16.5 - 17.5
17 - 18.5
17 - 18.5
17 - 18.5
18 - 19.5
18 - 19.5
18 - 19.5
18 - 19.5
20 - 21.5
20 - 22.0
21 - 23.0
Sleeve
35 - 36
35 - 36
35 - 36
35 - 36
35 - 36
35 - 36
35 - 36
35 - 36
35 - 36
35 - 36
35 - 36
35 - 36
35 - 36
35 - 36
35 - 36
35 - 36
35 - 36
35 - 36
35 - 36
35 - 36
Height
6’ - 6’3”
6’ - 6’3”
6’ - 6’3”
6’ - 6’3”
6’ - 6’3”
6’ - 6’3”
6’ - 6’3”
6’ - 6’3”
6’ - 6’3”
6’ - 6’3”
6’ - 6’3”
6’ - 6’3”
6’ - 6’3”
6’ - 6’3”
6 ’- 6’3”
6’ - 6’3”
6’ - 6’3”
6’ - 6’3”
6’ - 6’3”
6’ - 6’3”
Weight
135 - 145
140 - 150
150 - 160
155 - 165
160 - 170
170 - 180
180 - 190
190 - 200
200 - 210
210 - 220
220 - 240
240 - 260
260 - 275
275 - 290
290 - 300
300 - 310
310 - 330
320 - 340
340 - 350
350 - 370
Coat
38XL
39XL
40XL
42XL
44XL
46XL
48XL
50XL
Chest
36 - 38
37 - 39
38 - 40
40 - 42
42 - 44
44 - 46
46 - 48
48 - 50
Overarm
44 - 46
45 - 47
46 - 48
48 - 50
50 - 52
52 - 54
54 - 56
56 - 58
Waist
28 - 32
30 - 33
30 - 34
32 - 36
34 - 40
36 - 42
38 - 44
40 - 46
Hip
34 - 38
36 - 39
36 - 40
38 - 42
40 - 46
42 - 48
44 - 50
46 - 52
Inseam
> 35
> 35
> 35
> 35
> 35
> 35
> 35
> 35
Neck
Outseam
15 - 16.5
> 44
15 - 16.5
> 44
15 - 16.5
> 44
15 - 16.5
> 44
16 - 17.5
> 44
16.5 - 17.5
> 44
17 - 18.5
> 44
17 - 18.5
> 44
Sleeve
> 36
> 36
> 36
> 36
> 36
> 36
> 36
> 36
Height
>6’3”
> 6’3”
> 6’3”
> 6’3”
> 6’3”
> 6’3”
> 6’3”
> 6’3”
Weight
150 - 160
160 - 170
165 - 175
180 - 190
195 - 210
210 - 230
230 - 260
240 - 270
16
[ IMPORTANT POLICIES & PROCEDURES ]
Simplified Pricing
Our “Simplified Pricing” system reduces the number of “add-ons” you have to sell to your customers.
Your sales associates will find Simplified Pricing the easiest way to grow your tuxedo business and your
customers will be happier, too! With Simplified Pricing, your cost includes:
• coat
• pants
• any basic shirt
• any cummerbund or vest
• any tie
• nickel-plated jewelry
Regardless which vest or cummerbund your customer selects; the price is the same. There are no
deductions for cummerbunds and there are no add-ons for premium fullback vests! The ‘Complete
Ensemble’ price will be charged to any order that consists of a coat, pant and any one other item
(shirt, cummerbund, vest, or tie.) All prices are subject to change without notice.
Simplified Pricing includes all styles in our Diamond, Platinum, Gold and Silver Collections.
However, the Budget Collection is NOT included in the Simplified Pricing system. This is so you
may still offer a basic “no-frills” entry-level price point tuxedo package with standard accessories.
The Budget Collection includes the 588 Black Classic Peak Fulldress and 880 Black Classic Peak
Tuxedo. Premium fullback vests are an additional $8.00.
Formal shoes are additional on every tuxedo rental, as are premium gold or silver retail grade jewelry
sets, pocket squares, zoot hats, chains, and microfiber shirts.
Rental Agreements and the Accidental Damage Waiver (ADW)
An Accidental Damage Waiver (ADW) is a common practice in the formalwear rental industry.
Explain to your customer that a small fee will cover minor accidental damages such as stains or snags.
Replacement costs for a lost or destroyed tuxedo range from $300 to $700, depending on the tuxedo
style. We suggest you make your customer aware that the ADW does not cover loss, theft or malicious
damage.
We encourage you to always have your customer sign the rental agreement and you will find the ADW
widely accepted by the consumer. However, the consumer is given the option of declining the ADW
by initialing the proper line on the agreement.
You may customize this charge to reflect any amount you wish. Jim’s charges a $2.00 ($2.50 for Visalia
Retailers) wholesale ADW on every coat rented. We suggest you charge your customers a $4-6 ADW.
Malicious Damages and Lost Merchandise
Maliciously damaged garments and lost or stolen garments will be charged to your account at
replacement or repair cost. No credit will be given for the original rental charge. Call your nearest
JFW Service Center for current repair or replacement costs while the customer is still in your store.
17
Small Order Shipping Policy
Any weekly invoice of $25 or less will be charged for shipping.
Merchandise for Purchase
All new or used purchases are shipped F.O.B. shipping point. Returned purchases are subject to a
10% restocking/handling charge, plus shipping costs incurred. Exchange orders for purchases will be
charged to your account. Upon receipt of the original purchase item with a properly completed Credit
Request Tag, a credit memo will be issued.
[ THE TUXEDO RENTAL PROCESS ]
Orders should always be placed as early as possible! During the peak demand months of April
and May, wedding orders take priority over prom orders provided they are received at least 14 days in
advance of the date of use. DO NOT hold back wedding and quinceanera orders. Place as many of
the orders as you can and call in any additional orders later.
Wedding Orders
Once the bride and groom have agreed on who will wear what for the wedding, you will want to
register their wedding party using a Jim’s Formal Wear wedding order form. By following the simple
steps outlined below, anyone in your store will be able to assist in working with wedding parties.
1. Enter the Bride’s name in the space marked ‘party name’ and enter the phone number where she
can most easily be reached.
