Welcome once again to Formal Times! In this issue we laugh at ourselves, meet the newest board member and sadly bid farewell to another. We also feature business building tips submitted by readers. Please send us your input at rebeccamc522@aol.com

Get to know Steve Davis of Jim’s Formal Wear. He was elected to the board in Nashville, and has graciously answered our questions. We welcome him and his new ideas.

Name and family information
Steve Davis (third generation family member – Jim’s Formal Wear Co.) Married to wife – Alicia. No children, but we do have a large Golden Retriever that is treated like one.

Background years in the industry company etc;
Grandpa first hired me when I was seven to help go through dirty pockets (teardowns). From that time on, I helped with teardowns every prom season. By age twelve, I knew I wanted a car when I turned 16, so I began working summers at the plant as well. I would come in every day and help out with UPS teardowns during my summer breaks.

Tis the season of scary things, so what better time to laugh at this wonderful industry that binds us? Here are a few of the funny tuxedo happening submitted for your enjoyment.

How about the tuxedo store who displayed pictures of satisfied past couples in his store on a special wall. A bride was blissfully looking through the pictures until she came upon her fiancé and his first wife smiling happily back at her. She screamed then stormed out of the store leaving the groom to figure out what had happened.

Or the bride who used her 2 ex husbands to escort her down the aisle. Were they happy to be rid of her or scared she would come back??

The little ringbearer who had to be carried out of the store sobbing unmercifully because he did not get the “bear” suit he was expecting!

How many of you have ever heard “Fat guy in a little coat” sang in your store on pick up day? Or “you mean I have to pay for this?”

The mother who made each and everyone of the groomsmen put on their tuxedos at the same time taking all of the dressing rooms on a busy pick up day. She then proceeded to have them all line up and turn around while she lay on the ground and MADE sure all the hems of the pants hung exactly the same! The mother let no one change until all were perfectly matched. She made everyone want to scream!

One mother called screaming that the store had given her son a tux with holes burnt in it! Always fearful you may have missed some small unseen flaw we go on to question her about the holes only to find out they were through the outside of the bag and all. Upon explaining to her we do not send out burned items, she turns on her son and starts on him. He then sheepishly admits he had thrown it in his buddy’s trunk and the tail light had shorted out burning the tuxedo. She quickly hangs up with no apology of course!

Returns are always interesting! “It was that way when I got it!” The favorite saying upon returning a wet, torn, wadded up mass of material in the bottom of a bag. “Doesn’t the damage wavier cover that?”

Keep up the good work out there and keep smiling!

Keep these coming we can all use a laugh rebeccamc522@aol.com  

  Nancy Haboush of Mister Neat’s, an IFA board members, has made a very trying decision and wanted to let you know:

“It is with extremely mixed emotions that I am announcing my departure from Mister Neat’s and the formalwear industry.

I started at Mister Neat’s in 1988 and was mentored by the best in the business, Mark Burke. I held the positions of Store Manager, District Manager, Retail Buyer, Vice President of Sales and for the past eight years, President.

There are no words that would adequately express my gratitude for all of the opportunities that Mark provided me. His visionary leadership is what made me who I am today, and I will be eternally grateful for spending twenty years by his side in this business.

There is no substitute for having someone who believes in you in the business world. I know that this is extremely rare to find someone that trusts your intuition and allows you to build a company culture with complete faith and confidence in your ability. Mark did that. He gave me the freedom to dream big and create something truly special. Through that experience, I flourished and discovered that I was capable of doing things I never even dared dream about.

In addition to my work at Mister Neat’s, Mark also guided me to contribute my time and talent to our Savvi group as well as to the IFA. Mark has always understood that our involvement in the industry was vital to our success as a business and encouraged me to make a difference outside of Colorado.

In so doing, I have made countless friends in this business. I have learned from every one of you and all of you have impacted my life in your own way. You made my life easier because of something you shared with me, because you listened when I needed an ear, because you were a friend when times were tough, because you told me the truth even when it hurt. You know who you are – and I just want to say thank you.

People have asked me how on earth I am leaving what I’ve loved for twenty years! It’s not easy – but I think it’s the right thing for me at this time. I have a thirst for knowledge and a strong emotional need for personal and professional development. I have been in the same position for the past eight years and feel I need a new challenge.

So it is with this motivation that I am moving to a new industry. I am curious and excited to try something new and find new ways to contribute my experience. I will be joining a Loveland-based executive team in the insurance industry and will make the move in late November.

Maxwell Maltz said, “What is opportunity, and when does it knock? It never knocks. You can wait a whole lifetime, listening, hoping, and you will hear no knocking. None at all. You are opportunity, and you must knock on the door leading to your destiny. You prepare yourself to recognize opportunity, to pursue and seize opportunity as you develop the strength of your personality, and build a self-image with which you are able to live—with your self-respect alive and growing.”

Thank you for your support, encouragement and friendship. I have had the most incredible twenty years in this business and will remember all the amazing times we had together at conventions across the country! I miss you already! Keep in touch.”

Nancy Haboush

Mister Neat’s Formalwear

Tips for better business as submitted or learned at the convention in Nashville.

Do your associates ask for payment at the time of fitting? Not just a down payment, but simply stating “Mr. Roberts your tuxedo rental will be $110.95.” A higher percentage of prepaid tuxedos equal greater add on sales at pickup.

One coat style attracting all the attention? Mannequin placement is key along with the vest color and style displayed. Rotate mannequins regularly. Offer incentives to the employees on different weeks to book certain styles.

Employee of the Month: Recognition is synonymous with content employees. Happy employees are the key to promoting your business above all others. Choosing an employee each month to recognize for their abilities and strengths validates their importance in your business. The entire store, from production, to shoe people, and sales staff can all be honored for their efforts.

Walk in your front door and take an objective look around. Do you need a better first impression? Critique displays, mannequins, and even the dressing rooms. What does your customer notice about your business first?

We want this part of the newsletter to be an ongoing feature and are happy to feature any tips you may have. What can you add to this list? Send all suggestions and feedback to rebeccamc522@aol.com.

You may know Chuck Field for the quality boxes and other packaging materials available through his company H. Field & Sons. Chuck is also an IFA Board Member and esteemed ventriloquist who performed during the General Membership Meeting at EXPO26 in Nashville. Chuck recently popped up to entertain newscasters on a local Chicago morning show.Click here to view the segment.

Every one of us is helping to create the world in which we live. We are conducting business in ways that affect our coworkers, employees and peers. Everyday we should be creating a positive force in the environment where we live, work, teach, and learn. We have to accept responsibility for our choices and the influences we are creating. How proud are you?


“A man has to live with himself, and he should see to it that he always has good company.”
~Charles Evans Hughes~

“Character is doing the right thing when no one is looking.” ~J.C. Watts~

The opinions expressed by the authors do not reflect necessarily of the Association of  International Formalwear, its officials, directors or personnel. Each author is the unique person in charge of her or his content.

The opinions expressed by the authors do not reflect necessarily of the Association of  International Formalwear, its officials, directors or personnel. Each author is the unique person in charge of her or his content.