manager in training

stylist

delivery driver

sales associate

store manager

Friar Tux Shop

The backbone of Friar Tux is college students or adults with children seeking part-time work in the range of 15 to 25 per week. This job is ideal for college student as the company prides itself in using this towards their advantage. It allows them to pay employees minimum wage while also maintaining an on-the-ready replaceable work force. 

The work environment in a Friar Tux store is honestly dependent on management. Throughout my time at the store I have gone through 4 managers that for the most part each time was a step down in workplace atmosphere. My first and best manager made the store feel like a miniature family and set the standard for the store. After the company brutally fired, demoted, and transferred this manager without informing any of the employees, they replaced them with  managers from other stores that either didn’t understand the stores clientele or only cared about making the company profitable. I would say Upper Management prides themselves in only making a profit, and as soon as an employee or manager doesn't fulfill their “standards” they are fired, demoted, or sent to another store. Sometimes managers even quit on the company before they have the opportunity to do this to them. Store Managers and store employees create genuine relationships with customers and at times prioritize the customer to get the most out of renting and purchasing with Friar Tux (which of course may affect the stores income and “sales goals” and “numbers”) and employees are often punished for caring for them. Instead of “putting the customer first”, which is something Friar Tux prides itself in, it seemingly puts profits first and customers only when it is convenient for them to do so. It is heart wrenching to see a company that is on the forefront of creating  special moments in the lives of people merely viewing them as dollar signs instead of people who are selecting Friar Tux to be a part of milestones in their lives. The company aspires to care about people and their employees but often misses the mark. 

The best example of the company fully displaying this is through store operations throughout the Corona Virus Pandemic. Stores employees were left with miniscule hours (4-6 Hours a week) where only one employee would work during a shift. While employees are struggling to provide for their families, Friar Tux thought that reducing hours of store operations was the best way to help employees through the pandemic and that they can make a living off of these hours. The company has available funds (given by the government to aid them in the pandemic) to pay more employees to work but refuses to… all while those at the top of the chain of command still receive their salary bonuses and can go on vacation. The blatant disregard for their employees needs during a worldwide pandemic is unacceptable.

The one and few redeeming qualities of the job and is the true highlight of the job would definitely be the customers. As an employee of Friar Tux you literally get to style and in certain cases help brides, grooms, and event organizers plan out their event. These are monumental moments in their lives and some customers literally glow throughout their experience in the store and it truly is a fantastic and heart-warming thing to be a part of.

I advise future employees to do their own research on the company and to see if having flexible hours plus bare-minimum benefits is a good trade off that will work for them and if they see the company as somewhere that truly values them


Having worked in various areas of this company, I can say my experience has been mostly positive. I started part-time at one of the retail stores for about a year before moving into their corporate offices where I worked mostly full time. The general feel of the brick and mortar stores, versus working in a corporate environment is very different.

I've been blessed with the best management within every area I've worked in. My experience being in the store was educational. My manager was very flexible with my work schedule since I was still in college. The training I received could've been better, but overall I was knowledgeable in my job and felt confident in assisting brides and grooms during a stressful time in their lives, and making it a little bit easier for them. The only time I felt really stressed and overworked was during prom season, where I felt we were understaffed. The company hires a lot of new people during this time to help out with the volume, but I think because of the limited training given to these new hires, they end up being more of a burden than actual help. Employee retention is tough in the retail stores, as the company hires a lot of young, high school/college workers who end up only staying for less than a year or so.

Employee retention the corporate environment however, is great. I've known employees who have been here for decades and they seem pretty satisfied with their job. The coworkers I had when I first transferred in corporate are still here even after the pandemic. The pandemic was tough on the company and I believe that it's hard to see the bigger picture when it comes to the sacrifices the company had to make during this time to make sure we can come ahead during the end of it. My experience, while challenging, has been positive during these times. My manager kept me in the loop  and was supportive with anything related to my job, and continued to be supportive after I came back. I've never felt I was disposable, rather, an asset to my department and the company in whole.

