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I Guarantee It: The Untold Story Behind the Founder of Men's Wearhouse
America knew George Zimmer for one of the most famous slogans in television advertising history: “I guarantee it.” Zimmer rode his promise to lead The Men’s Wearhouse to unimagined success as a retail giant. Now, years removed from his stunning dismissal as leader of the company he founded, I Guarantee It recounts the journey of Zimmer’s rise, the fall of The Men’s Wearhouse, and his personal renewal.
For forty-one years, George Zimmer forged a relationship with American men who wanted to like the way they looked without getting too fussy about it.
He made them a promise that came straight from the shoulder: “I guarantee it,” he said, and it was ironclad. By the millions, customers walked into The Men’s Wearhouse stores in all fifty states and Canada, where they received “quality, service, and a good price,” where they bought suits, ties, sports coats, and slacks by the tens of billions of dollars.
Then a backstabbing — the handpicked board of directors fired Zimmer from the company he had created and developed into the most successful men’s specialty store in world history.
Eight years later, Zimmer is back to tell his story: a man raised by a prosperous and loving family, a fun-loving son of the sixties, a merchant, an entrepreneur, a pitchman for the ages.
Zimmer’s ouster devastated but did not destroy him. His is a story of hard work and resilience, about a life in business that succeeded beyond belief and followed the Golden Rule. It’s a story that will teach and inspire.
He guarantees it.
For forty-one years, George Zimmer forged a relationship with American men who wanted to like the way they looked without getting too fussy about it.
He made them a promise that came straight from the shoulder: “I guarantee it,” he said, and it was ironclad. By the millions, customers walked into The Men’s Wearhouse stores in all fifty states and Canada, where they received “quality, service, and a good price,” where they bought suits, ties, sports coats, and slacks by the tens of billions of dollars.
Then a backstabbing — the handpicked board of directors fired Zimmer from the company he had created and developed into the most successful men’s specialty store in world history.
Eight years later, Zimmer is back to tell his story: a man raised by a prosperous and loving family, a fun-loving son of the sixties, a merchant, an entrepreneur, a pitchman for the ages.
Zimmer’s ouster devastated but did not destroy him. His is a story of hard work and resilience, about a life in business that succeeded beyond belief and followed the Golden Rule. It’s a story that will teach and inspire.
He guarantees it.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
208 pages, Hardcover
Published September 21, 2021
5 people are currently reading
1360 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 31, 2022
I grew up in Houston and know this man, his commercials, and this company very well. My husband bought his groom's suit here. It was fascinating to learn the ins and outs of his business and the story about him.
However, it was really repetitive. He's obviously still bitter about Foleys and the board. And Foley's went down, because they couldn't compete with anyone. Men's Wearhouse didn't take them down by themselves. It was a combination of bad business and other things. And the board...well, I'm sorry, I agree with them on this (maybe not the way they did it). If you have stepped down as CEO and announced who the new CEO is, then you must let the new CEO take the reigns. I also got tired of him writing him as the best thing that ever happened. I felt like he didn't do anything wrong and some of the stuff seemed like it was bad, i.e., poaching Macy's employees and the brags about putting other local companies out of business. The timeline was all over the place, too. Drove me nuts.
Anyways, it's a decent read to kind of learn more about this company, but it wasn't my favorite.
However, it was really repetitive. He's obviously still bitter about Foleys and the board. And Foley's went down, because they couldn't compete with anyone. Men's Wearhouse didn't take them down by themselves. It was a combination of bad business and other things. And the board...well, I'm sorry, I agree with them on this (maybe not the way they did it). If you have stepped down as CEO and announced who the new CEO is, then you must let the new CEO take the reigns. I also got tired of him writing him as the best thing that ever happened. I felt like he didn't do anything wrong and some of the stuff seemed like it was bad, i.e., poaching Macy's employees and the brags about putting other local companies out of business. The timeline was all over the place, too. Drove me nuts.
Anyways, it's a decent read to kind of learn more about this company, but it wasn't my favorite.
August 12, 2021
Love > Fear. Growing up in the trailer parks of the 80's, moving out of them in the 90s, and becoming the first person in my immediate family (and only the second person in my triple-digit-numbering extended family) to go to college at the turn of the Millenium, I was one of those kids that saw George Zimmer's famous "You're going to love the way you look. I guarantee it." commercials all over Atlanta TV. (And I *think* they even ran on radio? Though Zimmer never mentions those campaigns in this text. So maybe I'm wrong there. 20+ yr old memories at this point. ;) ) But *being* that (even former) trailer park kid... Mens' Wearhouse prices of $250 and up were a bit too rich for my blood, so I actually shopped at some of the competitors Zimmer mentions late in the text about buying out. :)
With this background, I found this memoir from a man I recognized from TV in my childhood to be quite fascinating. In many ways quite honest - even at times brutally so - and astute, Zimmer openly admits to his luck, sometimes brilliance, and several of the key mistakes he made along the way. He also makes quite clear that he is still hurt by his 2013 ouster from the company he created - and its continual efforts to keep him from becoming a competitor. But in the end, this is a story about a truly remarkable "fortunate son". A hippie who grew to become one of the titans of industry in America. (And who used his money to get the first Medical Marijuana legalization passed.) A progressive who is absolutely dedicated to capitalism. And a man who firmly believes that a paradigm shift from fear to love is what is needed in both industry and society as a whole.