2. Enter the Groom’s name in the first ‘customer name’ field followed by the names of the Best Man,
Groomsmen, Ushers, Ring Bearers, Fathers and any others members of the party.
3. Beginning with the Groom, enter the specific coat style, pant style, shirt style, tie style, vest/sash
style, shoe style, pocket square style, and hosiery style.
4. Follow Step 3 for all other members of the wedding party. Have the Bride and/or Groom approve
all choices and style selections!
5. Ask the customer if any members of the party will NOT be able to come to your store to be
measured. If so, give the customer Out-of-Town Measurement Cards. The Bride/Groom will
mail these cards to the out-of-town customers to be measured elsewhere.
Encourage the Bride/Groom to have these customers measured by a clothing store, tailor, or tuxedo rental store only. Those customers will then mail
the out-of-town measurement card to your store or to the Bride/Groom.
Ask that you receive them at least two weeks prior to the wedding. Mark
on your order form ‘N.O.M.’ to denote these are ‘Not Our Measurements.’
This will assist you in the event there is a fitting problem when the customer
picks up.
6. Inform the customer that they may now send the men into your store to
To Help Gather Measurements...
be fitted. The fitting process takes as little as five minutes. Let the Bride/
Out-of-Town Customer Measurement Cards are
available from your JFW Service Center
Groom know that fittings are most accurate if the customer is wearing a
and jimsformalwear.com.
lightweight dress shirt or sport shirt (as opposed to a sweatshirt) and dress
shoes (as opposed to work boots or tennis shoes) when they come in for their fitting.
7. Inform the Bride/Groom to check with your tuxedo department three weeks before the wedding
to see that everyone has been fitted. If there are any fittings not yet completed at this point, the
bride/groom still has time to call them and get them into your store.
Step 1: Please have your measurements
taken ONLY by a professional tailor, men’s
clothing store or a formalwear specialist.
Most stores will perform this service for a
nominal fee.
Chest
Coat Size
Step 2: Please complete ALL the information
provided as accurately as possible.
Overarm
Waist
Date of Use
Height
Outseam
Weight
Shirt Neck/Sleeve
Groom’s/Bride’s Name
Your Address
Step 3: Please return this card to the store
address on the reverse side at least two
weeks prior to the wearing date.
Hip
Shoe Size/Width
/
Your Name
Your City/State/Zip
Work Phone
Home Phone
/
Email
Special Instructions
Method of Payment:
Check
Credit Card
Credit Card #
We cannot be held responsible for measurements not performed in our store. We will do everything
possible to make any necessary corrections. However, special freight charges may apply.
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/
/
Prom/Single Orders
A prom or single order is typically written on Prom/Single order forms, which are available from your
Jim’s Formal Wear Service Center. This three-part form also serves as a customer receipt. The Prom/
Single Order Form is laid out much like the wedding order form, but it holds only one order as
opposed to eight. Some stores use these forms for each member of the wedding party, as it serves as a
receipt form also.
Down Payments
We suggest you either get full payment in advance or full payment at pickup. If full payment in
advance is not possible, we suggest collecting a minimum $40 down payment. Your store will be billed
HALF-PRICE for tuxedos delivered, but NOT USED. (The $40 down payment should cover your
store’s cost no matter which styles are chosen). A completed ‘Not Used’ tag must accompany these
tuxedos when they are returned to Jim’s. Jim’s does not issue credits on ‘Not Used’ orders during April
and May.
Customer Pick-up of Tuxedos
When your wedding or special occasion customer reserves his tuxedo, inform him it should be ready
for pick-up from your store on Wednesday afternoon before the event. Ask your customers to call
ahead before making a trip to your store to confirm that their tuxedo has arrived.
When your prom customer reserves his tuxedo, inform him it will be ready for pick-up from your
store on Thursday afternoon before his prom.
In either case, if the customer’s tuxedo arrives early, you can call him and let him know it’s ready. This
is called the ‘Under Promise/Over Deliver’ principle of marketing.
Prompt Return of Your Tuxedo Rentals
Prompt returns of your tuxedo rentals are critical. Without them, we cannot deliver next week’s
orders on time - orders that may be yours! Inform your customer that their tuxedo is due back in the
store the day after they wear it. Customers with Friday events should return their tuxedos on Saturday;
Saturday events return on Sunday or at least by Noon on Monday.
Consider charging your customers a fee for late returns to improve timeliness and to limit extra
charges to your account. ‘$50 Late Fee Tags’ can be ordered through your Jim’s Formal Wear Service
Center for use in your store.
[ PLACING YOUR TUXEDO ORDERS WITH JFW ]
Options for Ordering Tuxedos
We offer three options for placing orders with us:
• Phone
• Fax
• Online via our Business-2-Business (B2B) website
Wedding orders can be placed by using any of the three ordering methods. Prom orders may be placed
by phone or through our B-2-B website. However, we do not recommend faxing prom orders.
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Placing an Order by Phone
Placing an order by phone is very simple. Once you call your Jim’s Service Center, one of our
customer service agents will answer. Just tell them you would like to place an order. Then, you’ll be
asked for the information in the list below. Don’t worry, once you get accustomed to the ordering
sequence, it will take less than a minute to order a tuxedo!
1. We will ask for your Jim’s Account Number.
2. We’ll ask for your Customer’s Date of Use - we assume most orders are expected 2-3 days in
advance of the wearing date.
3. We’ll ask for Your Name.
4. We’ll ask if your order is one of these five rental types: Groom, Wedding, Prom, Single or
Quinceanera.
5. We’ll ask for your Customer’s Last Name, followed by their First Name.
6. If the order you’re placing is an additional order to a wedding party, we’ll ask you for the Groom’s
Order Number.
7. We’ll ask for the Coat Style Number.
8. We’ll ask for the Coat Size. Customer Service can help you size with just the chest overarm
measurement if you are unaware of the coat size.
9. We’ll ask for the Pant Style Number.
10. We’ll ask for the Pant Waist Size, followed by the Inseam or Outseam measurement. Most
retailers prefer to measure and submit outseams when placing their order.
