Men's Wearhouse escalates battle with founder
NEW YORK (AP) — Men's Wearhouse escalated a public battle with its founder and former pitchman George Zimmer on Tuesday, trying to explain why it fired the man who still represents the clothier in many shoppers' minds.
The company said in a statement that its board parted ways with Zimmer because he had difficulty "accepting the fact that Men's Wearhouse is a public company with an independent board of directors and that he has not been the chief executive officer for two years." One bone of contention was that he wanted to sell the company to an investment firm.
On paper, Zimmer's ability to take back control of the company he founded seems limited. But to his fans, he's already winning. Customers are turning to the company's Facebook and other social media outlets to express their outrage. Many were threatening to boycott the chain.
Ultimately, the shoppers themselves could determine what happens next. Zimmer, 64, who founded the company in 1973, has been one of advertising's most recognizable pitchmen, immediately recognizable for his slogan: "You're going to like the way you look. I guarantee it."
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/mens-wearhouse-zimmer-wanted-regain-control
