Men’s Wearhouse
Men’s Warehouse started in 1973 and became public in 1991 and from day one the company focused on people. They have realized that people are what make a company, what makes a company become profitable. Men’s Wearhouse started small and has grown to own a huge market share for custom suits. I believe they are similar to Nordstrom’s in the sense they realize that growth and success comes from within and how you promote out.
Men’s Warehouse spends large amounts of time and effort in training employees, if your employee lacks knowledge that is no one but the company’s fault. They understand to get the most out of an employees potential you must be equiped them with the right tools. They have created a “training camp” called Suits University so that employees can “experience the culture.” Not only do they put a lot of time in training they make training fun, they locate them at fun locations, make them experiences like a party. From experience if I have a smile on my face I am more likely to produce better results and learn more.
Another key point I believe that makes Men’s Warehouse successful is George Zimmer, founder and CEO’s, belief of servant leadership. In prior reading we have learned how servant leadership is a concept practiced by level 5 leaders. They promote the idea of a win-win situation, if you win then I win. By promoting this idea is allows the company to have a higher moral and employees to actually like their job. He believes that success is created by making sure everyone contributes were needed, that individuals should see themselves as equals and if the company needs something make sure it gets down.
I have never personally been in a Men’s Wearhouse yet it obviously has a lot of tactics that make it successful. The only thing that I think could improve is the fact that employees are number one, I do agree that employees make a company but without any customers no matter how great your employees are you have no revenue. I think if they shared the great focus they put on making their employees so valued and shifted some of that to their customers that they might be able to capture more of the market share.
In times like today with an economy that is on the decline I think it is important that company look within themselves and ask themselves how they got where they are and then how they can get farther in the future. I truly believe because of the training and win-win attitude Zimmer has demonstrated in his employees had taken them to the lengths they are today but emphasis on customers and building supplier relationships will only help the company grow stronger.
Jessica Plassmeyer 