The best part of the job for me are the people I work with. I enjoy coming to work because it feels like I am important to the people I work with and I feel that they care about me as a person. The hardest part is learning all the new things that comes with my position, but it doesn't mean it's not enjoyable for me. :)

The president / upper management cares about the company. It's true that they care about making revenue and to keep it growing especially during these tough times. But they also know that their employees are part of the company. It may be hard to see when you are in a retail environment, and I hope that upper management will try to engage the retail employees/managers so that they can see the company the way that I see it.

Overall, my time with this company has been enjoyable for me and has helped me grow in my career and as a person. I would like to say I am lucky, but I think it's mostly because I don't see challenges or hurdles as a negative, rather, it's a chance for me or for others to improve. Because of that, there's always room for improvement and I give it a 4/5.

I worked at this company for 7 years and let me tell you, I wouldn't recommend this place to ANYBODY! When I handed in my resignation, I never even received a "thank you", just a "turn in your keys to the nearest location", after 7 years that's what I deserve? Thanks friar tux! The pay is an absolute joke, I make more now at my new starting position than I made as an assistant manager there. There is no room for growth, even if you have the experience needed, any upper management positions will be given to whoever is the DM's favorite. The owner of the company couldn't even be bothered to send us a "welcome back" email when we returned from our furlough. During my entire time here I probably only had 3 competent managers. The managers are not trained on how to handle any sort of employee conflict, so if they have an issue with you they will just ship you to the nearest store instead of offering any sort of beneficial coaching. During the busy times which is prom, the store is always grossly understaffed. There were times I would leave the store at 11pm when the store closes at 8, but you cant leave until the last customer is helped and the store is left spotless. During my time here I had customers scream, cuss me out, get in my face, but the customer is always right! So it didn't matter if I was being belittled, YOUR feelings don't matter to them, they'll turn around and ask you "well what did you do to upset the customer". Your coworkers will throw you under the bus the second they get, don't believe the "family" hype, its bull. The ONE good thing about this company is their flexible with your school scheduling. When it comes to training, the 2 corp trainers are magnificent, they do a wonderful job, but don't expect the managers to offer any training, they'll usually just pawn it onto whoever is scheduled to work with the new hire. The only reason I stuck around for so long was because I was also in school and needed an opportunity where I was able to go to work while in college, but if there's a better opportunity, go for that instead. This company does not know the meaning of loyalty. 

I highly recommend this company for any entry level candidates- high school, college graduates, or anyone starting their professional career. The company provides a lot of support when onboarding and provides fundamental professional skills to their employees. It is a family owned business and that is truly part of what makes working here so special. The family is still very much involved in the day to day business operations as corporate management and they are currently transitioning their roles to the next generation within their families. They all have so much heart and passion for what they do and prioritize all of their employees' overall well being, both being very rare sightings at any company outside of Friar Tux. The job on a store level entails working very closely with typically 3-5 colleagues which leads to very close and strong teams.The company holds an impressive retention percentage with a majority of employees having a 5-15+ year career with Friar Tux. There is room for growth but the process can be incredibly long with there being a limited amount of senior roles and a very slow turn over in those roles. For anyone that brings experience or is currently a senior professional , I would only inform of the chances of a long, drawn out process of promoting to a corporate or senior management position. There is great flexibility with your schedule and a very considerate work/life balance. Overall there are great training resources, a senior team that offers support and a very friendly work environment!

The company is great for starting a career, it teaches you interpersonal communication skills, sales, general office management, and how to work as a team on a sales floor.  My fellow workers are great to work with, and is a large part of the reason why I enjoy working there.  

The company is a small family owned business so moving up in the company is very difficult, there are many people who have worked there for years that are waiting in line to be promoted.  The position of District Manager (DM) is highest possible job to achieve and is a great position to be at, but there are only 5 districts split between 30 or so stores. and many of the managers end up working 10+ years with no offer to reach DM.

A typical day of work includes sales to new cliente, booking and maintaining appointments, measuring and fitting customers, and assembling and placing orders.

The hardest part of the job is that because there are small teams that work in stores, it can be very difficult to find time off when something comes up, stores can be often short handed, which leads to very busy days. Lastly, the industry often has very difficult or picky customers that feel entitled for perfection, and it can feel like nothing can go right for them.  So you are often forced to go above and beyond what your job requires to satisfy them.