An utterly fascinating read, and a shortish one to boot - I finished it in about 4 hours or so. Very much recommended.
With this background, I found this memoir from a man I recognized from TV in my childhood to be quite fascinating. In many ways quite honest - even at times brutally so - and astute, Zimmer openly admits to his luck, sometimes brilliance, and several of the key mistakes he made along the way. He also makes quite clear that he is still hurt by his 2013 ouster from the company he created - and its continual efforts to keep him from becoming a competitor. But in the end, this is a story about a truly remarkable "fortunate son". A hippie who grew to become one of the titans of industry in America. (And who used his money to get the first Medical Marijuana legalization passed.) A progressive who is absolutely dedicated to capitalism. And a man who firmly believes that a paradigm shift from fear to love is what is needed in both industry and society as a whole.
An utterly fascinating read, and a shortish one to boot - I finished it in about 4 hours or so. Very much recommended.
July 2, 2021
The story of George is exciting and captivating as he brings you through his life and the business of Men's Wearhouse.
He wears his heart on his sleeve as can be seen with the transparent and bare it all way of communicating throughout his book.
If you are interested in businessmen biography, then this book is for you.
It covers the business and his personal life pretty clearly.
The development of the story might seem haphazard at the start but the reason of that will be clear as you go into the middle to end of the book.
Overall, it's an enjoyable read and I will recommend you if entrepreneurship is your thing and you are looking for some motivation.
He wears his heart on his sleeve as can be seen with the transparent and bare it all way of communicating throughout his book.
If you are interested in businessmen biography, then this book is for you.
It covers the business and his personal life pretty clearly.
The development of the story might seem haphazard at the start but the reason of that will be clear as you go into the middle to end of the book.
Overall, it's an enjoyable read and I will recommend you if entrepreneurship is your thing and you are looking for some motivation.
September 1, 2021
I loved reading I Guarantee It by George Zimmer. George's book is entertaining and captivating as he takes you through the life of the business of Men's Wearhouse. He is very passionate about what he does and it is shown excellently throughout this book. I love biographies on major business owners because I think, as many do, what does it take to become a super successful company? Between the business and the personal, we learn everything about George Zimmer. I would definitely recommend this book to all because of how many great lessons you learn as you read.
For more reviews, follow @richmindslibrary on Instagram!
For more reviews, follow @richmindslibrary on Instagram!
December 6, 2021
I read this on NetGalley as a pre-release book. I don't know this man and had no knowledge of him beyond his commercials. But this book was such a great look not only at him as person, but at him as a business executive. An out of the ordinary man who thought employees and customers alike should be happy and enjoy their experiences in the store. Belief in "ground-breaking" things like that... things that should be commonplace, not ground breaking. His removal from his company and what he's been doing since. I picked this up on a whim and ended up loving it much more than I thought.
Read
November 16, 2021What a great book. I loved learning what an amazing man George is not only in his business decisions but in how he cares and acts on it. He was WOKE before it was popular in business. A great read for anyone.
April 20, 2024
As a former employee of TMW, I lived the decline after the firing of George. It was an amazing place to work while he was there. It went downhill after he left. And I now have a better understanding of why that happened.
September 17, 2023
I loved his story and all the personal bits I learned such as the hippie years and the Moody Blues references.
January 11, 2022
It's an interesting look behind the scenes. I recommend the book by the man who started Vans too.
March 31, 2025
Very good
Excellent listen for anyone interested in retail sales. I was a bit cautious from the sample, as he sounded so bitter, but figuring there was a reason for that, I wanted to know the story. In the end, it made sense why he would be bitter… but, alas, he isn’t really. He’s more philosophical than anything. It’s quite a story from a “hippie” (his word).
I listened to the Audible audiobook
Excellent listen for anyone interested in retail sales. I was a bit cautious from the sample, as he sounded so bitter, but figuring there was a reason for that, I wanted to know the story. In the end, it made sense why he would be bitter… but, alas, he isn’t really. He’s more philosophical than anything. It’s quite a story from a “hippie” (his word).
I listened to the Audible audiobook
November 1, 2021
good to read his book
Because I know that George is a very talented and honest man.I have had the opportunity to meet him and he helped me and my team win the world series of senior softball title.
As a sponsor for two years.
Because I know that George is a very talented and honest man.I have had the opportunity to meet him and he helped me and my team win the world series of senior softball title.
As a sponsor for two years.
June 7, 2021
I remember his commercials. I loved his voice. I loved him saying "You're going to like the way you look, I guarantee it!" Enjoyed this book, a lot I didn't know and an entertaining read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews