Nov. 5, 2005 (St. Petersburg, FL.) — After Hours Formal Wear, the largest chain of company-owned tuxedo and men's formal wear stores with more than 450 store nationwide, has selected TEC. Inc. to assist them with change management and training of their new Customer Events Management system.

The new store system allows store employees to register weddings and other events by entering the event specifics such as bride/groom information; date, time and place of the wedding/event; the participants names with the style of tuxedo they will wear; and pricing and promotional information for each of the participants in the event. The proprietary store system replaces the old paper based system of keeping event binders at each store. It also provides the stores with a Call Tracking application that helps them manage their thank you calls, calls for measurements, and calls just prior to the wedding/event confirming all of the information they have in the system about that event.

TEC, Inc., a leading provider of technical training and skill enhancement services to retailers and other organizations acquiring new technologies, is thrilled to be involved in such a large company-wide transformation that will radically improve the way their employees service their customers. Regina Hunt, TEC's Project Lead Consultant is excited about being able to help with such a large company transformation. "It's a major step forward for them because they have grown mostly by acquisition and all stores were not necessarily using the same procedures. This new event system puts all of the stores on the same system, using the same procedures and rids them of the old paper binders for events. They can see events throughout the entire company and take action on them as needed."

TEC developed a set of Computer-based Training (CBT) modules for the main functions of the system including Overview and Benefits; Navigation; Event Entry; and Customer Support. In addition, TEC created practice exercises, quick-reference guides and Help Desk store support scripts and decision trees to help employee learning and productivity in using the new system. This inevitably will improve customer satisfaction across the chain as employees are able to assist customers with their important events more quickly and efficiently. TEC also contributed their change management expertise and communications to increase employee acceptance of the new system and ease resistance which usually is rampant in a transformation of this size and magnitude.

After Hours is pleased with TEC and their consultant's contribution of change management and training expertise. Ruth Johnson, a longtime Store Manager for After Hours states "I completed both the CBT modules and am very excited about the possibilities that this new program offers all AH stores. The program was very simple to follow and very easy to understand. If the rest of the training is this complete, we will be set to go!"

About TEC

Established in 1984, TEC, Inc . provides technical training and skill enhancement services to retailers and other organizations acquiring new technologies. TEC also offers change management and communication, system design and documentation, process redesign, group productivity, and leadership development products and services.

TEC clients include: Brooks Brothers; Eckerd Corp.; Family Dollar Stores, Inc.; Fingerhut; Gander Mountain; The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (A&P); Ingram Micro; The Kroger Co.; Michaels Stores, Inc.; NEXCOM (Navy Exchange Service Command); ShopKo Stores, Inc.; Smart & Final; and Trader Joes; among many others. The company is based near St. Petersburg, FL.

For more information about TEC, call 727-391-9232.

About After Hours Formal Wear

After Hours Formalwear is the nation's largest chain of company-owned tuxedo and men's formal wear stores. With more than 450 store locations throughout the country, After Hours Formalwear specializes in quality formal wear that fits every budget.

For more information on After Hours Formalwear, visit www.AfterHours.com.


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