11. We’ll ask for the Shirt Style Number.
12. We’ll ask for the Neck Size and Sleeve Length.
13. We’ll ask for the Tie Style Code.
14. We’ll ask for the Vest/Cummerbund Style Code. Our computer system automatically sizes your
vest/cummerbund based on the coat size ordered.
15. We’ll ask for the Shoe Style Code.
16. We’ll ask for the Shoe Size and Width.
17. If you wish to add optional items such as pocket squares, formal hosiery, hats, scarves, canes, etc.,
please say so now.
18. If you have special shipping requests, please say so now.
19. Lastly, we will give you a Customer Number.
Receiving a Customer Number
When you are finished placing your order by phone, you will receive a Customer Number. The
number confirms acceptance of your order. Write the number next to the customer’s name on your
order form. This will let everyone in your store know this customer’s tuxedo has been ordered. If you
inquire later about this order, we will ask for his Customer Number.
When faxing your order, we will fax the order back to you with Customer Numbers included for each
individual. The fax confirmation document we return shows what is entered into our system. Please
take the time to double-check styles and sizes against your order records!
When entering your orders online via our B2B website, complete the process of entering the order,
click ‘SUBMIT’ and the system will give you a Customer Number.
Changing Your Tuxedo Orders
Free changes may be made to any order up until it ships (generally 3-10 days before the use date).
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After the order has been shipped, you are responsible for the freight charges only.
During Prom Season (April and May), free changes may be made to any order as long as it is ten days
in advance of the use date. In addition, changes may also be made at any time as long as the order has
not gone into production. Once a prom order goes into production, any changes will be treated as a
new order and will be billed accordingly.
Cancellations and Credits
Orders canceled prior to shipment will not be charged for the rental.
Orders canceled after shipment will be charged 50% of the original rental cost. Orders canceled after
shipment during the peak season months of April and May will be charged full rental cost plus
shipping costs incurred.
We recommend you require at least a $40 down payment from your customers to offset any possible
cancellation charges you may incur. A ‘NOT USED Credit Request Tag’ must be completed and
attached to any canceled tuxedo in order to receive proper credit, except in April and May.
A credit memo will be issued upon prompt receipt of the tuxedo and completed ‘NOT USED Credit
Request Tag’, except during April and May.
Also, concerning credits...
• No credit will be issued for individual orders for shirts, shoes, and/or accessories canceled after
shipment at any time.
• No credit will be issued for shipping charges or any carrier C.O.D. charges on orders canceled
after shipment.
• No credit will be issued for “NOT-USED” garments during the April and May peak demand
period. No credit will be issued after 30 days of invoice date.
[ INSPECTING THE TUXEDOS UPON DELIVERY ]
We’ve put a variety of computerized safeguards in place to reduce the possibility of errors on your
order. When your customer’s order comes to our final inspection stations, we scan the bar-code on the
production card, which brings up your customer’s order on the computer screen. We then scan the
barcodes of the tuxedo components to verify the assembled ensemble matches the order as called in by
you. If there is a discrepancy, the computer screen beeps and blinks to notify our final inspector of
the error.
In addition, visual inspections are done on all items to ensure you receive exactly what you ordered.
However, we’re still human and mistakes can happen. That’s why we ask you to inspect your tuxedos
against your original orders to catch any errors before your customer arrives.
To perform the inspection within your store, use your original paperwork and the production card that
came with the tuxedo. Pull the plastic up on the hanger so you can better inspect each item. The Jim’s
label on the inside breast pocket of the coat and the waistband of the pants includes the three-digit
style number and size.
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In addition, don’t forget to reference the Packing Slip that will arrive with your orders. If you have a
question concerning which items you received or any missing items, the answer will likely be found on
the packing slip!
Once you’ve inspected the tuxedos for accuracy, contact your customers to arrange a pick-up time for
their tuxedo ensembles.
Basic Points To Check When Your Tuxedos Arrive
COAT
Are all buttons firmly in place? Are sleeve hems set?
PANT
Is the waist size correct? Do you have the correct length? Are the adjustable slides and
zipper working?
SHIRT
Are all buttons in place? Is the shirt clean and crisp looking? Is a complete set of jewelry
in the bag?
TIE & VEST
SHOES
ACCESSORIES
SIGN OFF
Are all buttons firmly in place? Is the hook and eye in place on the tie?
Do you have the correct size and style? Are the shoes clean? Cross reference your
customer’s name on shoe bag sticker with the customer’s name on the production card.
Hang shoe bag on tuxedo hanger to keep together.
If any other items were ordered, make sure they are included.
If all items are correct, initial or sign the production card so other associates know tuxedo
has been inspected!
Touch-up Pressing
Every effort is made to deliver our garments in a wrinkle-free manner. Occasionally, due to carrier
mishandling, transit time or humid conditions, some touch-up pressing may be necessary at your
expense. Having a steam iron or a steamer in your store’s back room is a good idea.
[ THE FINAL FITTING ]
The final fitting process should be the last time you’ll see your customer before his big event. Take this
opportunity to educate him, and allow him to enjoy the full benefits of your expertise. Pass along tips
concerning the in’s and out’s of wearing a properly fitted tuxedo and the steps he can do to look his
best.
During the final fitting, if there are items that don’t fit, you can use the following guidelines
regarding alterations and replacements:
Alterations
•
•
You may raise or lower the pant length or the sleeve length of the coat.
You may move a button on a coat or shirt as long as the fabric does not get permanently damaged
in the process. However, never use products such as “Stitch Witchery”, “Poly-Stitch” or any
permanent bonding materials on our garments! If you don’t have a sewing machine in store, we
recommend “Duck” brand two-sided carpet tape to make minor hem changes. It can be found at
most department stores and is easy to use.
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Ordering Replacement Items
If you cannot make the customer happy by performing a simple alteration, if there is a discrepancy, or
a garment is soiled, call your Jim’s Service Center immediately to order a replacement item!
When you call us with a replacement order, the customer service agent will ask for the customer
number first. Here are the simple steps to ordering a replacement item:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
We’ll ask for your Jim’s Account Number.
We’ll ask for your Customer Number.
We’ll ask for Your Name.
We’ll verify your Customer’s Name.
We’ll ask what item(s) you need to replace.
We’ll ask what size you need.
