We all need something to look forward to!

We will survive this busy season, and be ready to see what is on the horizon for next year. Start your plans now to attend. IFA EXPO26! September 8-10 Nashville, Tennessee at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. Make plans now to attend! The theme for this year’s EXPO is “New Challenges, Innovative Solutions.” Do not miss this once a year opportunity to see what is on the horizon for our industry and reconnect with old friends. We always seem to add in some time to have a little fun and Nashville should be a great place to look for it! Hotel Information The Opryland Hotel is a deluxe hotel located in the Opryland complex area near Nashville International Airport. Simply walk in the door to see why the Gaylord Opryland name is synonymous with premier meeting and entertainment destinations. There are nine acres of indoor gardens at the Opryland Resort filled with waterfalls and tropical plants. The Delta, one of the hotel's three lush interiorscapes, is a 4.5 acre indoor garden under a magnificent glass dome ceiling. Guests can float through the gardens in one of the Delta River flatboats, or stroll along the river and browse through a variety of over 30 unique shops and more than 15 food and beverage outlets. With 2,881 guest rooms including more than 200 suites and 800 rooms overlooking the vast indoor garden areas, the accommodations are at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel are fantastic. Each room is equipped with a hair dryer, an iron and ironing board, an electronic lock and key system, and a guest voice mail system.

Industry Happenings

Everyone is so busy at present we have little time to talk. I can report on what is doing well in our part of the Midwest. White has been very strong. The kids walk in the door wanting white tuxedos, they do not always walk out with that upon trying them on. This past weekend our largest of the season white was a large factor. Stripes of any configuration were next. Good basic black tuxedos with every possible vest color are still in majority. The brown which has been huge with weddings, is renting for prom but not a major player. The vest colors we could not keep up with were aqua and hot pink. What is doing well for you? rebeccamc522@aol.com.

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Thoughts for The Week

Everything works out in the end. If it hasn’t worked out it hasn’t ended! “The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.”

What to do in Nashville

Walking Tours If you'd like a bit more information on some of these sites or would like to do a slightly different downtown walk, pick up a copy of the Nashville City Walk brochure at the Visitors Center in the Gaylord Entertainment Center. This route produced by the Metropolitan Historical Commission, outlines a walk marked with a green line painted on downtown sidewalks. Along the route are informational plaques and green metal silhouettes of various characters from history. Be sure to come to town a day early or plan on staying a couple extra to enjoy all Nashville has to offer.

Welcome To Formal Times Peak Prom Season Edition!

If like your editors you are in absolute peak season, you have little time for anything except the tuxedo business. Hopefully your season is running along smoothly and all of your hard work and planning ahead is paying off. In this issue we talk about service with these young prom customers. They are our future brides and grooms and hopefully we are leaving them with a positive impression. To get you started thinking about this year’s convention in Nashville we invite you to escape with us on a walking tour! We can almost feel the sunshine that hasn’t been seen for weeks. Come along!

Bush White-ties one on with Queen

By Jennifer Loven Chicago Sun-Times 5/8/07 Washington turned out adoring schoolchildren and ladies in hats for Queen Elizabeth II's visit. The White House laid on special touches, too, at President Bush's first-ever white-tie state dinner to honor America's closest ally. The centuries-old vermeil flatware and candelabras came from a London silversmith. A sugar replica of the queen's 1953 coronation rose graced the cake. And the traditional ''special guest'' was sure to be of interest to an avid horse enthusiast such as the queen: Calvin Borel, the jockey who rode to victory in the Kentucky Derby this weekend. ''It's an honor,'' Borel said. ''It's just like winning the Kentucky Derby -- it might even be better.'' Laura Bush insisted that the famously informal president was enthusiastic about wearing white tie and tails -- though admittedly after being persuaded by his wife and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. ''We thought if we ever were going to have a white-tie dinner, this was going to be it,'' she said. Monday’s event was Bush’s first white tie affair. Here’s a rundown on formalwear: White Tie: The formalist of the formal. For men, a white bow tie, tailcoat, white vest, white shirt. Don’t err and mix it with a black tie. White tie events were once common in D.C., but the Kennedys dropped them. Black Tie: Formal. A tuxedo. Black suit is not acceptable. Black Tie Optional: Men may wear a tux, but a dark (black or navy) suit and tie is fine. Semi-Formal: Dark suit, tie. courtesy of Calgary Herald, Washington Times

Customer Service at order placement and pickup during prom season

What are your customers hearing when they walk in your store to place an order? Do they stand there waiting and waiting for service, only to be rushed through the order process? How about when the tuxedo is picked up? What impression are you leaving with this new customer? I had the great luck this past week of being extremely sick during the busiest week of the entire year. I found myself in the waiting room at the doctor’s office waiting and waiting, first for someone to acknowledge me then again for the nurse practitioner. The 3 minutes I was seen by a professional for the hour and a half visit made me think about customers in our store ordering tuxedos. Do they ever feel as I did? Cheated! When the ordering season is at its peak the wait to order a tuxedo can be over an hour. The store where I work each customer tries on his complete tuxedo of choice, so the wait can be long while decisions are made. This wait is many times inevitable, so what could we do to make it less painful for them? Greeting each new arrival and arming them with the information to make decisions when their turn arrives empowers them, giving them the ability to make informed choices when their number is called. A quick explanation of the styles and necessary shirt, shoe, and accessory choices allows them better use of their time. Knowledge is power, so give them the information to recognize a great fitting first quality tuxedo. When they pick out tuxedos for their own wedding someday you never know what seeds of thought you have planted. I am amazed how when I explain the proper placement for tuxedo trousers on the waist then ask the customer to put them where they will wear them to measure length how many smile and place them exactly as they should be worn. Not all of course, but many can see clearly in the mirror how each piece comes together to make a great fit. Pickup day can also leave a lasting impression. Encouraging promers to try on the entire tuxedo and helping adjust all the pieces is critical. In placing the tuxedo in the dressing room for the customer we always give them a quick explanation of what to try on. When they step out we adjust the vest and tie. When they finish we offer to rehang the tuxedo to insure it leaves the store in top condition. I still had a young man walk out of the dressing room the other day with the bow tie pulled over his head! Once it was explained and he was encouraged to help other guys who would probably have the same confusion on how to wear the tie he felt better. Promers spend a lot of money for this momentous event and we want formalwear to always be included. What are you doing in your store to encourage these young consumers? We would all love to hear about it send us your comments rebeccamc522@aol.com.

Average Prom Related Expenses

Prom dress                                    $ 250 Casual Clothes for after or post parties   125 Prom Tickets                                      20 Shoes                                               40 Beauty Salon (nails, hair)                       98 Florist                                                50 Accessories (Jewelry, Gloves, Garter)       65 Makeup (nail polish, lipstick, etc.)            75 Other                                                   55 Tuxedo Rental                                     150 Transportation                                     151 Dinner                                                  60 Photography                                          32 *****Average per couple spent going to prom $800. to $1000. Promers start looking for their dress about 11 weeks before prom. *Amount spent on prom: 84% of teens will spend $200 to $300 on a prom dress:  $50-200 on accessories (the favorite prom accessory for 85% of teens in 2005 was a date) $30-75 on Hair $30-75 on makeup