When i first started at this company it was great, however, due to the decrease in volume, the company morale also went down with it. there is NO room
for growth. if there is an upper management position available (assistant or store manager), there are no interviews held, it goes to whoever is the DMs personal favorite. They want you to go above and beyond for the customer and when you do it’s not acknowledged, it’s “part of your job”. Dealing with the prom moms and uptight brides was absurd especially if an issue is out of your hands, don’t count on upper management to help because they’ll make it your issue and then ask what did YOU do to upset the customer? the pay is an absolute joke, they try to compensate by saying you also get commission for rentals and sales which is laughable. don’t count on getting raises either once you complete your “certifications”. It’s easy to get close with your coworkers because of the small staff (about 4-5 per store), but because of the small staff, finding coverage if you need to call
off is almost impossible. the owner of the company couldn’t be bothered to send us a “welcome back” message when we returned from being furloughed. 0/10 would recommend. 

Working at Friar Tux has taught me many skills including: fitting, some tailoring, customer service, management, and communication. I worked at FT through my entire undergraduate program. If you are a student looking for a flexible work place Friar Tux is a great place to work. Management always worked with our school schedules. They also try their best to give you any requested days off no questions asked as long as the days don’t fall under “prom season”! The store hours of operation are great, on the weekends we’re out by 5! The company also pays some commissions to employees and they offer opportunities for increasing your pay based on trainings you complete. These trainings are very informative and I have carried the skills I learned beyond my time with the company. My only complaint is that the company frequently changes the commission structure. At times I felt like it was being changed so that we would get paid less commission or so the commission was harder to obtain. However, at  the end of the day as a student I cared more about the flexibility of the job. 

A typical day at work is assisting customers with decision making for their attire for an event. Most customers have an idea of what they are shopping for, but there are a few that will be needing assistance in selecting styles, so the you should have some sense in style. 

In this job, I have learned the etiquette of men's formal wear. I know how to fit proper, and the organization skills of helping a bridal party.

The management is sometimes short staffed, and the volume of the customers is too high that the employees become overstressed. For the most part, the staff gets along just fine. 

This is a good job for college students who are looking to grow and learn management skills. I do not believe it is a long-term job for most. 

The hardest part of the job is dealing with customers who want the perfect fit! This is not a customer tailor shop, it is for most part, a rental company!

The best part of the job is the ability to meet new people in the industry. You get to visit beautiful venues overlooking the ocean, attend industry related events, and you get to rent your tuxedo or suit for free!

This job had many positives including considerable flexibility, decent training, and it was a small yet big enough company where you could generally know everyone. The pay will always be around minimum wage, managers hardly made more than associates. Although there is commission and during the busiest season (prom) you can make almost double your normal paycheck. I wouldn't recommend this company for people who are going in as a new associate hoping to find some kind of career. This is mainly for younger entry-level workers who are students or just getting their foot in the door or maybe need something flexible. Overall it is pretty easy and luckily for me, all my immediate coworkers were great. The higher-ups do present unrealistic sales goals though. Get ready for customer service and dealing with people's weddings and other events. If you can handle interactions with customers you'll be fine. There will be incredibly rude and also incredibly kind patrons.

typical day at Friars would be greeting customers, picking styles of tux, taking customer info, measuring, fit customer, cashier role ( every employee takes on several roles, there is no assigned role. you must learn all) 
hours and work are slow in the winter and pick up during spring and summer. (especially during prom season) 
not very much room to grow which is why this job is ideal for a person who is looking for a temporary job. Job is ideal as a stepping stone
Management expects you to do your job help with theirs when  your pay is significantly lower and they get bonuses for doing those jobs. 
You are expected to learn everything but the training and pay is not balanced with everything you must learn and do. 
On top of that corporate raises price of their products several times a year and finds ways to cut your pay by removing benefits such as commission and incentives.
- only thing I liked about my job was the environment that my coworkers provided.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Manager in training 18 salaries reported	$20.06 per hour
Stylist 17 salaries reported	$18.59 per hour
Delivery driver 1 salary reported	$19.50 per hour
Sales associate 8 salaries reported	$18.25 per hour
Store manager 5 salaries reported	$21.20 per hour

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