Depending on the time of the year, we may ask you to hold while we verify the replacement item
is available.
8. We’ll ask how you want the item shipped. If you’re a local delivery customer, we will use our own
vans to deliver the replacement item.
9. If you haven’t already told us why, we’ll probably ask the reason for the replacement item. We do
this so we can help avoid repeating a mistake. Our team members want to know, too!
10. If the mistake is our error, we pay the freight. If it’s your error, the freight charges are your
responsibility. We won’t bill you for another garment on a rental exchange nor will we bill you for
the labor or materials to package the rental exchange.
The Formal Guarantee
We are the originators of the Formal Guarantee and are confident that we won’t let you down if you
need a replacement. The rules are simple:
1. The tuxedo(s) must have been rented from Jim’s Formal Wear.
2. You must notify Jim’s of any needed corrections by no later than 3 p.m. the day before your
customer’s wearing date. In the case of Saturday, Sunday, or Monday wearing date, we must be
notified by no later than 3 p.m. on Friday.
3. If we fail to get the corrected garment delivered to your store by the next business day (Saturday
for a Saturday or Sunday event)... the rental is FREE with no questions asked!
We strive very hard to get your tuxedos into your store by Wednesday, so that you may get your
customer in the store as early as possible to try on his ensemble. It’s imperative to stress to your
customer the importance of trying on their tuxedo the day it arrives. In fact, some of our retailers have
implemented a contract which requires that their customers come in to be fitted by 6 p.m. Thursday,
and they have been very successful.
[ WHEN TUXEDOS ARE RETURNED ]
Customer Follow-up
This is your customer’s last visit to your store associated with the tuxedo rental process, and it is your
opportunity to thank him. While the tuxedo experience might have been perfect, other parts of the
event might have been less than perfect. Avoid the question, “How did everything go?” You open
yourself up for everything that might have gone wrong at his event. Rather, ask the customer, “Were
you pleased with the tuxedo?”
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When you receive a favorable response, don’t hesitate to ask the customer if he knows of any friends
getting married in the near future. Ask if he would either recommend your store or if he could give
you their names and addresses. Building a referral/lead list can generate many more tuxedo rentals
for your store.
Inspecting the Tuxedos Upon Return
Before your customer leaves the store, check the coat and pant pockets for any valuables left behind.
In addition, if you find anything missing from the tuxedo, inform your customer he will need to return
the item promptly.
We ask that you remove the plastic covering before you return the garments to us whether you return
by FedEx, UPS or Jim’s delivery van.
Our overhead check-in rails require that the returning tuxedos be on hangers to expedite the bar code
scanning process. Garments returned without hangers or in garbage bags seriously delay the entire
check-in process and affect the production cycle. Please leave the shoes in their bags, but do not hang
them on the tuxedo; this takes up extra packing space.
Returning Tuxedos Via UPS or FedEx
Please have all returns ready for pickup by the first business day following the event. The quicker we
receive our soiled goods back, the quicker we can get them cleaned and pressed for the next customer.
A UPS or FedEx Authorized Return Service tag is enclosed with each billable package shipped to your
store. We suggest you place these labels over the original inbound shipping label on the LARGEST
cartons we shipped to you. We pay a flat rate for this service regardless of the carton size and weight.
It is more cost effective if you consolidate your small package shipments into the larger cartons. If
necessary, you may tape boxes of the same proportions together to avoid separate shipments.
When UPS or FedEx comes to your store, just make sure they know you have some ARS packages for
pickup. No paperwork is required on your part. However, please keep the tracking number located on
the ARS label for safe keeping just in case a package gets lost.
Any tuxedos that miss UPS or FedEx on Monday or Tuesday must be returned by the store at your
expense via UPS or FedEx Ground Service! If packages are returned with ARS tags after Tuesday, we
will bill your store accordingly. Garments received in our service centers after the Thursday following
the weekend of use are subject to rebilling at half-price.
Returning Tuxedos Via Jim’s Delivery Vans
Our delivery vans will typically arrive at your store between Noon on Monday and Noon on Tuesday.
Routes will vary, so we encourage you to have all returns back in your store by Noon Monday.
During the peak demand of prom season, we may ask you to open your store on Sunday for customer
returns and Jim’s van pick-up. Whether or not you open your store on Sunday is totally your decision.
These special arrangements will be made in advance.
Any tuxedos that miss our delivery vans must be returned by you at your expense via UPS Ground
Service. If packages are returned with ARS tags after Tuesday, your store will be billed accordingly.
Garments received in our Service Centers after the Thursday following the weekend of use are subject
to rebilling at half-price.
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In general, it is imperative that you get your returns in transit to us no later than Tuesday afternoon as
customers are waiting for those garments for the following week. We must have ample time to clean,
press, process and ship the order out to them. We recommend that you tell your formal wear
customer to have the tuxedo back by no later than Noon on Monday (or, in some cases, the next
business day your store is open).
[ ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES ]
Billing Terms: NET 10 EOM
Invoices dated the 25th of the current month or prior are due in full by the 10th of the following
month. This gives you 15-45 days to pay depending on the invoice date. Failure to pay according to
our terms will cause your account to be placed on a C.O.D. basis! We reserve the right to collect any
past due amounts on future shipments.
In the event you anticipate a problem paying your account on time, we ask that you contact your
Service Center to discuss the matter.
Past due accounts will be charged a 1.5% per month service charge which is an annual rate of 18%.
Once service charges have been added, your account is subject to C.O.D. status. A carrier C.O.D.
charge will be added to all C.O.D. shipments.
A returned item fee of $25.00 will be assessed on any returned checks, ACH payments or credit
cards processed. Returned items will not be re-processed. The Groom’s Free program will be
discontinued for your store until returned items are paid in full.
No deductions from payments will be given without prior authorization. Authorized credit memos
will be issued. No credit will be issued after 30 days of invoice date.
Options for Payment
C.O.D.
While you may submit credit references in order to be placed on ‘open account’ with us, unfortunately
it may take a little time for you to be approved. As a result, your account will like be put on C.O.D.
status. Once the credit references have responded to our requests, we’ll make every effort to re-assess
your status promptly.
A.C.H.
Our A.C.H. Program (“Automated Clearing House”) allows you to authorize automatic debit of your
checking or savings account for automated payment of your previous week’s invoices. The ACH
payment method can save time and money on your check processing. Also, we have a similar program
that allows for automatic payment by credit card. If you’re interested in either of these programs,
please contact our Accounting Department at 800-851-4420 for details.
Credit Cards
We accept these credit cards as payment on account:
• Visa
• MasterCard
• Discover
• American Express
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Accounting Documentation
Statements
Statements are the most important piece of documentation concerning your account. They are
printed and mailed to your store at the end of every month, and they include a listing of all credit
memos, invoices, payments and re-bills. This is a summary of all of the other paperwork you have
received throughout that billing period. To fully understand all of the valuable information printed
on a statement, it is imperative that you keep your packing slips, invoices, credit memos and re-bills.
Statements are divided into two pages: a Summary page and a Details page. Brief explanations of both
pages are shown below.
The date this statement was
printed.
Statement
Summary Page:
Your JFW Account Number.
The abbreviation for the
JFW Service Center who
services your store:
AN - Anderson, Indiana
GA - Atlanta, Georgia
NY - Endicott, New York
OT - Ottawa, Illinois
JP - Pueblo, Colorado
RI - Richmond, Virginia
KS - Salina, Kansas
TX - Seguin, Texas
TR - Trenton, Illinois
VI - Visalia, California
New Statement Addition:
An overall summary of your
activity from the past month
is printed here. This is a
good place to get a quick
snapshot of your account.
These boxes are a reflection
of your account at the time
the statement was printed.
They show due dates of
account activity.
Be sure to return the bottom
portion of the statement
with your remittance.
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Statement
Detail Page:
Transaction Date:
This column shows the
dates invoices and credit
memos were issued by
JFW, and the dates we
received your payments.
Description:
This column is a break
down of each invoice and
every transaction that has
affected that invoice.
Column Designations:
Invoice Number:
The Invoice Number column
lists the JFW invoice, credit
memo or finance charge
number.
ADDITIONAL BILLING INFORMATION:
• Invoices dated the 25th of the current month or prior are due in full by the 10th of the following month. This
gives you 15-45 days to pay depending on the invoice date.
• Failure to pay according to our terms will cause your account to be placed on a C.O.D. basis. We reserve the
right to collect any past due amounts on future shipments.
• Past due accounts will be charged a 1.5% per month service charge which is an annual rate of 18%. Once
service charges have been added, your account is subject to C.O.D. status. A carrier C.O.D. charge will be
added to all C.O.D. shipments.
• A returned item fee of $25.00 will be assessed on any returned item. Check and ACH returned items will not
be reprocessed. Groom’s Free program will be discontinued until returned checks are paid in full.
• No deductions from payments will be given without prior authorization. Authorized credit memos will be
issued. No credit will be issued after 30 days of invoice date.
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PAYMENT BY CHECK
will be designated in this
column by your check’s
number
CR-MEMO=Credit Memo
INVOICE=JFW Invoice
ACH0701=Automated
Clearing House payment
followed by the date
received; in this example,
July 1 (0701)
CSH0701=Cash payment
followed by the date
received
CCK1234=Cashier’s Check
payment followed by last
four digits of check number;
in this example, ‘1234’
MO1234=Money Order
payment followed by last
four digits of check number
VS0701=Visa credit card
payment followed by the
date received
MC0701=Master Card
credit card payment
AX0701=American Express
credit card payment
DS0701=Discover credit
card payment
Packing Slips
All tuxedo orders that are delivered or shipped to your store will be accompanied by a packing slip
listing the items included in the shipment. Those same items will appear on your weekly invoice. You
can cross reference the packing slip when double-checking your invoice for accuracy.
Invoices
Invoices for the previous week’s orders are printed on Mondays and mailed to all customers.
Re-Bills and Late Return Charges
In the event that your tuxedos are returned late to our Service Center, we will issue a re-bill to charge
your store accordingly. A re-bill will look similar to a weekly invoice, however, it will be printed on
light blue paper and will have the words “Late Return” watermarked through the body. Following are
the re-bill policies:
• Merchandise not back in our service center by the close of business on the Thursday following the
date of use will be billed to you for an additional half charge.
• Merchandise not back in our service center by the close of business on the 2nd Thursday following
the date of use will be billed to you for an additional full charge.
• Merchandise not back in our service center by the close of business on the 3rd Thursday following
the date of use will be billed as a used resale (purchase). All re-bills and sales are final.
Credit Memos
If your store is entitled to a credit, it will be issued in the form of a credit memo. Credit memos are
mailed or emailed on a weekly basis.
Receiving Documents by Email
There are many advantages if we have your email on file. Besides saving paper, we can communicate
with you in a variety of ways. One of those advantages is you can receive all of our accounting
documentation by email! To sign up, contact our Accounting Department at 800-851-4420.
Sales Tax Certificates
You are responsible for collecting applicable sales tax in accordance to your state laws. We are required
to keep on file a copy of your Sales Tax Certificate and applicable Sales Tax Exemption Form. If the
proper sales tax paperwork is not completed, we are required to charge sales tax on your resale
orders!
As a reminder, our policies and procedures are located on the back of the Jim’s Formal Wear
Wholesale Price List!
[ MARKETING ASSISTANCE ]
Printed Literature
We offer a wide array of materials to help you promote your store’s tuxedo growth. Eye-catching
brochures, posters, banners and signage are available. Contact your nearest Jim’s Service Center for
pricing and availability.
Brochures
Our wedding brochures are full color, 12-pages, 8 ½” x 11” in size and contain all of the Jim’s Formal
Wear tuxedos and accessories. The wedding brochure can function in your store as a ‘mini catalog.’
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Our prom brochures are full color, 40+ pages, pocket sized and
contain exclusive photography you won’t see anywhere else. The
ensembles featured in the brochure are geared towards the modern
prom-goer.
Both the wedding and prom brochure have a space for your store to
stamp or imprint your store’s contact information. Brochures are an
excellent tool for fashion shows, point of purchase, or networking
with other wedding/prom related businesses.
The photography, graphic design, and printing of these brochures is
produced, directed and copyrighted by Jim’s Formal Wear and may
not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of JFW.
PROFESSIONALLY DESIGNED BROCHURES
for weddings and proms help you market your
formalwear business to the end consumer!
Posters, Banners and Signage
Full color, 22” x 28” posters are offered for our latest tuxedo and accessory styles. Likewise, we offer
full color vertical banners that are 2’ x 5’ in size and can be hung from your ceiling or in your store’s
front window. Lastly, you can choose from a pair of window decals touting that ‘Tuxedo Rental’ is
available in your store.
JIMSFORMALWEAR.COM - the Official Website of Jim’s Formal Wear
We’re proud to say the Jim’s Formal Wear website is one of the most widely visited and best designed
websites in the Formal Wear industry. It’s not uncommon for us to welcome over 750,000 unique
visitors to our website during a calendar year!
The entire Jim’s Formal Wear tuxedo and accessory line can be viewed on jimsformalwear.com. The
website can be a useful sales tool for your store, as your customer is able to view the line from the comfort of their own home or office. Once they’ve made their initial choices, most of the work for your
store’s associates is complete!
Build A Tux
In addition to being able to view the entire Jim’s Formal Wear collection on
jimsformalwear.com, your potential customer can also mix and match tuxedos
and accessories by using our Build A Tux application, which is always found
on the home page. Once they have created their own unique ensemble,
they’ll have the option of sending you a customized report with their chosen
styles or printing the report to bring to your store. If the customer chooses
to send the report to your store it can arrive by email, fax or mail. The sales
process couldn’t be any easier!
BUILD A TUX
An application on our website where
your customers can mix and match
tuxedos and accessories to create their
ultimate ensemble... and it saves you
time during the sales process!
Find A Store Feature
One of the biggest benefits of our website is that it connects the end
consumer with you via our ‘Find A Store’ feature. An end consumer can
find your store based on a variety of search criteria. Once they enter their
desired location, they’ll see your store’s listing including your store name, address, phone, email and
a direct link to your own website! Your listing on our Find A Store feature is available to your store
FREE of charge for qualifying stores.
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Our Website Drives Customers to Your Store
End consumers are able to request a copy of our current wedding brochure directly from our website.
Enclosed in the brochure packet we mail to them is a letter including the three closest Jim’s Retailers to
their location. If your store is located close to them geographically, they will know about it!
In addition, we also offer an Online Wedding Contest where brides and grooms have the chance to
win five free tuxedos for their wedding. Those entrants who do not win will also receive a letter including
the three closest Jim’s Retailers to their location. These leads are collected and shared with you.
A Source for Formalwear Knowledge
Our website is a terrific resource for those who have questions about formalwear protocol. Questions
and answers can be found within our ‘Tuxedo - Frequently Asked Questions’ section. And, if the site
visitor still has questions, they can begin an online chat with an actual JFW employee and get their
questions answered first hand, in real time.
The JFW Business-2-Business Website
The Business-2-Business (B2B) website is available for use by all of our Jim’s Formal Wear Retailers.
It offers so many benefits... just think about how nice it would be to enter orders into our system
after business hours when it’s convenient for you. Using our B2B website is just like sitting down at a
computer inside your own Jim’s Service Center!
Here’s what you are able to accomplish with our B2B website:
• Inquire about the status of all your orders
• Inquire about a single order
• Inquire about delivery times
• Track your UPS or FedEx tuxedo shipments
• Inquire about style availability
• Keep track of the orders you have already placed
• Place an order online using ‘expert’ or ‘wizard’ modes
• Modify any existing orders in our system
• View your sales history
And most importantly, all of these features are available to you at any time of the day - that’s 24
hours a day and seven days a week!
In addition, our B2B website features a special section entitled “Retailer Bulletin Board.” There are
many resources available to you here including:
• FAQ section about the B2B website itself
• Copies of JFW Documents may be downloaded
• Product Images may be downloaded for use in your ads
• Special Announcements
• Marketing Idea Center
We encourage you to make use of our Business-2-Business website. All you need to sign-on is your
user name and password. (When your store is established as a Jim’s Retailer, you will receive a user
name and password). If you have misplaced yours or have a question, call our customer service team at
800-851-4420.
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Educational and Store Multimedia
“Tuxedo Rental 101” and the “Measuring & Fitting Techniques” DVD’s
When it comes to educating you and your staff on the in’s and out’s of Tuxedo Rental, we have the
perfect tool: “The Tuxedo Rental 101” DVD. The purpose of this video is to provide you, as a
Jim’s Formal Wear Retailer, with a good foundation of knowledge in Tuxedo Rentals. You’ll follow
the tuxedo rental process, you’ll learn about different styles and differences between tuxedos and
accessories and you’ll be exposed to ideas to make your sales process more successful. In addition, the
camera will take you inside the production area of the Trenton, Illinois Service Center where you’ll
see our employees in action.
Without some initial training, measuring a gentleman for a tuxedo can be a tricky process. To assist
you, we also have “Measuring and Fitting Techniques,” an educational video showing you exactly,
step-by step, the methods to achieve proper and accurate measurements. A copy is available to you
simply by asking!
Tuxedo Slide Show
If you have T.V.’s, video monitors or computer screens installed in your store and would like to display
a tailored message about tuxedos and accessories, we can offer our “Tuxedo Slideshow” on DVD. The
slideshow is like having the pages of your JFW catalog displayed on screen with upbeat, exciting music.
Just set your video player to ‘repeat’ and the slideshow will play continuously in your store.
The Elite Retailer Program
The Elite Retailer Program is designed to reward our best customers for their loyalty to our company.
The program is broken up into four levels:
• Platinum
• Gold
• Silver
• Base
Depending on your volume levels, you may receive some or all of the following benefits:
• Elite Formalwear Retailer of the Year Plaque - display in store to let your customers know of
your experience and expertise in tuxedo rentals.
• Free UPS Ground Freight on All Billable Rental Orders regardless of when your order is placed.
• Priority Inventory Access allows you deeper access into our inventories - which is a real bonus at
prom time.
• Use of our Elite Toll-Free Telephone Lines will place your call in front of our call load and will
substantially reduce your time on hold.
• Free Tuxedos are earned for reaching specific volume levels.
• Lead Generation & Direct Mail Programs - every lead you approach could be a tuxedo rental.
We continue to add new benefits to the Elite Retailer Program each year and reserve the right to make
any changes to the program. Consult your Sales Representative for a full listing of benefits of
becoming an Elite Retailer.
Once you’ve reached an Elite status, your account must be current, and your store must continue to
produce a minimum net rental volume during each calendar year to maintain that status.
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Groom’s Tux Free Program
To qualify for our
We offer the Groom’s Tuxedo Rental FREE with six or more
Groom’s Free Program:
additional paid rentals in the same wedding party from the same
store. Every Jim’s Retailer qualifies for this program only if the
your store’s account must
individual store’s account is current with no past due balances
remain current with no past
or service charges due. This special offer is available only on
due balances or service charges.
wedding and quinceanera parties. Single, prom or special event
orders may not be combined to take advantage of this program.
If your store’s account is in a past due status at time of shipment
or delivery, our packing slip/invoicing program will void the groom free savings for your store.
Please note, a $2.00 Damage Waiver Fee is assessed on all tuxedos including those that are ‘free’ as part
of the Groom’s Free Program.
Ring Bearer Collection
The Ring Bearer Collection is designed to save your customers money and
increase the size of your wedding parties. We offer six basic styles that are
compatible with many of our designer name tuxedos in our catalog. Tiny
details like the number of buttons are rarely noticed on boys’ tuxedos. Most
importantly, the ring bearers pay a fraction of the cost of the designer name
tuxedos and still look great!
The following six styles are included in the Ring Bearer Collection:
• 582 & 820 Black Classic Notch Fulldress & Tuxedo
• 572 & 720 White Classic Notch Fulldress & Tuxedo
• 562 & 620 Ivory Classic Notch Fulldress & Tuxedo
The Ring Bearer Collection includes the first two ring bearer ensembles, size 12
and under, with six additional paid rentals.
Display, Fashion Show, and Try-On Garments
Based on your store’s volume level, you may qualify for co-op advertising discounts on tuxedos to be
used in displays, store sponsored fashion shows or as try-on garments. Contact your local Sales
epresentative for details.
[ IDEAS TO GROW YOUR TUXEDO BUSINESS ]
Be a Full-Service Retailer
Tuxedos are generally ordered later in the wedding planning process. At this point, many bridal shops
have already sold wedding gowns or bridesmaids’ dresses. After the dress sales are final and before
the customer leaves the store, remind them that you also offer tuxedo rentals! Make your Tuxedo
Department visible. This process will help your store be the preferred source for ALL of the wedding
party’s needs.
Generate Additional Suit Rentals
Suit rentals are ideal for Homecoming, school dances, job interviews, family portraits, court
appearances, funerals, etc. To gain these rentals, consider networking with your local schools, job
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placement service agencies, photographers, trial lawyers, and funeral homes. A positive rental experience will bring them back for their future tuxedo rentals!
Tux Raffle
Donate a free tuxedo rental to a prom committee or a school organization in exchange for them
helping you to pass out brochures or coupons in schools. Students, in turn, sell $1.00 tickets to win
a free prom tuxedo. This is a great way to raise money for any type of school fund-raiser and generate
some exposure for your store.
Be a Vendor at Bridal Shows
Become involved in your local bridal shows; they offer tons of exposure for your store, face-to-face
contact with potential customers and the opportunity to harvest leads from the show. Sometimes,
you’ll receive leads automatically because you are a vendor. If not, offer some type of prize where the
bride must ‘register to win’. This is a good way of collecting leads. After the show, follow up on the
leads with a phone call, email or direct mail piece. Remember, every lead could become a tuxedo
rental.
Referral Incentive
Ask current customers for referrals. You may be surprised at the number of leads you can gain by just
asking. Follow up immediately upon receipt of a referral. In addition, consider partnering with a local
restaurant and provide gift certificates to customers whose referrals generate new business. The
restaurant may even split the cost of the gift certificate for the cross-referral.
Networking
Partner with other wedding related businesses (photographers, jewelers, florists, etc.) to gain customers.
You can offer coupons for those business partners with each wedding tuxedo rental. Coupon savings at
a number of businesses make choosing your store far more enticing than your competition. Consider
creating a direct mail postcard with all of the business names printed on it, and share the cost amongst
all participants. Also, don’t forget to partner with your local travel agents, as many couples will often
need a tux if they plan to go on a cruise.
Utilizing Promo Tuxedos
Dressing your store personnel in tuxedos will create a higher level of customer awareness especially on
high traffic weekends (i.e. store open houses). Women can wear tails to really create a stir! Contact
your Jim’s Formal Wear Dealer Relation Representative to discuss...
Utilizing Promo Tuxedos in Networking
There are several ways to utilize promotional tuxedos in networking. Consider some of the following
scenarios... Outfit a local florist delivery driver in a tuxedo on Valentine’s Day. You or your spouse
could wear a tuxedo to a local event to help drive the use of more formal wear and promote your
business. Finally, Chamber of Commerce dinners, dances and/or Country Club events are perfect to
showcase your services.
Packaging Service
Some of our better bridal shops offer a 10% discount to a bride if she purchases her gown, bridesmaids’
dresses, and tuxedos at their store. The discount could be applied solely to the tuxedo rentals or to the
bride’s entire purchases depending on the profit margin you feel comfortable making. (Hint: Raise
your tuxedo prices slightly, so your margins are not affected by the discount that you offer.)
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Commissions
Many of our top retailers have found that paying their employees a commission on wedding bookings
has not only increased their bottom line but has increased the sales volume and employee morale.
Black Tie Fund Raisers
Many civic and private organizations are always looking for new ways to raise funds. Black Tie
Dinners and Dances have proven to be successful. Contact your local Jaycees, Shriners, Lion’s Club,
Churches, Reunion Committees, Chamber of Commerce, High School Bands and similar
organizations to suggest the idea. In addition, fraternities, convention groups and large groups of
25 or more may qualify for special quantity discounts during the off-season months of July through
March. Contact your nearest JFW Service Center for specific information.
Alumni Proms
A great way for high schools to generate revenue for future proms is to host a prom for ALL High
School Alumni! Alumni are usually eager to help support their former schools. Hire a band, have
dinner catered, and don’t forget to make it a Black Tie Affair! The best time to schedule an Alumni
Prom is late December through early January. In addition to appealing to the local residents, those
recent high school graduates that are away to college are back in town during the holidays.
Anniversary Packages
Work with other merchants in town to create a special anniversary package. The package can include a
tuxedo rental, corsage, dinner for two, tickets to the theatre or other special event. You can offer
different packages to suit different tastes. You can easily add a hotel, limo ride, or other extras to make
the night truly special. The source for these leads could be the people who have rented wedding tuxedos from you in the past.
More Exposure
Expand or enhance your current tuxedo rental department for increased customer awareness.
Participating in bridal shows, creating a presence in your network affiliates’ stores, utilizing print or
broadcast advertising or hosting an open house are all effective in gaining more exposure for your
services. Tuxedo rentals make up 40% of some of our retailers’ overall store profits! These retailers
are very aggressive with tuxedo rental and utilize many of the ideas listed on this page.
[ WORKING WITH CUSTOMERS ]
As a retailer, you know the importance of fine-tuning your sales techniques and improving your
presentation. By becoming knowledgeable in formalwear retailing, tuxedo rentals can easily become a
considerable revenue stream for your store!
What makes tuxedo rentals from Jim’s Formal Wear so exciting is that you have so many options to
satisfy your customers. With over forty tuxedo styles to offer, you can appeal to the tastes of the
groom, a prom-goer or a gentleman heading out for a night on the town.
In addition to having a large selection of tuxedos to offer, we have an even larger selection of accessories! Choose from over 150 different vest styles to coordinate with any bridal or prom color scheme.
Presenting Your Catalog
By keeping your catalog open to the “Diamond Collection” page, your customer is first exposed to the
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most popular tuxedos that allow for a larger profit margin for your store. Obviously, the ideal
situation is for a sales associate to walk a customer through the tuxedo rental process as opposed to
making it a self-serve situation. We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to spend time with
all your customers, as the amount of tuxedo and accessory styles - and the way they work together might be overwhelming to the average customer. Without any guidance at all, customers with little
knowledge about formal wear rentals will automatically gravitate to the least expensive tuxedo in the
catalog. Not helping a customer select their tuxedo is the #1 reason a business loses profit!
When working with a customer, sell the features and benefits of the garment. The rental merchandise
found in the Diamond and Platinum Collections are our most popular and fashionable tuxedo styles.
These garments are made from better materials - higher quality wools, fusibles, linings, and satins - and
provide a better fit through the arms and shoulders. In addition, they offer more fashion appeal with
their variety of lapel treatments and button stances. By sharing the importance of these benefits with
your customer, you help them validate their buying decision.
Up-selling the End Consumer
Remember that the most important part of “Up Selling” is to show your customers the tuxedos in the
Diamond or Platinum Collections FIRST and then work your way towards the back of the catalog!
Here are more selling points to use when showing the Diamond or Platinum Tuxedo Collections:
• Remind the groom that it is important that he look as good as his bride in the wedding
photographs. A premium style will look and fit better!
• Point out to the groom that the wedding party will be wearing the tuxedo anywhere from 8 to 12
hours, and it is definitely worth the additional money to look and feel better. This is also a great
reason to invest in premium shoes, particularly our Comfort Shoe, style BCS.
• In the grand scheme of things, tuxedo rentals for a wedding are only a small fraction in
comparison to the other investments that go into planning a wedding.
• The bride and bridesmaids want to look their very best and still be comfortable. The guys should
have the same courtesy at a significantly less price than what the girls would spend.
• The customer is not paying extra for a designer name, but for a better-made product. The designer
name attached to a tuxedo assures quality and fashion.
• The Diamond and Platinum tuxedos wear better because the shoulders on the coats are typically
an inch broader, and that provides the customer with a more athletic looking silhouette.
• These garments typically have 6 ¾” to 7 ½” armholes that allow for greater mobility and comfort.
Don’t forget that up selling does not just include renting a better tux to your customer, but it also includes up-selling better shoes, jewelry and the addition of pocket squares (handkerchiefs) to the order.
Suggestive selling of these items can increase profits from 3% to 5% or more on every tuxedo rental.
• Premium footwear can generate between $8 to $12 of additional profit on each rental!
• Simply adding a pocket square to a wedding party will generate an additional $16 to $20 in
profits! Don’t forget that pocket squares are a nice memento for prom goers who may give it to
their date or to their mom for scrap booking purposes.
• Adding premium jewelry to 500 rentals could put an additional $1,000 to $1,500 in your pocket.
• Formal Hosiery can generate an additional $2.50 in profit on each tuxedo rental.
If you are interested in growing your tuxedo profits, then “Up-Selling” is an important sales tool for
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your business. Using the same amount of time and effort, you can increase the profit of each tuxedo
rental from $3, to $5, all the way up to $44! All it takes is a little suggestive selling and knowing a
few features and benefits of the garments found in your formal wear program.
In Summary...
Tuxedo rental is a learning process. Just like anything else, the more you do it, the easier it becomes.
We have retailers across America that have been extremely successful and have enjoyed significant
profits renting tuxedos from Jim’s Formal Wear. We want YOU to be successful, too!
Questions? Contact Us! - We know you’ll have questions, and we welcome them. We’re here to help.
Never hesitate to pick up the phone and call your Jim’s Formal Wear Service Center.
If you have questions about…
• An invoice or packing slip, call your Jim’s Formal Wear Service Center first. You may also call our
Accounting Department at our Corporate Offices.
• If you need marketing ideas or advice, contact your Dealer Relations Representative. You may also
call the Marketing Department at our Corporate Offices.
• If you have questions about your orders or production, call our Customer Care Center. You may
also call your Jim’s Service Center.
We are reachable by email as well. See our website for a complete roster of our Corporate and Regional
Management Personnel. Simply click on ‘Company Information.’
Corporate Offices:
One Tuxedo Park
Trenton, Illinois 62293
800-851-4420
jimsformalwear.com
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